Bastian Balthazar Bux is described in The Neverending Story as a 12-year old boy neglected by his mourning father, after the death of his mother. He is described as overweight and wears glasses. In escape from some bullies, Bastian bursts into an antique book store owned by Carl Conrad Coreander. Bastian finds interest in Carl's held book called The Neverending Story. Unable to resist, he steals the book and hides in his school's attic, where he begins to read.
The story Bastian reads is set in the magical land of Fantastica, ruled by the benevolent and mysterious Childlike Empress. A great delegation has come to the Empress to seek her help against a formless entity called "The Nothing".
Movie
Bastian in the film version.
In the first film, Bastian (Barret Oliver) is portrayed as a small and slim boy, who does not wear glasses.