Today’s quick review: Wizards. Millions of years in the future, nuclear holocaust has ravaged the Earth, mutated the remaining humans, and given rise to a new age of magic in the lands untouched by radiation. When the evil wizard Blackwolf (Steve Gravers) uses ancient technology to wage war against the forces of light, his good brother Avatar (Bob Holt) sets out to stop him with his companions Elinore (Jesse Welles) and Weehawk (Richard Romanus).
Wizards is an animated fantasy adventure from Ralph Bashki. Set in a fantasy world where technology wars against magic, the movie follows a wizard, a fairy, and an elf as they embark on a perilous journey. Wizards has a distinctive animation style that combines cartoonish characters, intricate hand-drawn backgrounds, and a variety of mixed media techniques. The result is a one-of-a-kind film whose story and art style are both hit-or-miss.
Wizards is an unusual blend of childish and mature. The world it takes place in, the rubbery character designs, and the simple setup of good versus evil all indicate a family-friendly fantasy film. But Wizards doesn’t stop there. It also includes graphic depictions of war, an unflinchingly evil villain in Blackwolf, and a modest amount of nudity and swearing. The juxtaposition makes Wizards a difficult film to pin down.
Wizards has the most to offer for those who are interested in animation as a medium. Its art style is bizarre enough to turn off casual viewers, and it lacks the polish that modern audiences will be used to. Meanwhile, its story doesn’t have enough depth to carry the film. But in spite of these weaknesses, Wizards does manage to carve out a niche for itself thanks to its earnestness, one-of-a-kind designs, and creative use of the medium.
For an animated adventure with a serious story and subtler character work, try The Secret of NIMH. For a fantasy epic set in a more fleshed-out world, try The Lord of the Rings. For a fantasy adventure with a similar tone, try Time Bandits.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for hit-or-miss art and a thin story.