Wizards (film)

Wizards is a 1977 American animated post-apocalyptic science fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film follows the battle between two wizards, one representing the forces of magic and one representing the forces of industrial technology. The film was released to theaters on February 9, 1977 by 20th Century Fox.

Notable for being the first fantasy film by Bakshi, who was previously known only for urban films such as Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, and Coonskin, the film grossed $9 million theatrically from a $2 million budget, and has since become a cult classic.

Directed by Ralph Bakshi.

An Epic Fantasy in a World of Peace and Magic.(taglines)

Avatar

• Oh yeah... one more thing: I'm glad you changed your last name, you son of a bitch!
• I'm too old for this sort of thing. Just wake me up when the planet's destroyed.
• [clapping] You always did need an audience you sap.
• Oh, why don't you sit there for a couple of hours while I figure it out?
• [leading Peace by a rope] All right, creep, Now before I untie you, I wanna tell you a couple of things, and I want you to listen, and listen carefully. This has been the biggest bummer of a trip I've ever been on; but if you let me down, or you hurt my friends, especially the broad, I got stuff planned for you that'll take twenty years to kill ya.

Elinore

• I have always been good, and could even... be better sometimes.
• He's gettin' older, but not much bolder!

Weehawk

• So, what are elves good for?
• I still don't trust him.
• Funny you should say that.
• [to horse] Steady, Westwind. We'll eat alone, lest we sit with fools.

Others

• Blackwolf: Brother, there is no need for me to destroy you. Surrender! Surrender your world!
• Fairy Child: Why can't we fight and win, Mommy?
  • Fairy: Because they have weapons and technology. We just have love.
• Peace: Peace wants love... wants free... will help.
• General: [guffaws] If this is the great Avatar, then I am a warthog's uncle!
• Lardbutt: I don't wanna hurt things any more!

Dialogue

Max: Fritz! Fritz, get up for God's sake! Get up! They've killed Fritz! They've killed Fritz! Those lousy stinking yellow fairies! Those horrible atrocity-filled vermin! Those despicable animal warmongers! They've killed Fritz! Take that! Take this! Take that, you green slime! You black hearted, short, bow-legged...

Fritz: Max! Max, I'm okay! I'm okay Max. Just a scratch. Look I'm all right.

Max: Oh. Oh, damn. There you go again, stepping on my lines, raining on my parade, costing me medals. Oh, damn. [Accidentally shoots Fritz] Ohh. Oh, Fritz? Fritz, get up for God's sake! Get up! They've killed Fritz! They've killed Fritz! Those lousy stinking yellow fairies! Those horrible atrocity-filled vermin! Take that! Take that! They killed Fritz!

---

Fairy Child: Where's Daddy? What's he doing?

Fairy: He is guarding our home, son. There has been a war, and this land is lost.

Fairy Child: Why can't we fight and win, Mommy?

Fairy: Because they have weapons and technology. We just have love.

---

Avatar: Now this, "Peace" here, he knows every step to Scorch. I've promised him life without pain, life without fear...

Weehawk: I still don't trust him.

Avatar: Hey! You're both forgettin' you have the protection of a powerful wizard, here! [levitates up to horse, lands backward in saddle] Dammit...

Elinore: [giggling] He's gettin' older, but not much bolder!

[Both Weehawk and Elinore laugh and ride away]

Avatar: I wonder if I packed my scotch...

---

[Elinore sings "Only Time Will Tell"]

Elinore: ♪ Time renews tomorrow. When we've used today. ♪

♪ It will find the sorrow and wish it all away. ♪

♪ Love can play a new tune. On this carousel. ♪

♪ It may be tomorrow. But only time will tell. ♪

♪ Somewhere in the darkness. There must be a light. ♪

♪ Leading us together. Through the misty night. ♪

♪ And maybe in the new dawn. We can break the spell. ♪

♪ It may be tomorrow. But only time will tell. ♪

♪ There can be a new dream. One for us to hold. ♪

♪ Made with peace and hope and built upon the old. ♪

♪ No one has the answer. To give away or sell. ♪

♪ Tomorrow holds the secret. But only time will tell. ♪

Taglines

• An Epic Fantasy in a World of Peace and Magic.
• The ultimate futuristic fantastic epic.
• A fantasy vision of the future.
• An epic fantasy of peace and magic.

Cast

• Bob Holt – Avatar, an old but powerful wizard. According to Bakshi, he is an old magician who doesn't trust himself to do the job right, but he has a heart of gold and cares deeply for his friends and doing what is right.
• Jesse Welles – Elinore, Avatar's love interest
• Richard Romanus – Weehawk, a noble elf warrior
• David Proval – Necron 99/Peace, Blackwolf's former minion. He is renamed Peace by Avatar.
• Steve Gravers – Blackwolf, Avatar's evil brother
• James Connell – President
• Mark Hamill – Sean, son of the king of the mountain fairies and captain of the guards
• Susan Tyrrell – Narrator (uncredited)
• Ralph Bakshi – Fritz/Lardbottom/Stormtrooper (uncredited)
• Angelo Grisanti – Larry the Lizard (uncredited)