Wizards of Waverly Place - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Many of the spells used in the show are named after members of the production crew.
This is a recurring inside joke throughout the series. The spell to animate objects, Murrieta-Animata, is a tribute to executive producer Peter Murrieta. The time-rewinding spell, McCreary-Time-Reary, is named for producer Gigi McCreery. These names serve as a fun nod to the creative team behind the show.
The wizarding school, WizTech, and its headmaster, Professor Crumbs, are direct parodies of Hogwarts and Albus Dumbledore from the 'Harry Potter' series.
The show openly and humorously references its famous magical predecessor. WizTech features school robes, students wear Harry Potter-style glasses, and Justin's rival, Jerko Phoenix, is a clear parallel to Draco Malfoy. This self-aware humor acknowledges the massive influence of 'Harry Potter' on the fantasy genre and engages with it playfully.
In the episode "Paint by Committee", Alex paints a large anarchy symbol.
In the episode, Alex paints a large letter 'A' inside a circle. When asked what it is, she claims it's just her initial. However, the symbol is an unmistakable reference to the symbol for anarchy. This serves as a visual gag that perfectly represents Alex's rebellious, anti-authoritarian personality in a way that would likely go over the heads of the younger audience but be noticed by older viewers.
A poster for the Broadway musical 'Rent' is visible in the Waverly Sub Station.
The poster for 'Rent', a musical famous for its bohemian and mature themes set in New York's East Village, is an interesting and slightly edgy choice for a Disney Channel show's set dressing. It helps ground the Russo family's Greenwich Village setting in a more authentic, artistic, and less sanitized version of New York City.