Product Details

• Actors: Aileen Quinn
• Directors: John Danylkiw
• Format: Animated, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 79 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000656J
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,084 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There's no place like Oz, Anime-style!, July 30, 2004

By 

Jonathon Turner "Jon Turner" (Highland Park, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wizard of Oz [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Not to be confused with the 1939 classic with Judy Garland, this Anime adaptation of L. Frank Baum's masterpiece, THE WIZARD OF OZ was made in 1982 by Toho and directed by Fumihiko Takayama. Interesting fact: in Japan, it runs at 60 minutes, while in the U.S. it clocks in around 79! It also follows the first book more closely than the 1939 classic did; e.g. when the Wizard appears before the individual companions, he's in a different form (a disembodied head, an angelic woman, a rhino/triceratops creature, and a blazing inferno) and the Witch sends her wolves and crows BEFORE her flying monkeys capture Dorothy and her comrades, etc.

I videotaped this off the Disney Channel several years ago, but have since obtained an official video copy (thanks to winning another EBAY auction). Of course, it's dub only, so I am unable to compare it to the subtitles (a petty price to pay, because I think it already scores in the accuracy department in being faithful to the original story, linewise and characterwise).

That said, for an early 80's dub, THE WIZARD OF OZ features some surprisingly good voice acting. The best voice in the dub belongs to Aileen Quinn (best known as the title character from ANNIE); her Dorothy is convincing, full of energy, and endearing. She also has a great singing voice (even if the adapted lyrics on the three songs are occasionally choppy). It's a shame she's not doing anymore films, much less dubs; Quinn showcases amazing talent for such a young age. The late Billy Van plays the Scarecrow, and while he doesn't replace Ray Bolger's legendary take on the supposedly brainless straw man (then again neither does the rest of the cast to their characters, but I'm not going to compare this dub unfavorably to the masterpiece we know and love) he manages to hit the right spot.

Those of you who may have watched most of Nelvana's TV shows, such as THE CARE BEARS and BABAR may recognize two of the voice actors from these two shows. John Stocker, the voice of the Tin Man (who, by the way, is quite good), is best known as Mr. Beastly from THE CARE BEARS as well as Zephir the Monkey from the theatrical release of BABAR. Elizabeth Hanna is best known, likewise, as the old lady from BABAR, and it is refreshing to hear her play a villain (or in this case, the Wicked Witch of the West); her cackling is dead-on and although she has a small part (unlike the 1939 version) Hanna makes the most of it. (She's also the voice of the Good Witch of the North and Auntie Em.)

There are only two actors who don't quite fare so well. First is the Cowardly Lion, played by Thick Wilson. Wilson has an appropriately gravel voice, and his acting isn't too bad, but he doesn't come off as much of a scaredy-cat (scaredy-lion?) as Bert Lahr did. Lorne Greene as the Wizard is the weakest of the cast; his performance is more detached and not as well done as the others.

Aside from that (and the rough lyrics from the songs), the only problems I noticed with this dub is the dialogue and lip synchronization. The script features some occasionally awkward-sounding lines, mostly due to lipflap purposes. The synchronization is not as bad as HI-TOPS' SWAN LAKE dub, but there are moments when the dialogue seems unmeshed with the mouth. However, given that this was a product of the early 1980's, this is best to be expected.

Even with its flaws, this dub of a classic story Anime-style isn't a horrible listen at all, as it's nowhere nearly as bad as the only real stinker I've heard from the 1980's, Streamline's distributed AKIRA.

The movie was released on video by Paramount several years ago, but is badly out of print. You can best find it on EBAY.

Speaking of the movie's artistic and aural merits, the animation is occasionally stiff, but the colors are pretty and the characters well drawn. One thing that needs mentioning is the music score by Joe Hisaishi (of Miyazaki fame) and Yuichiro Oda. It's an interesting mixture of light jazz and contemporary music; it fits well with the story (even if Harold Arlen's Oscar-winning score remains unmatched).

All in all, this now obscure Japanese animated adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ, although inferior to the 1939 classic, manages to be enjoyable on its own turf, despite its age.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, GrEaT, GREAT!!!, March 3, 2002

By 

Rebecca B Norment (Paris, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wizard of Oz [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When I was young I'd always rent his movie at Blockbuster. I'm suprised they didn't just give the movie to me because I rented it every Friday, and never got tired of it. The songs were stuck in my head 24/7 and I'd pretend that I was TOTO!For a few years they must have put it in the back room because I didn't see it on the shelf for atleast 3 years! My dad told me somebody probably never turned it in, or they put it on the bairgain table and sold it. But yesterday when I went in to rent "Cinderella 2" I saw they had the "For Sale" table up! I looked all over the table, and under "Zenon, Girl Of The 21st Century" was this edition of "The Wizard Of Oz"!!! I forgot all about "Cinderella 2" and went to the checkout line. I was soooo happy. The clerks thought I was ba~zookas, and one old lady asked if I felt OK!! It was like 8.99 so I paid joyfully. When I got home I ran upstairs (forgetting to shut the door) and watched! I remembered all the songs, and sound effects. This is probably more suitable for little kids than the Judy Garland version. The songs are wonderful! And what's more is Aileen Quinn (Annie!!) stars as Dorothy!! I totaly reccomend buing this, whether used or WHAT, you'll ABSOLUTLY love it!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 11, 2002

By 

Liza (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wizard of Oz [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This cartoon was excellent! I really enjoyed it when I was younger, but unfortunetly, I haven't seen it for years and years.
I have wonderful memories, from this japanese anime cartoon, but only have small glimpes of the film in my mind...
Overall the cartoon was gorgeous. I haven't seen it anywhere...