Reel Facts & Opinions: The History of Middle-Earth Animation

This week, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world of Middle-Earth returns to the big screen with THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM. This anime style epic will be the fourth time Middle-Earth has been presented in animation on the big and small screen. The history of Middle-Earth in animation has as many peaks and valleys as the Misty Mountains. Here is how it unfolded: 

 

 

THE HOBBIT (1977)

It began with the adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit by famed animation company Rankin/Bass, who was famous for their beloved TV specials RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, and SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN. Orson Bean would voice Bilbo, and famed actor John Huston would provide the voice of Gandalf. Folk singer Glenn Yarbrough would provide music. The 78-minute movie would air on NBC in November of 1977, and despite mixed reviews, its teleplay would win a Peabody Award. Over time, THE HOBBIT has become a beloved and favored adaptation of Tolkien’s book. And maybe most importantly...for a generation it was their gateway to Tolkien. 

 

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (1978)

Divisive and controversial animator and filmmaker Ralph Bakshi would be the first to bring Middle-Earth to the big screen with this ambitious attempt. Early work aimed for three movies, but eventually settled on two two-and-a-half hour films. The voice-cast included Christopher Guard (Frodo), John Hurt (Aragorn), William Squire (Gandalf), and Anthony Daniels (Legolas). The film used a process called rotoscoping, a technique where scenes are first shot live-action and then traced onto animation cells. The result was a bizarre presentation that boggles the eyeballs. Despite mixed reviews and hostility from fans, THE LORD OF THE RINGS was a box office success, but a sequel would never be made…leaving Bakshi’s vision incomplete. 

 

 

THE RETURN OF THE KING (1980)

After the wacko mushroom-induced visions of Bakshi’s Middle-Earth, Rankin/Bass went back under the mountain with this TV special that adapted the very back half of the third book, The Return of the King. Done in the same animation style as THE HOBBIT from 1977, along with returning actors, THE RETURN OF THE KING was a loose sequel, despite the huge gap in the story. Reviews were mixed, and today the movie is barely recalled in the halls of Middle-Earth entertainment. 

 

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (2024)

Middle-Earth goes anime style this year, with this 134-minute epic that serves as a prequel to Peter Jackson’s live-action LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Set 183 years before Jackson’s films, ROHIRRIM tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan defending his people from an invading army. The cast includes Brian Cox, and Miranda Otto reprises her role as Eowyn/the narrator. Christopher Lee posthumously voices Saruman through archival recordings. It is directed by anime artist and director Kenji Kamiyama. This will be only the second time an animated Middle-Earth film will see the big screen, and that makes it a journey worth taking. 

 

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THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM arrives December 13^th, with screenings on the 12^th in standard and IMAX formats.