Adaptations of classic stories are fascinating in that they show how different creators approach and use the same concepts and plot beats. By looking at what various adaptions of the same source material do with the story, fans can learn a lot about the people who created that version and the context in which they made it.
The Wizard of Oz is a fantastic example of this; there are many adaptions of L. Frank Baum’s classic book series, from legendary movies to small-scale stage plays. However, the anime version — titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — is a superb but tragically overlooked adaptation.
What Is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, or Ozu no Mahōtsukai as it was known in Japan, first released in 1986. Made by studio Panmedia, the show had an all-star production team. The first part of the series is directed by Masaru Tonogouchi (Tiger Mask) with the second half handled by Hiroshi Saitō (Tanoshii Moomin Ikka).
The anime ran for 52 episodes and was split into four story arcs, with each one based on one of the Oz books. This includes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz. The story follows Dorothy Gale, a young girl who gets whisked away to the magical land of Oz. While there, she meets many strange and magical creatures — some of whom she befriends and helps, like the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man. However, she also encounters people who want to harm her — including the legendary Wicked Witch of the West.
Many Americans might find The Wonderful Wizard of Oz strangely familiar thanks to its rather odd localization history. The series was initially localized, turned into four movies and released on VHS and LaserDisc. However, this version of the anime removes loads of content, leading to a wildly different viewing experience; the story feels fractured and messy as some important scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
HBO then bought the show in 1987 and dubbed it in English, presenting it as both an episodic show and a series of short movies. This version is likely the one most Americans will be familiar with. However, many may not have realized the show was an anime since a lot of effort was made to hide its Japanese origin, even removing most of the original Japanese team from the credits.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Anime Will Delight Fans of the Classic Film
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’s length sets it apart from other Oz adaptations. While the original Wizard Of Oz tale is well-known and has been adapted many times, it is rare to see Ozma of Oz and The Emerald City of Oz get any attention. Because of this, the anime is a treat for hardcore Oz fans as they get to enjoy a new take on these lesser-known and rarely adapted stories.
This isn’t a perfect adaption as the series makes many changes, especially when it reaches parts from the third book. During these segments, the anime frequently inserts Dorothy into stories she wasn’t present for in the original text. Even so, it is nice to see these often-overlooked tales from the Oz series get some attention.
The anime version also has a wonderfully adorable animation style that fuses classic ’80s anime aesthetics with visual flares inspired by Disney and classic fairytale art. These elements come together to make Oz feel like a wonderfully strange yet deeply whimsical place that captures the atmosphere of the books and gives each creature and location a unique feel. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz must also be credited for stepping out and trying its own thing; while the show clearly takes cues from the classic film version (especially when it comes to Dorothy and her friends’ designs), it does try to do its own thing, putting new visual twists on famous scenes and locations.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a glorious take on the classic Oz tales. For anyone who wants to enjoy these classic stories but has grown a little bored with the 1939 film version, this anime presents a unique, visually pleasing take on the tales fans already love. It even makes the series a surprisingly effective gateway anime for those new to the medium.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Leave a Reply