Disney’s Wish is the 62nd animated film in the Disney Animated Canon and is a commemorative project for the company’s 100th anniversary. In keeping with this milestone, the film deliberately embraces the need for a traditional fairytale, featuring a storybook-style introduction, and an uplifting central message.
The cartoon has a lineup of highly marketable animal companions. What sets Wish apart, however, is the way it wraps up. After its release, director Chris Buck disclosed that the movie was conceptualized as a foundational story for several of Disney’s well-known motifs and visual symbols.
A young heroine takes a stand against a king’s deception (Photo: Wish/Walt Disney Animation Studios)Take, for instance, the charming Star—it represents the very wishing star seen in Disney’s studio logo, first appearing in Pinocchio (1940). The film’s finale fully embraces this concept, incorporating a flurry of references that can be overwhelming to catch in one go.
Below is an in-depth breakdown of how it all plays out. Since this discussion extensively covers the climactic battle, resolution, and post-credits sequence of Wish, it contains heavy spoilers. If you plan to watch the movie without prior knowledge of the plot twists, it’s best to avoid reading further.
Several surprises are best revealed when left unspoiled.
Events Leading to the Final Showdown
The film follows 17-year-old Asha, a spirited young girl who begins to sense something suspicious about King Magnifico, the ruler of Rosas. Rosas functions under an unusual wish-granting arrangement: once residents turn 18, they surrender their deepest desires to Magnifico, a sorcerer who locks them away in his study.
Every month, the king hosts a grand ceremony where he selects one wish to fulfill. Under this system, Rosas thrives in a diverse and harmonious society where people live comfortably, free from burdens like taxation.
However, while interviewing for an apprenticeship under Magnifico, Asha stumbles upon two unsettling revelations: He erases people’s memories of their wishes, ensuring they never recall what they truly longed for.
He has no intention of returning the ungranted wishes to their rightful owners, instead hoarding them like a collector obsessed with his possessions. By doing this, Magnifico secures his authority by keeping the people from chasing their aspirations. Unwilling to stand by, Asha turns to the heavens and makes a heartfelt wish for help.
Asha’s Wish and the Arrival of Star
The response to her plea arrives spectacularly. A lively, sentient entity named Star descends from above, ready to assist Asha and her companions in liberating the captured wishes. Their efforts might even bring an end to Magnifico’s rule.
Before long, the situation escalates beyond control—Magnifico resorts to an ancient and sinister spellbook to fortify his grip on the kingdom, Asha and her friends are declared criminals, and even Queen Amaya, Magnifico’s own wife, defects to join the resistance.
The Climactic Battle Plays Out
While Asha’s allies and Star pry open the roof of Magnifico’s study to set the wishes free, the king counters with a scheme of his own. He sends Simon, Asha’s former friend who has been brainwashed, to deceive her in the forest by impersonating the king.
By the time she realizes the trick, Magnifico has already ascended to the castle’s highest point, sealing both Star and the wishes within a dark forcefield. Rushing back on horseback, Asha arrives too late—Magnifico ensnares her in his magic, hoisting her up the tower.
From there, she is forced to watch as he siphons power from every wish in Rosas, channeling it into his staff to consume Star entirely.
Magnifico’s Transformation and Tyrannical Rule
With his newfound, limitless power, Magnifico wastes no time showcasing his dominance. His first act is to bind every citizen with eerie green thorns, forcing them to kneel before him. He then conjures massive dark clouds to block the sky, ensuring that no one else can replicate Asha’s wish-making act.
As he revels in his victory, he cruelly hurls Asha against the ground multiple times, boasting, “There will be no more hope, no more telling of tales.”
How Magnifico Is Finally Overthrown
But hope is not lost. Asha recalls something the talking animals of Rosas mentioned earlier—that all living beings originate from stardust and that humans and stars share cosmic ancestry through nebulae and supernovas.
Even though Magnifico has darkened the skies, another source of stars remains—the people of Rosas themselves. In a stirring performance of “This Wish,” Asha implores the townsfolk to stand against the king. Though Magnifico quickly silences her with a painful jolt of energy, he cannot suppress the voices of everyone.
Her closest friend Dahlia and Queen Amaya take up the song, and soon, the entire town square joins in, their bodies illuminating with celestial energy. No matter how hard Magnifico tries to reassert control, he cannot contain the growing resistance.
Rejoining the crowd, Asha leads them to a crescendo, restoring the power of the wishes. In an ironic twist, Magnifico’s staff betrays him, much like Dr. Facilier’s fate in The Princess and the Frog. As dark green hands emerge from the staff’s tip, they drag Magnifico inside—a mirror serving as his eternal prison.
At the exact moment he is sealed away, his reflection morphs into something strikingly familiar—the face of the Evil Queen’s Magic Mirror from Snow White.
Life in Rosas After the King’s Fall
With Star freed, the ominous clouds dissipate, and the bubbles containing the stolen wishes burst open. The wishes descend in a stunning display, reuniting with their rightful owners. Having witnessed Magnifico’s deceit firsthand, the citizens become determined to pursue their dreams without relying on magic.
Among those who reclaim their wishes is Asha’s mother. Asha also makes amends with her family and friends, including Simon, who regains his free will. With the kingdom finally at peace, things are looking up.
Yet, there is one last matter to settle—Amaya discovers the enchanted mirror containing Magnifico and, ignoring his desperate pleas, instructs a guard to hang it on a dungeon wall.
The Future of Asha and Star
Sometime later, Amaya fully assumed leadership of the kingdom. Instead of relying on magic, she now helps people achieve their goals through traditional means. A particularly familiar scenario unfolds—a young girl named Wendy dreams of flying, so Amaya introduces her to a boy named Peter, who seeks a way to take to the skies.
The wishing star shines brighter than ever in Disney’s latest tale (Photo: Wish/Walt Disney Animation Studios)This isn’t a mere coincidence. Peter is dressed in his signature green outfit, complete with tights and a feathered cap. The reference is crystal clear—Disney is laying the groundwork for Peter Pan. Meanwhile, Asha is thrilled to see the people of Rosas now free to remember and chase their aspirations. But Star still has something left for her.
Presenting her with a magic wand, Star transforms her dress into a shimmering, whimsical gown. Midway through the transformation, Asha dons a blue robe with a hood and purple ribbon—eerily reminiscent of Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.
To make it even clearer, her friend Dario suggests, “You could be a fairy godmother!” This strongly hints that Asha will either become the Fairy Godmother herself or the first in a long lineage of them.
How Wish Concludes
Unfortunately, Star cannot stay to assist with Asha’s training—he must return to the sky to be there for others who wish upon him. After all, without Star, how would characters like Geppetto, Moana, Simba, and Tiana receive the guidance they need? As he ascends, Asha hears his parting words: “Just keep wishing!”
Star streaks across the sky, setting off a dazzling fireworks display reminiscent of Disney’s nighttime park shows. As he soars above the Rosas castle, he leaves behind a signature Mickey Mouse-shaped firework, cementing his legacy. The storybook closes, bringing Wish to its heartfelt finale.
