Wizards Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of Ralph Bakshi's "Wizards" provides a mixed, though largely positive, viewing experience. Chronicling the animations' inherent flaws alongside technical enhancements, the 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is an appreciable step up from its standard definition DVD counterpart. While Bakshi’s films lack the resources for meticulous restoration, "Wizards" showcases noticeable improvement despite its age and budget constraints. The source print is marred by nicks and scratches, with occasional brightness flickers, color fluctuations, and semi-transparent foreground objects revealing background elements. Some composite shots mixing Nazi propaganda and animated characters are grainy and harsh. Despite these issues, outlines appear sharper, edges cleaner, and colors surprisingly vivid. Black levels are solid with tight contrast, ensuring this release is a worthy upgrade.

Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, "Wizards" displays vibrant and well-defined visuals. Colors are full-bodied, particularly the softer pastel hues, with primary colors rendered without any chroma noise or bleeding. Although the contrast isn't the sharpest, it maintains consistency with crisp whites across scenes. Black levels appear fairly accurate, albeit not exceedingly deep. The unique artwork style shines on high-definition video, with fine lines and object detailing distinctly identifiable around characters and backgrounds. Overall, while the Blu-ray transfer reveals the film's original animation peculiarities, it remains a significant quality enhancement over previous releases. For fans of the cult classic, this upgrade is likely to meet expectations within the constraints of the original material's condition.

The U.S. Blu-ray release of "Wizards" largely preserves the original mono design of the film while offering a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, in contrast to the previous UK edition with a lossless stereo mix. The 5.1 surround track opens up the soundfield somewhat, panning the music into rear channels and adding slight reverb for depth, though it remains fundamentally front-heavy. Sound effects and dialogue are generally clear, though some dialogue can sound slightly muffled and certain effects appear flat. Despite these minor issues, the soundtrack delivers Andrew Belling's synthesizer score with enhanced clarity and detail, ensuring a satisfying audio experience.

The system's imaging offers an extensive and balanced presentation across channels, maintaining fidelity to the film's original acoustics. The mid-range is clean and detailed, while the low bass, though not overly powerful, appropriately supports the score, especially during action scenes. The front-centric mix ensures that most auditory elements are forward-presented, while occasional surround activations add a layer of depth. Despite lacking in dramatic cross-channel directions and a score-only audio track found in the British edition, this DTS-HD Master Audio provides a clean, clear audio experience true to its source material, complemented by additional English and Spanish Dolby Digital mono tracks and multiple subtitle options.

The Blu-ray extras of "Wizards" offer a rich repository of behind-the-scenes content and insightful commentary, providing fans with a deeper understanding of the film and its production. The Director’s Commentary by Ralph Bakshi is a highlight, where Bakshi delves into numerous aspects of the film's creation, from its animation techniques to casting decisions, including Mark Hamill's involvement. His candid, albeit sometimes self-aggrandizing, style makes the commentary both informative and entertaining. The Ralph Bakshi - The Wizard of Animation featurette is an essential watch for enthusiasts, presenting a comprehensive look at the making of "Wizards" and Bakshi’s animation journey. Additional content includes two theatrical trailers, a TV spot, and extensive still galleries showcasing artwork and character designs. The package is further enriched with an attractive digibook containing sketches, concept art, and a note from Bakshi.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director’s Commentary: In-depth production history and insights.
• Ralph Bakshi - The Wizard of Animation Featurette: Making-of documentary with Bakshi's reminiscences.
• Trailer 1: Original theatrical preview.
• Trailer 2: Additional theatrical preview.
• TV Spot: Short television advertisement.
• Stills Galleries: Collections of artwork and character designs.
• Sneak Peeks: Trailers for other titles.
• Digibook Packaging: Contains sketches, concept art, and an essay on the film.

"Wizards" by Ralph Bakshi emerges as a quintessential piece that deviates sharply from typical Disney fare, merging cautionary narratives with idiosyncratic animation. Set two million years in the future, the story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic Earth where humans have mutated into two factions: the fairies, elves, and dwarves of Montagar, and the grotesque mutants of Scortch. The plot pivots on twin wizards Avatar and Blackwolf, representing light and darkness, respectively. Blackwolf seeks to dominate by resurrecting WWII-era technology and Nazi propaganda. Despite the film's anti-war undertones, the execution can feel quite dated and sometimes overly simplistic to contemporary audiences familiar with more sophisticated takes on such themes.

The animation, constrained by a limited budget and time, is both a strength and a flaw. Bakshi's use of rotoscoping for battle sequences, due to financial restrictions, yields an impressionistic yet disjointed visual experience. Borrowed live-action footage from films like "Alexander Nevsky" contributes to a distinctive but sometimes clunky aesthetic. Despite apparent technical shortcomings—like semi-transparent characters and fluctuating colors—the handmade quality offers a stark contrast to the polished works of Disney. The hyper-sexualization of characters and the unsettling Nazi imagery further differentiate "Wizards" from family-friendly animations, attracting a cult following appreciative of its unorthodox style.

"Wizards" stands out as an ambitious yet somewhat scattershot experiment in animated filmmaking. Its narrative, recycling Tolkien-esque quests while embedding counterculture commentary, is uniquely Bakshi. Despite its flaws—including narrative incoherence and uneven animation quality—the film’s satirical edge and distinctive aesthetic compel engagement. It remains an intriguing yet contentious entry in Bakshi's filmography, embodying an era when bold political statements could be ambitiously woven into the fabric of animated tales.

Ralph Bakshi's "Wizards,” while not as enduring in its impact as some of his earlier, edgier work, such as the animated version of "Lord of the Rings,” still holds a unique place in the realm of cult classics. The film is beloved for its eclectic characters, dark humor, and its creative use of limited resources, which lends it a particular charm. Despite evident age-related print damage, the restored Blu-ray edition offers notable improvements in both audio and video quality, ensuring that the visual peculiarities and psychedelic artwork are presented with enhanced clarity. The inclusion of a decent selection of special features adds value to this release, and the digibook packaging offers collectors a delightful bonus.

The release strategy for "Wizards" posed some challenges, especially for regions outside the US, sparking concerns about compatibility and shipping costs. However, Fox’s decision to announce and release this disc domestically was a pleasant surprise, signaling a potentially broader embrace of cult classics for future Blu-ray editions. The 35th Anniversary release particularly aims at animation aficionados who can appreciate the post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy’s unique design and Bakshi’s bold departure into family-friendly material. While the supplemental content could have been more comprehensive, the overall package, including the physical digibook feature, compensates some of the shortcomings.

In conclusion, "Wizards" may not capture the same wide audience it did decades ago but remains a fascinating piece of animation history. The Blu-ray release, with its improved presentation and additional features, ensures that fans can still enjoy Bakshi's daring experiment in animation. Recommended for those who appreciate quirky, visually distinct films and dedicated followers of Ralph Bakshi’s work.