Voices of Alieen Quinn, Lorne Greene, Billy Van, and John Stocker
Directed by Fumihiko Takayama
Music by Joe Hisashi and Yurichio Oda; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn and Allen Byrnes
The popularity of The Wizard of Oz books extends overseas. This was far from the first anime adaptation of the books, which would be the TV anthology series Tales of Magic from 1976. It was apparently, however, the first theatrical adaptation in that country, although it eventually went straight to video there and in the US. How does this more faithful adaptation look today? Let's start in Kansas, as Dorothy (Quinn) bids her aunt and uncle goodbye, and find out...
The Story: Dorothy and her beloved dog Toto are whisked away over the rainbow in their home by a big storm. When they land, Dorothy's shocked to learn from the Witch of the North (Elizabeth Hanna) that she's now in the Land of Oz, and her house has killed the Witch of the East. The Witch sends Dorothy to the Wizard (Greene) at the Emerald City to ask about the way home to Kansas.
On the way, she encounters a talking scarecrow (Van) who wishes his head was stuffed with brains instead of straw, a tin woodsman (Stocker) who wishes he could feel, and a lion (Thick Wilson) who laments he's such a coward, he can't be king of the beasts. This odd set of friends must work together in order to get to the Emerald City, and then to take on the Witch of the West (Hanna) when the Wizard says he'll grant their requests if they get rid of her. The Wizard, however, isn't what he seems...
The Animation: If this looks familiar, one of the companies who worked on this was Topcraft. They also did work for Rankin-Bass. It does have a very Rankin-Bass feel to it, with the wide-eyed Dorothy (who is blonde - most versions of Oz tend to make her a brunette ala Judy Garland), realistic wolves and crows who look appropriately spooky in the Witch of the West's realm, and large headed caricatures for the Wizard and Scarecrow.
The Song and Dance: One thing I really appreciate about this one is the fidelity to the original book. In fact this is one of the closest adaptions of the first Oz novel I've ever seen. Admittedly, they leave out the trip to Glinda in the last third, her friends are tied up by the witch instead of taken apart, and Dorothy's shoes are red rather than silver, but other than that, this is pretty accurate. Quinn's a sweet and funny Dorothy; Van and Stocker also do fairly well as the straw man who is smarter than he thinks, and the metal wood cutter who may not have a heart, but can certainly feel.
Favorite Number: We open over the credits with Quinn reminding us that what you make of fantasy is "Strictly Up to You." "I Dream of Home" is Dorothy remembering good times with her aunt and uncle while sleeping one night and wishing she was with them. We hear "A Wizard of a Day" twice, first during Dorothy and her friends' journey to the Emerald City, and later after they defeat the Wicked Witch of the West.
What I Don't Like: The cheap synthesizer music is totally at odds with the fantasy elements and sounds tinny and out of place. The songs are far from memorable, with stiff and dull English lyrics. Greene's Wizard is barely in the film, and when he does, he only tells Dorothy's friends that they had what they needed all along. He doesn't even give them anything. Glinda is also barely in the film. She turns up in the last few minutes without explanation. Since we don't see the Witch until the Wizard sends the others after her, their attack seems unmotivated.
The Song and Dance: The music isn't the best, but this is otherwise a very charming adaptation of this book with a lot to like if you're a fan of anime from the 70's and 80's or the original Oz novels.
Home Media: Never on disc in North America, this is currently only on YouTube on this side of the Atlantic.
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