[[quoteright:242:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wish_for_things_that_work.png]]
A children's book printed in 1991 by Berke Breathed, the creator of ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' and ''Outland''. In it, the strips' central character, Opus the Penguin, is disappointed because he can't fly. After some failed attempts at using a flying machine bought off TV, he writes a letter to Santa Claus and asks for wings that work. Near the end, Santa's sleigh crashes in the lake and it's up to Opus to save him from the icy lake.

Also in 1991, Creator/StevenSpielberg's Amblin Television arm (together with Creator/{{Universal}} Cartoon Studios, the guys who brought you ''WesternAnimation/{{Exosquad}}'' a couple of years later) adapted ''A Wish for Wings that Work'' into an animated special that first aired on Creator/{{CBS}} on December 18, 1991. Although the special was fairly well-received by critics, Berke has reacted to it with CreatorBacklash. It is the only AnimatedAdaptation of the Breathedverse to date.


!! This book and special provides examples of:
* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: In the comic, Bill the Cat is introduced in a [[NoFourthWall fourth wall-shattering]] attempt to cash in on [[ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} Garfield's]] popularity. In the special, he had been rescued by Opus from a research lab (after having his brains replaced with tater tots).
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: The special completely overhauls Truffles' personality, changing him from a StraightMan to a FrenchJerk with delusions of being a rhinoceros.
* AlliterativeList: The ducks, bursting into Opus's house with the news that [[spoiler:Santa has crashed into the lake]].
-->'''Duck 1''': Calamity!\\
'''Duck 2''': Catastrophe!\\
'''Duck 3''': Cataclysm!
* AlliterativeTitle: A '''W'''ish for '''W'''ings That '''W'''ork
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
-->'''Opus''': I might as well be a dung beetle, or a fly-infested, worm-infused, molded, mildewed scrap of rotten banana! (''{{Beat}}'') [[TakeThat Or a network executive.]]
* ArtShift / RogerRabbitEffect: A variant. In one scene, Opus has a dream sequence that lifts footage from the 1937 film ''Film/LostHorizon''.
* CallOfTheWildBlueYonder: Opus really wants to fly - that's his Christmas wish - and dreams about it; albeit in his dream he's a pilot aboard the crashing airplane from ''Film/LostHorizon''.
* ChristmasCarolers: In the animated version, a group of carolers appear frequently, one of which looks suspiciously like a [[ElvisLives certain rock and roll singer]].
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: "So what if they're small? Some women prefer small wings!"
* EyePop: Lampshaded; this happens to Opus twice, and after it does, he rubs his eyes and says "ow!"
* JawDrop: All three of the ducks and Bill after Santa gives Opus a Santa hat.
* LargeHam: The kiwi bird voiced by Creator/RobinWilliams.
* OhCrap: In the animated version, when Santa's sleigh unhooks, Santa lets out a "Ho, ho, ho-oh, nooooooo!" as he falls.
* RhymesOnADime: How Santa Claus talks.
* RunningGag: Opus's removable hindquarters.
-->'''Duck''': It's replaceable! Like a tire!
* ShoutOut: Quite a few, after all, this ''is'' Bloom County.
* PenName: Creator/RobinWilliams is credited by the name “[[PunnyName Sudy Nim]]”.
* ThePigPen: Bill the Cat, seen rifling through a garbage can early on.
--> '''Opus''': (''sniffs'') Phew! You smell like last week's Brussels sprouts. I suggested that you move into the recyclables can, didn't I?
* TheStinger: After the Amblin Television and Universal Animation logos, there is one more scene of the pig pretending to be a rhino, who says "DON'T GET COCKY!" [[ItMakesSenseInContext Then Opus's buttocks fall out of the sky and plop in the snow.]]
* SantaClaus: Of course.
* TitleDrop: "…some penguin wings that work."
* TropaholicsAnonymous: The Earthbound Birds Anonymous support group Opus visits, also attended by a delusional chicken and a jilted kiwi.
** Ronald-Ann appears to run several of these:
--> '''Milquetoast (in drag)''': "Excuse me, is this Cockroach Cross-Dressers in Crisis?"
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