At this point, L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz is better known for its adaptations than the core text. MGM’s 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, continues to inspire countless films (and is currently filling The Sphere in Las Vegas). But reimaginings like The Wiz, starring Dianna Ross and Michael Jackson, and Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, have proved just as popular. But anyone who thinks they’ve seen it all when it comes to takes on Oz really owes it to themselves to see the 1982 anime version. I was not prepared for the mind-melting that was to come. Directed by Fumihiko Takayama (with John Danylkiw credited in the U. S. version), the ’82 The Wizard of Oz is among the most notable early anime adaptations of Western literature. It closely follows Baum’s novel, trimming mainly Dorothy’s journey to Glinda, and lifts the MGM red shoes instead of the book’s silver ones (how did they not get sued?) It also draws on John R. Neill’s later Oz illustrations for its architecture and Glinda’s design. Notably, it’s one of the few adaptations to show all of the Wizard’s distinct forms as described by Baum: the Beautiful-Winged Lady, the Terrible Beast, and the Ball of Fire. I didn’t know any of that going in, so my first impression was an opening that plays like pure, classic anime wrapped in a Wizard of Oz skin, an unintentionally hilarious combo on first viewing. The song is charming and heartfelt (at least the first time it plays.), but the contrast is undeniably funny. The animation studio behind Oz, Topcraft, worked with the American studio Rankin/Bass on projects like the 1977 Hobbit special, which explains why Dorothy’s design looks more like a blend of Eastern and Western art than traditional anime. The film also arrived before anime dubbing hit its stride, and was still filled with cheesy, stilted delivery and cheesy lines. So when I discovered Dorothy is voiced by Aileen Quinn, the little girl who played the titular character Annie, I was taken aback. The cast also features heavy-hitters from back in the day, like Lorne Greene as the Wizard and Billy Van as the Scarecrow, as well as legendary voice actors John Stocker as the Tin Man and Elizabeth Hanna voicing both the Witch of the North and the Witch of the West. Despite this, they all sound pretty terrible, sometimes like they’re delivering lines from a completely different project they just don’t match what’s on screen most of the time, which plays with your brain after a while. Once the aesthetic settles in, the plot takes off, along with the house, and ushers Dorothy to the Land of Oz, flying through the clouds like the Magic School Bus or something. It lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, the Good Witch of the North steals her shoes off her corpse, gives them to Dorothy, and sends her on a quest to meet Oz to grant her wish to return home. Along the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy and her little dog Toto meet the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion. The designs were questionable to say the least; Scarecrow looked like a scrapped Winnie the Pooh character, the Tin Man resembled Bud Dink from Doug, and the Lion looked middle-aged (although pretty faithful to John R. Neill’s design). One of the things that makes the adaptations of The Wizard of Oz stand out is their musical aspects, but the music in this film sounds like the original Dragon Ball OST. Unfortunately, there are no moments when characters break out into song. Instead, it does include a few original songs used during montage sequences. The songs aren’t great and sound nearly indistinguishable from one another; they’re repetitive little earworms that only heighten the surrealness of the film. Everything from the looks, the dialogue, and music made things like a hazy memory from your childhood, even if you’ve never seen the film before. After a rather lengthy escape from a half-tiger and half-bear creature, another montage ensues, where the four (and Toto) traverse a river and vast meadows to finally arrive at Emerald City. The Wizard is initially depicted as a bald, green dude with big eyebrows who tasks them all with taking out the Wicked Witch of the West, “the meanest, most dangerous witch of Oz.” She looks like a traditional witch, but pale grey instead of green, and with an eyepatch. Not only are there flying monkeys, but there are crows, and jackal hyena-looking things, too. The monkeys eventually capture the group, and the witch demands her sister’s shoes, but Dorothy is shielded by the Witch of the North’s magic long enough to fight back, hilariously hurling a massive jug of water that shatters on impact and sends the witch tumbling down the stairs she’d just chased Dorothy up. The Wicked Witch of the West melts, the clouds part, a montage begins, and her hellspawn disappear, as the enslaved citizens dance and celebrate their heroes. When they return to the Emerald City, the wizard is revealed to be just an old man who can’t actually grant their wishes. He shows them how each of his “forms” was just an illusion and reminds the group that they already had the qualities they were seeking. He then offers Dorothy the hot-air balloon that brought him to Oz, but when Toto runs off, she misses her chance to leave. Fortunately, Glenda, the sister of the Witch of the North, appears and tells Dorothy she can use her shoes to return home. Dorothy returns home with the arrival of a rainbow, where she and her grandparents dance and celebrate her return. In a landscape full of reimaginings, like Agatha All Along, which might be a first encounter for some, this anime serves as a fantastic introduction for younger viewers. For an adult who watched the under-90-minute film alone, I would say. it might be perfect viewing on 4/20. Maybe everyone takes a shot whenever Dorothy says, “Oh my goodness!” If you don’t have any nostalgia attached to this film, it’s going to feel strange when, at some point during the runtime, you’re going to feel like it’s always occupied a small corner in your brain somewhere. It’s a strange, trippy, and oddly comforting watch. Whimsical enough for holiday viewing, it pairs best with special cookies or spiked eggnog no matter your choice, you’re in for a ride.
https://www.polygon.com/the-wizard-of-oz-1982-anime-movie-review-fever-dream/