Bashki’s Beautiful Animated Disaster ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Gets Fancy Makeover

The Lord of the Rings franchise has earned significant profits over the last twenty years and is expected to do so again with the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum. However, the first time filmmakers tried to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic story to the screen, the result was a failure. This history has led to renewed interest in a recent deluxe re-release of that original adaptation.

Nearly fifty years ago, the animated Lord of the Rings movie failed at the box office. This failure discouraged other studios from adapting Tolkien’s work for more than two decades. It was not until director Peter Jackson, known for his horror films, took on the project that the story found success in Hollywood. Jackson’s live-action trilogy became one of the most successful film series ever made. In contrast, the 1978 animated film told only part of Tolkien’s story and received negative reviews from critics at the time.

Over the years, opinions about the animated movie have changed. Some viewers now see value in the attempt to bring Tolkien’s complex world to animation, even if the film had its problems. Many fans believe the movie deserves the special edition it has recently received.

Those expecting a large, multi-disc release like Jackson’s extended editions may be let down. It includes a special interview with director Ralph Bakshi, titled “Forging Through the Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for The Lord of the Rings.” The film ends after the Battle of Helm’s Deep because the production ran out of money, but most viewers already know how the story concludes. The voice cast features actors such as Christopher Guard, John Hurt, William Squire, Michael Scholes, and Simon Chandler.

There is an interesting detail about the film’s production. Jackson’s trilogy was originally planned as two movies, but the studio expanded it to three to better cover the story. The animated film was first planned as a trilogy as well, but the studio behind it cut the plan to two films and then dropped the second part. Warner Bros. later asked Bakshi if he wanted to finish his version while Jackson’s movies were in development, but he declined because he had not been informed about the live-action project.

Despite its troubled release, the animated Lord of the Rings has earned some recognition. It was ranked number 36 on Time Out’s list of greatest animated movies. Your mileage may vary.

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