iReview | THE LORD OF THE RINGS Original Animated Classic

The Animated Classic in a Remastered Deluxe Edition on Blu-ray.

One of the most extraordinary fantasy adventures of all time was first brought to the big screen in an ambitious endeavor by animator Ralph Bakshi, and it continues to marvel audiences of every generation.

Animation as a cinematic art form wasn’t always as well-regarded as it is in contemporary times. In the late 60s and into the 70s, even Disney wasn’t producing the caliber of blockbusters that it had been known for. One very ambitious filmmaker found that for the medium of animation to thrive, it had to elevate to match the creative times — it had to break boundaries and push the envelope. That filmmaker was Ralph Bakshi, who had been better known for creating animated films that were more risqué, features that appealed to a more adult audience, but there was one project Bakshi had set his mind on that would prove the greatest challenge of his career.

A fan of the fantasy genre, Bakshi purchased the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and immediately set out to find a backing studio to help him bring the most fantastic literary fantasy epic to life. Before Peter Jackson adapted it to the big screen as a live-action spectacular, Bakshi had faith he could do the tale justice and produced The Lord of the Rings: The Original Animated Classic, now remastered for a deluxe edition. The Blu-ray release includes a riveting special feature, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the animated feature told in Bakshi’s own words.

Mostly shot using live actors, the action was captured and then rotoscoped, an essentially new technique at the time, to create an almost photo-realistic effect. The leading actors were stylistically designed, and the script was kept close to the source material. Although only about two-thirds of the whole adventure was animated in the feature, you can still experience much of this beloved classic, and especially how it inevitably inspired Jackson to pursue his cinematic trilogy. So much of Ralph Bakshi’s love of the genre, animation, and his determination are built into this release.

Truly a classic, The Lord of the Rings, the animated classic is a must-have for any fan, and completes the collection of any adventurer inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. It is also a cinematic achievement and speaks to the dedication of Ralph Bakshi to share his gift of masterful storytelling as told through the art of animation. It will stand as one of the best animated adventures of all time.

Get your #FanzEyeView of original home video release trailer THE LORD OF THE RINGS Original Animated Classic, available now, newly remastered on Blu-ray here:

THE LORD OF THE RINGS Original Animated Classic | Remastered Deluxe Edition | is available on Blu-ray, newly remastered for this deluxe edition, and includes bonus Special Features. The package costs $17.96 on Amazon.

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