Iznogoud (1995)

Adaptation of the long-running comic book series Iznogoud (1962-) by René Goscinny and Jean Tabary. The series is set in a fantasy version of the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258), and the main characters live in Baghdad (its capital). The Caliphate is nominally ruled by Caliph Haroun El Poussah (Sultan Haroun El Plassid in English). He is a good-natured, but incredibly lazy and rather incompetent man. Actual power rests in the hands of his second-in-command, Grand Vizier Iznogoud. The childless Caliph considers Iznogoud to be his closest friend and has officially named the Vizier as his heir. Iznogoud is actually evil and vicious, and hates being limited to the second-in-command position. His lifelong ambition is to become the Caliph. Iznogoud conspires to kill or depose Haroun, using the services of his henchman Dilat Larath (Wa'at Alahf in English) and various wizards and mercenaries. However his plans inevitably backfire, and most episodes end with Iznogoud nearly-dead, exiled, trapped, etc. He is back in power by the next episode, typically without explanation. Additional plots are provided by external threats to the Caliphate, such as the threats of invasion by Sultan Pullmankar (who reportedly has never lost a war in a lengthy military career).