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Fox Home Ent. will release Ralph Bakshi’s influential animated feature Wizards in a special 35th Edition Blu-ray and book tie-in package on March 13. This “epic fantasy of peace and magic” stars the voice talent of Star Wars’ Mark Hamill. The special edition release will include, 24 pages of special artwork from the film (some of which have never been seen before) as well as a special message from Bakshi.

Source: http://www.animationmagazine.net/home_e ... -in-march/

Cool! Thanks for posting. This movie is pretty good, daring and interesting. With a bigger budget it could have been more epic but its Ralph Bakshi and I think he made the film he wanted to make. A family film... a post apocalyptic family film with magic and neo nazis. Lol,gotta love Ralph...

Ha, interesting. I'll add it to my wish list, even though I have odd feelings about Bakshi. Though I love American Pop, I generally find his other films more amusing oddities than anything else. Like, if you wanna watch some trippy or weird animation that's not for kids, but not scary/depressing trippy/weird like "The Wall", then a Bakshi is good, but I prefer something more like Heavy Metal or Rock and Rule, ha (or you can just go with Anime, ha).

I requested this movie on DVD from my local library after I saw the Blu-ray release news. I've only see Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings and Cool World, both of which I didn't like. Something about 70's and 80's animation really intrigues me, so I'll check this film out on DVD first and then decide if I am interested in the Blu-ray release.

The still frame intro are really well-drawn and the story is presented as very serious and epic, then it gets into the movie and its kinda silly and crazy. def not the same feel as the intros. its at least worth watching one time, even tho you may not like it.

Maerj wrote:The still frame intro are really well-drawn and the story is presented as very serious and epic, then it gets into the movie and its kinda silly and crazy. def not the same feel as the intros. its at least worth watching one time, even tho you may not like it.

I agree, I thought this was going to be an epic adventure, but from what I saw it wasn't. I borrowed the DVD from my library and gave up on it about 20 minutes in, however, I thought about it some more and I am going to give it a 2nd try. There have been a few movies that I disliked at first but now love (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Last Unicorn), so I think it's only fair to watch something all the way through to give it a fair shot.

I am just not a fan of Bakshi's style. I think his films lack consistency in style and quality, but from what I've read, that's what some fans enjoy about his work. To each his own, I guess!

Bakshi was never really concerned with animation technique. He uses animation to tell personal stories. If he didn't have the money to animate the whole thing, he would rotoscope the rest. Blend in live action into the backgrounds, whatever he had to do to get the movie done. He didn't usually have big budgets on his films but he did what he wanted and amazingly got the films made.

Fritz the Cat was one of his really good ones, IMHO. Its dirty and wild and funny. His films seem to deal with racial issues a lot as well. His movies are def not for the easlit offended.

I thought that Fire and Ice was another good movie by him. A TON of rotoscoping but he used it very well, I think. Nice character designs, too.

He's really a fascinating guy and a really great artist. Look for some of his interviews on youttube and check out what he has to say. Very inspiring to young artists.

Also, he produced the New Adventures of Mighty Mouse in the 80s, which started the career of John K., creator of Ren & Stimpy.

Maerj wrote:Bakshi was never really concerned with animation technique. He uses animation to tell personal stories. If he didn't have the money to animate the whole thing, he would rotoscope the rest. Blend in live action into the backgrounds, whatever he had to do to get the movie done. He didn't usually have big budgets on his films but he did what he wanted and amazingly got the films made.

Thanks for explaining that way of looking at his films. I ended up giving Wizards another go and appreciated it much more after taking to mind some of the things you said. I don't know if I'll ever be a Bakshi fan, but I can appreciate his films and the use of animation as a medium.