When Bastian enters Fantastica, he is altered both physically and psychologically. Brought about by his wishes, these changes initially provide Bastian with increased confidence, but they eventually take a toll on his memory, on the creatures of Fantastica, and on his ability to care for others. The novel therefore suggests that it is dangerous when all wishes come true and posits that Bastian’s true mission is to find himself again and to develop the ability to love others rather than only himself.

In Fantastica, the first personal change that Bastian experiences is that of his physical appearance. Gazing into the eyes of the Empress, Bastian sees a boy who is “slender and wonderfully handsome” (175) and looks nothing like the plump and pale child he had been. The fulfillment of this wish leads to other wishes and subsequent changes in the boy. In the Desert of Colors, for example, Bastian’s “wish to be strong had come true” (183). Following that, Bastian wishes to have real adventures that call for courage. While at first there appears to be nothing harmful in wishing for such attributes, the possession of which is often celebrated in human society, even the very first wish begins to inflict an invisible harm upon Bastian, for each wish causes him to forget another piece of his past life and identity.