The Wizard of Oz (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Wizard of Oz
Genre	Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Based on
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(s)	Tom Worrall
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producer(s)	Andy Heyward
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	DIC Animation City Turner Entertainment Co.
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	September 8 (1990-09-08) – December 28, 1990 (1990-12-28)

The Wizard of Oz is a 1990 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.. The series aired for thirteen episodes and premiered on ABC, starting on September 8, 1990. The show presented a number of stories and characters from L. Frank Baum's original Oz series.

Series premise

Dorothy has decided to return to Oz with Toto using the ruby slippers that showed up on her doorstep. Upon arriving there she reunites with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, she learns from Glinda the Good Witch that the Wicked Witch of the West has been resurrected by her evil winged monkeys and that the Emerald City has been taken over by her. 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. Author Jeff Lenburg mentioned an aspect of the series wherein Dorothy has to learn to believe in oneself.

The ruby slippers

To combat the idea that the slippers would provide Dorothy with ultimate power against the Witch, they didn't always work correctly, apparently because she wasn't entirely sure how to use them. They often didn't do exactly as she asked, acting unpredictably. In the second episode, she clicks her heels four times to correct the Witch's damage to the Emerald City, as to imply that a fourth click has more power than three. Glinda often told her to only use them as a last resort.

Similarly, the Wicked Witch's crystal ball was unpredictable, often only working once a day. The episode "Crystal Clear" explains that this was caused by the ball's creator having intentionally stabbed/cracked it with a carving knife, during the witch's theft attempt, in order to prevent her from using its full potential.

The Wicked Witch does manage to get the slippers once in the series. However, Truckle manages to steal them from her, and she is unable to use their power to their full advantage. The Cowardly Lion also gets to wear them briefly.

Similarities to the 1939 film

The series incorporated 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 Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid and was not intended to resemble Judy Garland, as well as Dorothy's dress being a solid blue as opposed to the gingham style from the film. In addition, the series incorporated music from the original film, including a slightly altered version of "We're Off to See the Wizard". Toto, as in the film, also seems to be able to "smell" the Wicked Witch or her spellwork, even when she's in disguise. A reversal of the archetype from the film was that Dorothy got herself from Kansas to Oz by clicking her heels in her slippers and saying "There's no place like Oz".

Differences from the 1939 film

While the series is mostly based on the 1939 film, there are some issues with the canon of it. In the film, it is largely implied that Oz was a head-trauma-induced delirium, instead of a real place, while in the series it was a real place. The only sequel that depicts Oz as a dream is the 1974 animated film Journey Back to Oz, where Dorothy once again has a head injury before finding herself back in Oz. The program could only be a spinoff, partly because it violates the rule of the ruby slippers, that they could never come off the feet of their wearer, as long as he / she is still alive.

Episodes

Principal voice actors

• 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

• Jack Angel –
• Hamilton Camp –
• Pat Fraley – Truckle the Winged Monkey
• Bibi Osterwald –
• Rob Paulsen –
• Ken Sansom –
• Susan Silo – Munchkin Mayor

Crew

• Susan Blu – Voice Director
• Ginny McSwain – Casting Director

International and re-airings

After its run on ABC, the series reaired on Syndication on Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures block from 1992 until 1993. The series also aired on Toon Disney from the channel's launch in 1998 until 2002.

In Canada, the series aired on YTV from 1990 to 1995.

Home media

United States

International

United Kingdom

Other Countries

The complete series, dubbed into Serbian, was released on four DVDs in 2006 for the region of Serbia and Montenegro.