This was one of the only three Bakshi films I have seen along with "Hey, Good Lookin" and "Cool World". Wizards is the one I remember the most. I saw it when I was 9 at the theatre and was absolutely enamored with all the imagery, characters and animation. This is a story of Good Versus Evil personified between twin brothers. Avatar is the good and friendly little chubby wizard. Blackwolf is the sinister and evil leader of the army of mutants and neo-Nazis. I also adored the beautiful Elinore and all the cute little cherubs and creatures. The character of Peace was my favorite. This is a cartoon that I enjoyed seeing as a child, but didn't fully understand its underlying political and moral messages till I was an adult. I wish Ralph Bakshi had a protégé who could revive and continue his work, because this surreal animation can be very powerful and direct when handled properly. Wizards may suffer from its cut-rate budget, but there is enough production quality and rotoscoping to enhance its appeal. The whole idea of this animated film stands solid on its own merits.
Review of Wizards
