As a fantasy enthusiast, Wizards (1977) had been on my radar for a long while, but I never got around to watching it. However, as the new year arrived, I decided to finally give it a go and I’m so glad I did!
Wizards (1977) is an animated epic fantasy–science fiction film both written and directed by Ralph Bakshi, the filmmaker who helmed the cult classic animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings a year later. As someone who as a child wouldn’t sleep unless Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings was on in the background, I’ve been familiar with his work for a while, both consciously and as unconsciously as the audio continued playing into my ears whilst I dreamt. Later as an adult, I checked out Fritz the Cat and Coonskin.
Despite my love and admiration for Bakshi’s work, for some reason, it’s only taken me until 2026 to watch Wizards. Don’t ask me why. Let’s call it a strong case of procrastination.
Don’t expect a thorough review here, but rather a little write up of what I loved!
From the first scene, Wizards felt so very familiar, with the fantastical warmth that I expected. But this movie very quickly separated itself from a typical fantasy endeavour. Set in an alternate version of our world, it takes place 10 million years in the future after a nuclear war has devastated civilization. In the future, two forces inhabit the world. The first is magic and nature, which is predominantly represented by elves, fairies, and the good wizard named Avatar. The second is represented by mutants — humans cursed by darkness and radiation — and that side of the world is one of technological advancement. It is embraced by the wizard Blackwolf (Avatar’s sibling) who harkens back to fascist ideology.
The central message and metaphor of Wizards is a little too on the nose, but not enough to distract from layered characters and an exciting story. At its core, it takes on the archetypal fantasy structure; a team of unlikely allies embark on a quest to defeat an all-powerful wizard.
When it gets dark, Bakshi delivers some chilling sequences. Although don’t be fooled, there is a lightheartedness to it as well. Despite being released almost 50 years ago, the concept of ‘modern’ warfare vs. fantasy is rarely done in such a steadfast way as it is in Wizards. The contrast between the two forces in Wizards is extremely unique and makes for some wonderfully engaging sequences.
It shares a lot of the same quirks as Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings, and I say that in the most positive way. The Lord of the Rings (1978) comes out every Christmas Eve in our household and we watch it with much love and admiration. It’s become a family tradition. As for Wizards, it didn’t quite hold the same magic, but it totally retains the sincerity. The ’70s animation is very much of the time; it’s absolutely aged, inconsistent and unpolished, but that’s totally fine. There’s a charm and a warmth that instantly engulfs you in the fantastical world. Animation today could take a few notes from Wizards. It encompasses a range of styles, from cozy fairytale, to dark real-world imagery, to almost psychedelic sequences.
Overall, Wizards stands as a fantastic fantasy movie. It’s got all the hallmarks of a great genre film, and plenty more than that. I’m delighted that I finally managed to watch it!
Buy Wizards here.
