The Wizard of Oz is a 1990 American animated television series produced by DIC Animation City to capitalize on the popularity of the 1939 film version, to which DiC had acquired the rights from Turner Entertainment, Co.[1] The series aired for thirteen episodes and premiered on ABC, starting on September 8, 1990.[2] The show presented a number of stories and characters from L. Frank Baum's original Oz series.[3]
| The Wizard of Oz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Action Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy Musical |
| Based on | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum The Wizard of Oz by Noel Langley Florence Ryerson Edgar Allan Woolf |
| Developed by | Doug Molitor |
| Written by | Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby Doug Molitor |
| Voices of | Charlie Adler Pat Fraley Liz Georges David Lodge Tress MacNeille Alan Oppenheimer Hal Rayle B.J. Ward Frank Welker |
| Composer | Tom Worrall |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Andy Heyward |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | DIC Animation City Turner Entertainment Co. |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 8 – December 28, 1990 |
Author Jeff Lenburg mentioned an aspect of the series wherein Dorothy has to learn to believe in herself.[4]
In the series, Dorothy uses the ruby slippers to return to Oz. She learns that the winged monkeys have already resurrected the Wicked Witch of the West, who has conquered the Emerald City. The Wizard is trapped with a spell involving a never-ending wind, and Dorothy has to rescue him.
Despite using the slippers to return to Oz, in the episodes, Dorothy isn't entirely sure how the slippers work. Glinda often tells Dorothy to only use the slippers as a last resort. In one episode, Dorothy clicks her heels 4 times, as if each click is more powerful than the last. Aside from the pilot, generally when the slippers are used, they don't always help in the best way.
Plot
editDorothy has decided to return to Oz with Toto, by using the ruby slippers that showed up on her doorstep. She invokes her return by clicking her heels and reciting "There is no place like Oz". Upon arriving there, she reunites with Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.
Dorothy learns from Glinda that the Wicked Witch of the West has been resurrected by Truckle and his fellow winged monkeys. With the Wicked Witch of the West back from the dead, the Emerald City has been taken over by her and she has stolen the gifts that were given to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.[1]
The Wizard is in his hot air balloon, which is under a spell that causes it to be constantly blown around by an evil wind. Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion set out to rescue him and defeat the Wicked Witch once and for all.
Comparison with source material
editThe series incorporated music and visual elements from the 1939 film version, including the Scarecrow's diploma and Dorothy's ruby slippers. At the same time, the character of Dorothy was designed with an appearance similar to that of Princess Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid and was not intended to resemble Judy Garland.[1] In the film, it is largely implied that Oz was a head-trauma-induced delirium,[5] instead of a real place, while in the TV series, it was a real land.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Rescue of the Emerald City: Part 1" | September 8, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy returns to Oz and learns from Glinda that the Wicked Witch has been resurrected by a magic ritual by Truckle and his fellow winged monkeys. The Wicked Witch has taken over the Emerald City in an attempt to rule over the Land of Oz. She also created an evil wind to blow around the Wizard's balloon and stole the gifts he gave to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. | |||
| 2 | "The Rescue of the Emerald City: Part 2" | September 15, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy sets out to rescue Toto and Cowardly Lion, who have been kidnapped by the Wicked Witch and taken to the Emerald City. | |||
| 3 | "Fearless" | September 22, 1990 | |
|
Cowardly Lion is tricked by the Wicked Witch and put under a spell that makes him fearless. | |||
| 4 | "Crystal Clear" | September 29, 1990 | |
|
The Wicked Witch of the West sets out to find a crystal ball that will always work, and it's up to the Scarecrow to protect the crystal ball, with or without a brain. | |||
| 5 | "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" | October 6, 1990 | |
|
The Wicked Witch of the West creates a false Kansas and tricks Dorothy into visiting it in hopes of getting the Ruby Slippers. She poses as Aunt Em while Truckle poses as Uncle Henry. | |||
| 6 | "The Lion that Squeaked" | October 13, 1990 | |
|
The Wicked Witch of the West uses her magic to steal Cowardly Lion's roar and give it to a hyena that is Cowardly Lion's rival. | |||
| 7 | "Dream a Little Dream" | October 20, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are trapped in the Cowardly Lion's dreams as the Wicked Witch of the West enters the dream to trap them there forever. | |||
| 8 | "A Star Is Gone" | October 30, 1990 | |
|
The Wicked Witch of the West is able to annul the Ruby Slippers' abilities entirely by capturing a red Luminary (teardrop-shaped creatures who control all color in Oz) and forcing him to drain the red magical glow from the slippers, rendering them powerless. | |||
| 9 | "Time Town" | November 3, 1990 | |
|
The Wicked Witch of the West begins erasing the Land of Oz's history, thus causing Glinda and the Wizard to lose their memories. | |||
| 10 | "The Marvelous Milkmaid of Mechanica" | December 10, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion arrive in Mechanica where everything is made of tin. | |||
| 11 | "Upside-Down Town" | December 17, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion end up in Upside-Down Town where everything is the opposite. | |||
| 12 | "The Day the Music Died" | December 24, 1990 | |
|
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion follow the Wizard to Music Town where they must help the town's citizen's get their music back which the Wicked Witch has stolen. | |||
| 13 | "Hot Air" | December 28, 1990 | |
|
The Wizard's balloon is heading for Pincushion Pass and the heroes are helpless to come to his aid while getting involved in a balloon race. | |||
Principal voice actors
edit- Liz Georges – Dorothy Gale
- David Lodge – Scarecrow
- Hal Rayle – Tin Man
- Charlie Adler – Cowardly Lion
- Frank Welker – Toto, Hyena (ep. 6)
- Tress MacNeille – Wicked Witch of the West, Miranda (ep. 10)
- B.J. Ward – Glinda
- Alan Oppenheimer – Wizard of Oz
Additional voices
edit- Jack Angel
- Hamilton Camp
- Pat Fraley – Truckle the Winged Monkey[6]
- Bibi Osterwald
- Rob Paulsen
- Ken Sansom
- Susan Silo – Munchkin Mayor (ep. 1)
Crew
edit- Susan Blu – Voice Director
- Ginny McSwain – Casting Director
International and re-airings
editAfter its run on ABC, the series reaired on Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures block from 1992-1993, The Disney Channel from 1991-1992, Toon Disney from the channel's launch in 1998 until 2002 & on HBO from 1995-1996.
In Canada, the series aired on YTV from 1990 to 1995.
Home media
editUnited States
edit"The Marvelous Milkmaid of Mechanica" has never been released in the United States in any home video format. "The Lion that Squeaked" is available only on VHS.
| Release | Format | Episodes | Distributor | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rescue of Oz | VHS | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II |
Turner Home Entertainment | 1991 |
| Danger in a Strange Land[7] | Time Town The Day the Music Died | |||
| We're Off to Save the Wizard[8] | Upside Downtown A Star is Gone | |||
| Ruby Slipper Slip Up | The Lion that Squeaked A Star is Gone | |||
| Fearless | Fearless | Buena Vista Home Video | 1994 | |
| Crystal Clear | Crystal Clear | |||
| The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I | |||
| The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II | |||
| Rescue of the Emerald City | VHS/DVD | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II The Day the Music Died (DVD only) |
Lions Gate Home Entertainment Trimark Home Video |
April 23, 2002 |
| The Continuing Story | Time Town We're not in Kansas Anymore Crystal Clear Fearless (DVD only) |
Sterling Entertainment | September 2, 2003 | |
| We're Off to Save the Wizard! | Hot Air A Star is Gone Upside Downtown Dream a Little Dream (DVD only) |
September 5, 2005 |
International
editUnited Kingdom
edit| Release | Format | Episodes | Distributor | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wizard of Oz - Volume 1 | VHS/DVD | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II Crystal Clear Fearless |
Anchor Bay UK | 2004 |
| The Wizard of Oz - Volume 2 | DVD | The Marvelous Milkmaid Of Mechanica The Lion That Squeaked A Star is Gone Hot Air | ||
| The Wizard of Oz - Volume 1 | A Star is Gone Dream a Little Dream |
Avenue Entertainment | 2005 | |
| The Wizard of Oz - Volume 2 | We're Not in Kansas Anymore Time Town |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Heffley, Lynne (September 7, 1990). "A Cartoon 'Oz' for Saturday TV". LA Times. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- ^ See www.tvguide.com/tvshows/wizard-oz/205567 (accessed on January 19, 2011)
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 913–914. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, Third Edition. Infobase Publishing (New York, NY). p. 670.
- ^ L. Frank Baum, The Annotated Wizard of Oz, edited by Michael Patrick Hearn, New York, Crown, 1976; p. 96. ISBN 0-517-50086-8.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (Third Edition), Facts on File, 2009, p. 670
- ^ Iotis Erlewine (2012). "Wizard of Oz: Danger in a Strange Land (1991)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ Iotis Erlewine (2012). "Wizard of Oz: We're off to Save the Wizard (1991)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2011-01-19.