If you grew up watching Nickelodeon in the mid-2000s, you remember the absolute chaos when Cosmo and Wanda finally had a baby. It was a massive TV event. They named him Poof. He was a purple floating ball of pure magic who basically spoke in gibberish and accidentally caused a dozen magical disasters per episode. But fast forward to the 2024 revival, The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, and suddenly fans are scrambling to figure out who this tall, suave, purple-haired guy named Peri is.
He’s not a new character. Honestly, he’s just the baby we knew, all grown up and dealing with a massive amount of "only child" baggage.
The transition from Poof to Peri in Fairly OddParents isn't just a name change for the sake of a reboot. It’s actually a pretty clever bit of character development that reflects how much the franchise has shifted from the Timmy Turner era to the new protagonist, Hazel Wells. Seeing him on screen for the first time is jarring. He’s voiced by Asher Kaswell now, and he’s got this calm, slightly exhausted "straight man" energy that contrasts perfectly with the chaotic vibes of his parents.
Why the Name Change to Peri Matters
A lot of people think the writers just got bored of the name Poof or wanted to be politically correct because of certain slang connotations. While that’s part of the conversation, the in-universe explanation is way more grounded. In the show, he explains that he chose the name Peri—short for periwinkle—to establish his own identity outside of being "the baby."
It’s a classic coming-of-age move.
💡 You might also like: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Think about it. If your parents were the most famous, most disorganized fairy godparents in the universe and they named you after the first sound you made, you’d probably want a rebrand by the time you hit your 200s (or whatever the fairy equivalent of young adulthood is). He’s still the same person, but he’s refined. He’s professional. He’s also clearly the one who had to grow up fast because Cosmo and Wanda are... well, they're still Cosmo and Wanda.
The Dynamics of a Multi-Generational Fairy Family
The relationship between Peri in Fairly OddParents and his parents is one of the best parts of A New Wish. There’s this palpable sense of "I love you, but you guys are a lot." In the original series, Poof was the center of their world, but he was also a prop for gags. Now, he’s a peer. Or at least, he tries to be.
He’s assigned as a fairy godparent to Hazel’s brother, Dev Dimmadome (yes, related to that Doug Dimmadome), which creates this fascinating parallel. While Cosmo and Wanda are helping Hazel navigate the typical kid stuff, Peri is stuck dealing with a rich, lonely kid who has a lot of emotional walls. It’s a much more complex role than we ever saw Poof handle in the later seasons of the original run.
Is Peri Actually Better Than Poof?
It’s a hot take, but yeah. He is.
📖 Related: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
Poof was added to the original show during a time when many fans felt The Fairly OddParents was starting to "jump the shark." The plots were becoming repetitive, and adding a baby is the oldest trick in the sitcom book to refresh a stale dynamic. It worked for a bit, but Poof didn't have much of a personality beyond being cute and magical.
Peri in Fairly OddParents actually has an arc. He has dry wit. He has anxiety. He wears a suit! He represents the millennial/Gen Z struggle of trying to be a "functional adult" while your mentors are still living in a world of pure whimsy. Watching him try to use logic in a magical world that specifically defies logic is high-level comedy that the original series rarely touched on.
The animation style of the new series also does him a lot of favors. The 3D-ish, stylized look makes his design pop. He keeps the iconic purple color palette, but his wings and crown look more integrated into his "professional" fairy aesthetic. It’s a vibe.
Breaking Down the Lore: What Happened Between Shows?
We don't get a day-by-day breakdown of Peri’s teenage years, but we can piece it together. He clearly spent time at the Fairy Academy. He’s disciplined. Unlike his father, who famously failed out of school multiple times or caused "The Big Problem," Peri is a top-tier godparent.
👉 See also: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
There’s also the matter of his magic.
As a baby, Poof’s magic was tied to his emotions. If he cried, bad stuff happened. If he giggled, flowers bloomed. As Peri, his magic is precise. He’s not just waving a wand and hoping for the best; he’s calculated. This makes him the perfect foil for Hazel and Dev, who are both dealing with the messy, uncalculated reality of growing up in a city like Dimmadelphia.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re diving into A New Wish specifically for the nostalgia of seeing Poof again, you have to adjust your expectations. This isn't a show about a baby. It’s a show about legacy.
- Pay attention to the background chatter: The show is packed with Easter eggs about the old days.
- Watch the chemistry: The voice acting between the new cast and the returning voices of Daran Norris and Susanne Blakeslee (Cosmo and Wanda) is surprisingly tight.
- The Dev Connection: Peri’s relationship with Dev is the emotional anchor of his specific subplot. It’s not just about granting wishes; it’s about mentorship.
Honestly, the way they handled Peri in Fairly OddParents is a masterclass in how to do a character time-skip. They didn't ignore his past, but they didn't let him stay stuck in it either. He feels like a natural evolution of a character we liked, even if we didn't realize he needed to change this much.
For fans who want to dive deeper, the best thing you can do is go back and watch the "Anti-Poof" (Foop) episodes from the original series and then watch Peri’s interactions with his assignments in the new show. The contrast is hilarious. He’s gone from a magical infant to a guy who probably has a very organized Google Calendar and a favorite brand of espresso.
To really get the most out of the new era, start with the pilot of A New Wish and pay close attention to the episode "The Real Dev Dimmadome." It sets the stage for everything Peri is trying to accomplish. It’s not just about being a fairy; it’s about breaking the cycle of neglect that characters like Dev face, proving that even a "magical baby" can grow up to do some serious good in the world.