Return to Oz (TV special) facts for kids

Return to Oz is an animated TV special from 1964. It was made in both America and Canada. The special was created by Crawley Films and Videocraft International.

It first showed on TV in the United States on February 9, 1964, on NBC. Later, it was shown again on other channels, including the Disney Channel in 1995. The story was written by Romeo Muller. This special was one of the first big projects for Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.

Crawley Films also made an earlier cartoon series called Tales of the Wizard of Oz in 1961. This special used similar drawings for the characters. There is also a live-action movie from 1985 with the same name, Return to Oz, but it's a different story.

In this special, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, return to the magical land of Oz. They get a letter from one of Dorothy's friends asking her to come back. But when they arrive, the good witch Glinda warns them. The Wicked Witch of the West is back! She has cast a dark spell. The Witch has taken away the special abilities of Dorothy's friends. She has also captured the Wizard. The Wicked Witch wants revenge on Dorothy and plans to steal her magic Silver Shoes. So, Dorothy, Toto, and their Oz friends must go on a journey. They need to stop the Wicked Witch for good.

The Story of Return to Oz

The story in Return to Oz is a bit like a new version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. But it's also a follow-up to the cartoon series Tales of the Wizard of Oz. In that series, Dorothy and her friends had different adventures. So, this new adventure is fresh for all of them.

At the start, Dorothy's friends are in trouble. They are stuck in situations similar to when Dorothy first met them. This means they all need to visit the Wizard again. Dorothy gets a letter from the Scarecrow, who is called Socrates in this special. Socrates writes that everyone is happy with the gifts the Wizard gave them. But they miss Dorothy very much.

Dorothy goes to find her magic Silver Shoes. Instantly, she is taken back to Oz. This time, it's not her house that takes her. An apple tree whisks her away! When she arrives, the Munchkins in Munchkinville greet her.

The Wicked Witch Returns

Then, Glinda appears. She tells Dorothy that the Wicked Witch of the West is back. The Witch had melted before, but now she is whole again. She is causing lots of trouble! The Witch burned Socrates' diploma. She also destroyed the heart of the Tin Woodman, who is called Rusty. She turned herself into a Tin Woman and dropped Rusty into a pond. He rusted over again.

The Wicked Witch also stole the medal that belonged to the Cowardly Lion, called Dandy. She turned it into a daisy. Now, she plans to get Dorothy's silver shoes again.

Dorothy's Journey

Dorothy sets off to find her friends. She doesn't know that the Wicked Witch is watching them in her Crystal Ball. First, Dorothy finds Rusty. He is rusted after the Witch tricked him. Dorothy oils him, and he comes back to life.

Next, they find Socrates in a corn field. He is on a pole, scaring crows again. They get him down. Then, they find Dandy crying. After some jokes from Socrates and Rusty, they cheer him up.

The four friends are reunited. They arrive at the Emerald City. But the Witch has tricked them! She captured the Wizard and took over as the ruler of Oz. The Wizard, who is from Oz in this story, tells them to destroy the Witch again. If they do, he will give them what they want.

Facing the Witch

The Witch arrives back at her castle just before Dorothy and her friends. But before they get there, she sends flying alligators to attack them. Socrates thinks fast and saves them. They hide under his straw.

Rusty saves them from a lightning bolt. He sacrifices himself, which seems to kill him, even though he is made of tin. Dorothy asks Glinda for help. A glowing ball brings Rusty back to life.

They finally arrive at the Witch's castle and are trapped. The Witch grabs Dorothy and tries to take her silver slippers. The friends, including the Wizard, try to get Dorothy back. The Witch gives Dorothy and Dandy the slippers. Dorothy is being held upside-down from a window. She tells Dandy that he will turn to stone if he takes them. But he takes them anyway and doesn't turn to stone!

The Witch then takes the slippers herself. As soon as she does, she turns into stone. She crumbles and falls apart.

Back to Kansas

The friends return to the Emerald City. They find out that the Wizard is not as powerful as he seems. He cannot send Dorothy home. Glinda appears to explain why her friends didn't turn to stone. She says it's because they had brains, a heart, and courage. She also explains that the Witch was cruel and heartless. The Witch was brainless enough to think evil could win over good. She was also cowardly because she used slaves and controlled others.

Dorothy wishes to go back home. Instantly, a Kansas twister takes her and Toto back to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.

Characters and Voices

Here are the main characters in the special and the actors who voiced them:

• Dandy Lion (the Cowardly Lion) and The Wizard of Oz – Carl Banas
• Dorothy Gale – Susan Conway
  • Dorothy Gale (singing voice) – Susan Morse
• Glinda, the Good Witch of the North – Peggi Loder
• Rusty the Tin Man (the Tin Woodman) and The Wicked Witch of the West – Larry D. Mann
• Socrates the Strawman (the Scarecrow) – Alfie Scopp
• Toto – Stan Francis

Production Details

Return to Oz was first planned to be 90 minutes long. But it was edited to fit a one-hour TV slot for NBC. The story was written in New York. The voices were recorded in Toronto, Canada. About 40 people worked at the Crawley studios in Canada. They drew 140,000 images for the animation.