Wizards
A psychedelic animated quest pits a diminutive wizard and his allies against a fascist mutant empire in a ruined future where Tolkien-like magic collides with mechanized technology.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- psychedelic
- surreal
- irreverent
- midnight movie
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film as an ambitious, visually inventive cult animation whose bizarre fusion of fantasy, science fiction, and anti-fascist imagery is more compelling than its uneven storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Painted live-action footage of advancing Nazi armies is juxtaposed with cartoon-style animation of fairies and elves.
The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future blending radioactive realms, magical kingdoms, and World War II-derived imagery.
Avatar's magical quest opposes Blackwolf's technologically empowered mutant armies and manipulated robot programming.
The film uses Hitler speech projections, Nazi army footage, mutants, fairies, elves, and radioactive landscapes in a surreal cult-animation register.
Films like Wizards, and why
Heavy Metal
post-apocalyptic fantasy, animated spectacle, and a conflict between magic and technology
Fantastic Planet
surreal adult animation, dystopian futurism, and psychedelic visual experimentation
The Dark Crystal
fantasy adventure, eccentric world-building, and a collision between medieval imagery and advanced technology
The Lord of the Rings
cult animation, anti-fascist themes, and heightened science fiction fantasy
Movie Details
- Director
- Ralph Bakshi
- Release Date
- 1977-02-09
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (254)
Cast
- Bob Holt
- Jesse Welles
- Richard Romanus
- David Proval
- Mark Hamill
- Jim Connell
- Steve Gravers
- Barbara Sloane
- Angelo Grisanti
- Hyman Wien
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wizards about?
- A psychedelic animated quest pits a diminutive wizard and his allies against a fascist mutant empire in a ruined future where Tolkien-like magic collides with mechanized technology.
- What is Wizards like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wizards as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Wizards violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Wizards as moderate.
- What did critics think of Wizards?
- Critics broadly recognize the film as an ambitious, visually inventive cult animation whose bizarre fusion of fantasy, science fiction, and anti-fascist imagery is more compelling than its uneven storytelling.
- Which films are like Wizards?
- Films with a similar feel include Heavy Metal, Fantastic Planet, The Dark Crystal, and The Lord of the Rings.
- How long is Wizards?
- Wizards runs 81 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wizards?
- In United States, Wizards streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
