The Wizard of Oz (TV series)

Animated television series based on the 1939 movie

This article is about the 1990 series. For the 1986 series, see The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (TV series). For other adaptations, see Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz § Television.

The Wizard of Oz

Genre| Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Based on| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
The Wizard of Oz
by Noel Langley
Florence Ryerson
Edgar Allan Woolf
Developed by| Doug Molitor
Written by| Elana Lesser
Cliff Ruby
Doug Molitor
Voices of| Charlie Adler
Pat Fraley
Liz Georges
David Lodge
Tress MacNeille
Alan Oppenheimer
Hal Rayle
B.J. Ward
Frank Welker
Composer| Tom Worrall
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 13
Production
Executive producer| Andy Heyward
Running time| 30 minutes
Production companies| DIC Animation City
Turner Entertainment Co.
Original release
Network| ABC
Release| September 8 (1990-09-08) –
December 28, 1990 (1990-12-28)

The Wizard of Oz is a 1990 American animated television series produced by DIC Animation City to capitalize on the popularity of the 1939 film version, to which DiC had acquired the rights from Turner Entertainment, Co.[1] The series aired for thirteen episodes and premiered on ABC, starting on September 8, 1990.[2] The show presented a number of stories and characters from L. Frank Baum's original Oz series.[3]

Author Jeff Lenburg mentioned an aspect of the series wherein Dorothy has to learn to believe in herself.[4]

In the series, Dorothy uses the ruby slippers to return to Oz. She learns that the winged monkeys have already resurrected the Wicked Witch of the West, who has conquered the Emerald City. The Wizard is trapped with a spell involving a never-ending wind, and Dorothy has to rescue him.

## Plot

[edit]

Dorothy has decided to return to Oz with Toto, by using the ruby slippers that showed up on her doorstep. She invokes her return by clicking her heels and reciting "There is no place like Oz". Upon arriving there, she reunites with Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.

Dorothy learns from Glinda that the Wicked Witch of the West has been resurrected by Truckle and his fellow winged monkeys. With the Wicked Witch of the West back from the dead, the Emerald City has been taken over by her and she has stolen the gifts that were given to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.[1]

The Wizard is in his hot air balloon, which is under a spell that causes it to be constantly blown around by an evil wind. Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion set out to rescue him and defeat the Wicked Witch once and for all.

## Comparison with source material

[edit]

The series incorporated music and visual elements from the 1939 film version, including the Scarecrow's diploma and Dorothy's ruby slippers. At the same time, the character of Dorothy was designed with an appearance similar to that of Princess Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid and was not intended to resemble Judy Garland.[1] In the film, it is largely implied that Oz was a head-trauma-induced delirium,[5] instead of a real place, while in the TV series, it was a real land.

## Episodes

[edit]

Nº  | Title  | Air date

|
|

1| "The Rescue of the Emerald City: Part 1"| September 8, 1990 (1990-09-08)

Dorothy returns to Oz and learns from Glinda that the Wicked Witch has been resurrected by a magic ritual by Truckle and his fellow winged monkeys. The Wicked Witch has taken over the Emerald City in an attempt to rule over the Land of Oz. She also created an evil wind to blow around the Wizard's balloon and stole the gifts he gave to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.

2| "The Rescue of the Emerald City: Part 2"| September 15, 1990 (1990-09-15)

Dorothy sets out to rescue Toto and Cowardly Lion, who have been kidnapped by the Wicked Witch and taken to the Emerald City.

3| "Fearless"| September 22, 1990 (1990-09-22)

Cowardly Lion is tricked by the Wicked Witch and put under a spell that makes him fearless.

4| "Crystal Clear"| September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29)

The Wicked Witch of the West sets out to find a crystal ball that will always work, and it's up to the Scarecrow to protect the crystal ball, with or without a brain.

5| "We're Not in Kansas Anymore"| October 6, 1990 (1990-10-06)

The Wicked Witch of the West creates a false Kansas and tricks Dorothy into visiting it in hopes of getting the Ruby Slippers. She poses as Aunt Em while Truckle poses as Uncle Henry.

6| "The Lion that Squeaked"| October 13, 1990 (1990-10-13)

The Wicked Witch of the West uses her magic to steal Cowardly Lion's roar and give it to a hyena that is Cowardly Lion's rival.

7| "Dream a Little Dream"| October 20, 1990 (1990-10-20)

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are trapped in the Cowardly Lion's dreams as the Wicked Witch of the West enters the dream to trap them there forever.

8| "A Star Is Gone"| October 30, 1990 (1990-10-30)

The Wicked Witch of the West is able to annul the Ruby Slippers' abilities entirely by capturing a red Luminary (teardrop-shaped creatures who control all color in Oz) and forcing him to drain the red magical glow from the slippers, rendering them powerless.

9| "Time Town"| November 3, 1990 (1990-11-03)

The Wicked Witch of the West begins erasing the Land of Oz's history, thus causing Glinda and the Wizard to lose their memories.

10| "The Marvelous Milkmaid of Mechanica"| December 10, 1990 (1990-12-10)

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion arrive in Mechanica where everything is made of tin.

11| "Upside-Down Town"| December 17, 1990 (1990-12-17)

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion end up in Upside-Down Town where everything is the opposite.

12| "The Day the Music Died"| December 24, 1990 (1990-12-24)

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion follow the Wizard to Music Town where they must help the town's citizen's get their music back which the Wicked Witch has stolen.

13| "Hot Air"| December 28, 1990 (1990-12-28)

The Wizard's balloon is heading for Pincushion Pass and the heroes are helpless to come to his aid while getting involved in a balloon race.

## Principal voice actors

[edit]

* Liz Georges – Dorothy Gale
* David Lodge – Scarecrow
* Hal Rayle – Tin Man
* Charlie Adler – Cowardly Lion
* Frank Welker – Toto, Hyena (ep. 6)
* Tress MacNeille – Wicked Witch of the West, Miranda (ep. 10)
* B.J. Ward – Glinda
* Alan Oppenheimer – Wizard of Oz

### Additional voices

[edit]

* Jack Angel
* Hamilton Camp
* Pat Fraley – Truckle the Winged Monkey[6]
* Bibi Osterwald
* Rob Paulsen
* Ken Sansom
* Susan Silo – Munchkin Mayor (ep. 1)

## Crew

[edit]

* Susan Blu – Voice Director
* Ginny McSwain – Casting Director

## International and re-airings

[edit]

After its run on ABC, the series reaired on Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures block from 1992 until 1993, and on Toon Disney from the channel's launch in 1998 until 2002. The series also reaired on HBO.

In Canada, the series aired on YTV from 1990 to 1995.

## Home media

[edit]

### United States

[edit]

"The Marvelous Milkmaid of Mechanica" has never been released in the United States in any home video format. "The Lion that Squeaked" is available only on VHS.

Release  | Format  | Episodes  | Distributor  | Release date

|
|
|
|

The Rescue of Oz  | VHS  | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I
The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II | Turner Home Entertainment | 1991
Danger in a Strange Land[7] | Time Town
The Day the Music Died
We're Off to Save the Wizard[8] | Upside Downtown
A Star is Gone
Ruby Slipper Slip Up  | The Lion that Squeaked
A Star is Gone
Fearless  | Fearless | Buena Vista Home Video | 1994
Crystal Clear  | Crystal Clear
The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I  | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I
The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II  | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II
Rescue of the Emerald City  | VHS/DVD  | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I
The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II
The Day the Music Died (DVD only)  | Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Trimark Home Video | April 23, 2002
The Continuing Story  | Time Town
We're not in Kansas Anymore
Crystal Clear
Fearless (DVD only)  | Sterling Entertainment | September 2, 2003
We're Off to Save the Wizard!  | Hot Air
A Star is Gone
Upside Downtown
Dream a Little Dream (DVD only)  | September 5, 2005

### International

[edit]

### United Kingdom

[edit]

Release  | Format  | Episodes  | Distributor  | Release date

|
|
|
|

The Wizard of Oz - Volume 1  | VHS/DVD  | The Rescue of the Emerald City Part I
The Rescue of the Emerald City Part II
Crystal Clear
Fearless | Anchor Bay UK | 2004
The Wizard of Oz - Volume 2  | DVD  | The Marvelous Milkmaid Of Mechanica
The Lion That Squeaked
A Star is Gone
Hot Air
The Wizard of Oz - Volume 1  | A Star is Gone
Dream a Little Dream | Avenue Entertainment  | 2005
The Wizard of Oz - Volume 2  | We're Not in Kansas Anymore
Time Town

## See also

[edit]

* Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Heffley, Lynne (September 7, 1990). "A Cartoon 'Oz' for Saturday TV". LA Times. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
2. ^ See www.tvguide.com/tvshows/wizard-oz/205567 (accessed on January 19, 2011)
3. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 913–914. ISBN 978-1476665993.
4. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, Third Edition. Infobase Publishing (New York, NY). p. 670.
5. ^ L. Frank Baum, The Annotated Wizard of Oz, edited by Michael Patrick Hearn, New York, Crown, 1976; p. 96. ISBN 0-517-50086-8.
6. ^ Lenburg, Jeff, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (Third Edition), Facts on File, 2009, p. 670
7. ^ Iotis Erlewine (2012). "Wizard of Oz: Danger in a Strange Land (1991)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
8. ^ Iotis Erlewine (2012). "Wizard of Oz: We're off to Save the Wizard (1991)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2011-01-19.

## External links

[edit]

* The Wizard of Oz at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Books

| Novels|

| Baum|

* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904)
* Ozma of Oz (1907)
* Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908)
* The Road to Oz (1909)
* The Emerald City of Oz (1910)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1913)
* Tik-Tok of Oz (1914)
* The Scarecrow of Oz (1915)
* Rinkitink in Oz (1916)
* The Lost Princess of Oz (1917)
* The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918)
* The Magic of Oz (1919)
* Glinda of Oz (1920)

|

Thompson|

* The Royal Book of Oz (1921)
* Kabumpo in Oz (1922)
* The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923)
* Grampa in Oz (1924)
* The Lost King of Oz (1925)
* The Hungry Tiger of Oz (1926)
* The Gnome King of Oz (1927)
* The Giant Horse of Oz (1928)
* Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929)
* The Yellow Knight of Oz (1930)
* Pirates in Oz (1931)
* The Purple Prince of Oz (1932)
* Ojo in Oz (1933)
* Speedy in Oz (1934)
* The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935)
* Captain Salt in Oz (1936)
* Handy Mandy in Oz (1937)
* The Silver Princess in Oz (1938)
* Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939)
* Yankee in Oz (1972)
* The Enchanted Island of Oz (1976)

Others|

* The Wonder City of Oz (1940)
* The Scalawagons of Oz (1941)
* Lucky Bucky in Oz (1942)
* The Magical Mimics in Oz (1946)
* The Shaggy Man of Oz (1949)
* The Hidden Valley of Oz (1951)
* Merry Go Round in Oz (1963)
* The Forbidden Fountain of Oz (1980)
* The Ozmapolitan of Oz (1986)
* The Wicked Witch of Oz (1993)
* The Giant Garden of Oz (1993)
* The Runaway in Oz (1995)
* The Rundelstone of Oz (2000)
* The Emerald Wand of Oz (2005)
* Trouble Under Oz (2006)

Other books|

* The Magical Monarch of Mo (1899)
* Dot and Tot of Merryland (1901)
* The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1902)
* Queen Zixi of Ix (1904)
* John Dough and the Cherub (1906)
* The Sea Fairies (1911)
* Sky Island (1912)
* Little Wizard Stories of Oz (1913)

Characters|

| Baum|

* Dorothy Gale
* Toto
* Aunt Em
* Uncle Henry
* Princess Ozma
* Wizard of Oz
* Scarecrow
* Tin Woodman
* Cowardly Lion
* Glinda, the Good Witch of the South
* Good Witch of the North
* Wicked Witch of the East
* Wicked Witch of the West
* Billina
* Glass Cat
* Jack Pumpkinhead
* Jellia Jamb
* Jinjur
* John Dough
* Mombi
* Munchkins
* Nome King
* Pastoria
* Patchwork Girl
* Polychrome
* Queen Lurline
* Shaggy Man
* Soldier with the Green Whiskers
* Tik-Tok
* Winged monkeys
* Woggle-Bug

|

Post-Baum|

* Jinnicky the Red Jinn
* Kabumpo
* Peter Brown
* Elphaba

Elements|

* Land of Oz
* Emerald City
* Gillikin Country
* Munchkin Country
* Quadling Country
* Winkie Country
* Yellow brick road
* Deadly Desert
* Land of Ev
* Merryland
* Ruby slippers
* Silver shoes

Authors|

| Writers|

* L. Frank Baum
* Ruth Plumly Thompson
* John R. Neill
* Jack Snow
* Rachel Cosgrove Payes
* Eloise Jarvis McGraw
* Dick Martin
* Alexander Volkov
* Eric Shanower
* Gregory Maguire
* Sherwood Smith
* Roger S. Baum

|

Illustrators|

* William Wallace Denslow
* John R. Neill
* Frank Kramer
* Dirk Gringhuis
* Dick Martin
* Leonid Vladimirsky
* Eric Shanower
* William Stout

Related|

* Political interpretations
* Copyright status

Adaptations

| Stage|

* The Wizard of Oz (1902)
* The Woggle-Bug (1905)
* The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (1913)
* The Wizard of Oz (1942)
* The Wiz (1974)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (1981)
* The Wizard of Oz (1987)
* The Wizard of A.I.D.S. (1987)
* Twister (1994)
* Wicked (2003)
* The Wizard of Oz (2011)
* The Woodsman (2012)

|

Films|

* The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914)
* The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)
* His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
* The Wizard of Oz (1925)
* The Wizard of Oz (1933)
* The Wizard of Oz (1939)
* The Wizard of Oz (1950)
* The Rainbow Road to Oz (unproduced)
* Return to Oz (1964, TV)
* The Wizard of Mars (1965)
* The Wonderful Land of Oz (1969)
* Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (1971)
* Journey Back to Oz (1972)
* Oz (1976)
* The Wiz (1978)
* The Wizard of Oz (1982)
* Os Trapalhões e o Mágico de Oróz (1984)
* Return to Oz (1985)
* Dorothy Meets Ozma of Oz (1987)
* The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story (1990)
* The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True (1995)
* Lion of Oz (2000)
* The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
* Apocalypse Oz (2006)
* After the Wizard (2011)
* Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (2011)
* Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (2012)
* Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
* Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)
* OzLand (2014)
* Guardians of Oz (2015)
* The Wiz Live! (2015)
* Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz (2016)
* The Steam Engines of Oz (2018)
* Rainbow (2022)
* Wicked (2024)
* Wicked Part Two (2025)

TV series|

* Tales of the Wizard of Oz (1961)
* Off to See the Wizard (1967–68)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986–87)
* The Wizard of Oz (1990)
* The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz (1992–93)
* The Oz Kids (1996)
* Tin Man (2007)
* "Wizard of Odd" (2010)
* Once Upon a Time (2011–18)
* Lost in Oz (2015–18)
* Emerald City (2017)
* Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (2017–20)

Books|

* The Wizard of the Emerald City (1939)
* A Barnstormer in Oz (1982)
* Mister Tinker in Oz (1985)
* Dorothy of Oz (1989)
* Sir Harold and the Gnome King (1991)
* Was (1992)
* Queen Ann in Oz (1993)
* The Magic Dishpan of Oz (1994)
* The Wicked Years series (1995–2011)
* Visitors from Oz (1998)
* Paradox in Oz (1999)
* Oz Before the Rainbow (2000)
* The Hidden Prince of Oz (2000)
* The Unknown Witches of Oz (2000)
* Bloodstained Oz (2006)
* The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls (2006)
* Dorothy Must Die (2014)
* The Wicked Will Rise (2015)

Comics|

* Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz (1904–05)
* Adventures in Oz (1986–92)
* The Enchanted Apples of Oz (1986)
* Oz Squad (1991)
* Lost Girls (1991–92)
* Dorothy (2004–07)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2005)
* Cheshire Crossing (2006–19)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2009)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (2010)

Games|

* The Wizard of Oz (1985)
* The Wizard of Oz (1993)
* The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (2008)
* Emerald City Confidential (2009)
* The Wizard of Oz (2010)
* The Wizard of Oz (2013)

Related|

* The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
* The International Wizard of Oz Club
* The Baum Bugle
* Oz Park
* Land of Oz
* Wizard of Oz festival
* Wizard of Oz Museum
* Oz-story Magazine

* Category

* v
* t
* e

The Wizard of Oz

Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Elements|

* "Surrender Dorothy"
* Ruby slippers
* Gingham dress of Judy Garland

Music|

* "Over the Rainbow"
* "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead"
* "We're Off to See the Wizard"
* "If I Only Had a Brain"
* "The Merry Old Land of Oz"
* "If I Were King of the Forest"

Versions, sequels,
and adaptations|

* 1942 stage musical
* 1987 stage musical
* 2011 stage musical
* The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True
* On television
* Was
* Apocalypse Oz
* Off to See the Wizard
* Journey Back to Oz
* The Wizard of Oz (TV series)
* Return to Oz
* Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz
* The Wicked Years
* Oz the Great and Powerful
* Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
* Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz
* Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (episodes)

Games|

* Arcade game
* Pinball
* Video game

Related|

* The Making of The Wizard of Oz
* Friend of Dorothy
* Over the Rainbow
* The Dark Side of the Rainbow
* Lynch/Oz
* Meco Plays The Wizard of Oz
* Miss Gulch Returns!
* Under the Rainbow
* Wicked Witch of the West Sesame Street episode
* The Wozard of Iz

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1990s

First-run animated series|

* A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–91)
* Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1989–90)
* The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–1991)
* Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (1986–91)
* Beetlejuice (1989–92)
* The Wizard of Oz (1990–91)
* Little Rosey (1990–91)
* New Kids on the Block (1990–91)
* Darkwing Duck (1991–93)
* Hammerman (1991–92)
* The Pirates of Dark Water (1991–92)
* Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa (1992–94)
* Goof Troop (1992–93)
* The Addams Family (1992–95)
* Cro (1993–95)
* Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–95)
* Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–95)
* Free Willy (1994–95)
* ReBoot (1994–96)
* Bump in the Night (1994–96)
* The New Adventures of Madeline (1995)
* Dumb and Dumber (1995–96)
* What-a-Mess (1995–96)
* Brand Spanking New Doug (1996–2001)
* Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series (1996–97)
* The Oz Kids (1996)
* Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996–97)
* Jungle Cubs (1996–97)
* Nightmare Ned (1997)
* 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–98)
* Recess (1997–2004)
* Pepper Ann (1997–2000)
* Science Court (1997–2000)
* Hercules (1998–99)
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2001)
* Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2001)

First-run live-action series|

* Animal Crack-Ups (1987–90)
* ABC Weekend Special (1977–97)
* Land of the Lost (1991–92)
* CityKids (1993–94)
* Fudge (1995)
* Hypernauts (1996)
* Bone Chillers (1996–97)
* Flash Forward (1996–97)

Rebroadcasts|

* The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1985–2000)
* DuckTales (1997)

Related programming and topics|

* Disney's One Saturday Morning
* Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990)
* Modern animation in the United States

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