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The Wizard of Oz (TV series)

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This article is about the 1990 series. For the 1986 series, see The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (TV series). For other adaptations, see Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz § Television.
The Wizard of Oz
GenreAction
Adventure
Comedy
Family
Fantasy
Musical
Based onThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
The Wizard of Oz
by Noel Langley
Florence Ryerson
Edgar Allan Woolf
Developed byDoug Molitor
Written byElana Lesser
Cliff Ruby
Doug Molitor
Voices ofCharlie Adler
Pat Fraley
Liz Georges
David Lodge
Tress MacNeille
Alan Oppenheimer
Hal Rayle
B.J. Ward
Frank Welker
ComposerTom Worrall
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producerAndy Heyward
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesDIC Animation City
Turner Entertainment Co.
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 8 (1990-09-08) –
December 28, 1990 (1990-12-28)

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]

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

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Dorothy 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

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The 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

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No.TitleOriginal air date
1"The Rescue of the Emerald City: Part 1"September 8, 1990 (1990-09-08)
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 (1990-09-15)
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 (1990-09-22)
Cowardly Lion is tricked by the Wicked Witch and put under a spell that makes him fearless.
4"Crystal Clear"September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29)
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 (1990-10-06)
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 (1990-10-13)
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 (1990-10-20)
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 (1990-10-30)
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 (1990-11-03)
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 (1990-12-10)
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion arrive in Mechanica where everything is made of tin.
11"Upside-Down Town"December 17, 1990 (1990-12-17)
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 (1990-12-24)
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 (1990-12-28)
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

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Additional voices

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Crew

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International and re-airings

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After 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

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United States

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"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

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United Kingdom

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Heffley, Lynne (September 7, 1990). "A Cartoon 'Oz' for Saturday TV". LA Times. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  2. ^ See www.tvguide.com/tvshows/wizard-oz/205567 (accessed on January 19, 2011)
  3. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 913–914. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  4. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, Third Edition. Infobase Publishing (New York, NY). p. 670.
  5. ^ L. Frank Baum, The Annotated Wizard of Oz, edited by Michael Patrick Hearn, New York, Crown, 1976; p. 96. ISBN 0-517-50086-8.
  6. ^ Lenburg, Jeff, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (Third Edition), Facts on File, 2009, p. 670
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
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