The Hobbit (1977)Great adventures are should be colorful--even animated--journeys. The Hobbit (1977) is an animated adaptation of the novel written by famed fantasy writer, J. R. R. Tolkien. It was produced for television by Rankin/Bass Productions (known for decades of animated television specials) and features a predominance of music and vibrant imagery to accompany the classic fantasy tale. The Hobbit also has gorgeous, hand-drawn animation and backgrounds that look as though they were pulled from an illustrated companion for children, who are the target audience for this version of the story.
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The works of J. R. R. Tolkien have long been popular among literary and fantasy fans, and more recently at large due to the large-scale adaptations of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" by Peter Jackson. But the legend of Tolkien's diminutive protagonists--notably Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit--were unfamiliar territory to most folks prior to this, and being unfamiliar allowed for some creative license. The animated medium suits the story, because afforded Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass the ability to depict the wonder and majesty of Middle-earth without running the risk of doing the fantasy an injustice on their smaller budget. The Hobbit is considered a faithful adaptation of Tolkien's prequel to "The Lord of the Rings", even if it downplays the violence and medieval warfare, instead focusing on the spirit of bravery and heroism buried within the heretofore complacent and lazy Bilbo Baggins. The Hobbit is also a musical, highlighting the lyrical poetry and music of the novel, like the songs of the dwarves who commission Bilbo to "burgle" their way into their ancient homestead under Lonely Mountain. The theme song to The Hobbit--called "The Greatest Adventure" (performed by Glenn Yarbrough)--plays over the opening credits, and punctuates moments when Bilbo reflects on his journey so far, recording it in his journal per Gandalf's request, and when he summons his inner reserves of bravery. The background score is full of the mystery and grandeur one would expect from a fantasy adventure. Other musical selections vary from a ballad by the dwarves called "That's What Bilbo Baggins Hates", describing his attitude when they intrude into his cozy hobbit hole, to stranger fare like "Funny Little Things", which is sung by the goblins while astride their wolves, as they chase the dwarves up a tree and set fire to it. Even when the same goblins make their first appearance, it is with a musical theme that is somewhere between a tribal war tune and disco--unsurprising given the film was made in the late Seventies.
The Hobbit boasts a selection of talented voice actors, most known from other TV shows. The dreaded dragon Smaug, who has eyes like a car's headlights, is voiced by Richard Boone, perhaps best known for his roles in Westerns, while Gandalf's voice is provided by none other than legendary filmmaker, John Huston. Even the unusual Gollum--who resembles a bug-eyed lizardman--is voiced by the almost as unusual Brother Theodore, who also lent his voice talents to another Rankin/Bass production similar to The Hobbit: The Last Unicorn. The animation in The Hobbit was done by the now-defunct animation studio Topcraft, whose producer, Toru Hara, is credited in the film. Rankin/Bass partnered with Topcraft for many of their animated programs from the Seventies and into the Eighties, lending a distinct look to the hand-drawn animation during that era. They also introduced Western audiences to the style and craft of Japanese animation before it was known as anime. (Topcraft dissolved in 1985, but many of the animators went on to form the beloved Studio Ghibli.) The backgrounds in The Hobbit are lush and vibrant, as if inspired by a watercolor aesthetic. Many of the characters in The Hobbit are somewhat exaggerated, resembling a caricature interpretation of their literary counterparts; but it would be dismissive and inaccurate to write off The Hobbit as a glorified "Saturday morning cartoon". The exaggeration of characters like the wood elves, led by the decrepit Thranduil (called "The Elvenking"), or the loathsome, toad-like goblins, is intended to give the audience as much information about the character at a glance. This avoids instances of lengthy exposition--far too precious of a luxury in a TV movie, and an animated one no less. The depiction of the dwarves in The Hobbit is similar to the most iconic of all animated dwarves, from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; both have a fondness for mining treasures and singing given the opportunity. With vibrant displays of mythical realms, magical spells, and legendary swords, The Hobbit is a colorful and enchanting piece of animated history, while also being a kid-friendly introduction into the mythos of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Recommended for: Fans of Tolkien's classic fantasy stories, as well as those who enjoy hand-drawn animation, itself a nearly lost art. Clocking in at just shy of eighty minutes, The Hobbit is a svelte adaptation of the book, but is more than manageable in a single sitting, especially with the target audience of children in mind.
The Hobbit boasts a selection of talented voice actors, most known from other TV shows. The dreaded dragon Smaug, who has eyes like a car's headlights, is voiced by Richard Boone, perhaps best known for his roles in Westerns, while Gandalf's voice is provided by none other than legendary filmmaker, John Huston. Even the unusual Gollum--who resembles a bug-eyed lizardman--is voiced by the almost as unusual Brother Theodore, who also lent his voice talents to another Rankin/Bass production similar to The Hobbit: The Last Unicorn. The animation in The Hobbit was done by the now-defunct animation studio Topcraft, whose producer, Toru Hara, is credited in the film. Rankin/Bass partnered with Topcraft for many of their animated programs from the Seventies and into the Eighties, lending a distinct look to the hand-drawn animation during that era. They also introduced Western audiences to the style and craft of Japanese animation before it was known as anime. (Topcraft dissolved in 1985, but many of the animators went on to form the beloved Studio Ghibli.) The backgrounds in The Hobbit are lush and vibrant, as if inspired by a watercolor aesthetic. Many of the characters in The Hobbit are somewhat exaggerated, resembling a caricature interpretation of their literary counterparts; but it would be dismissive and inaccurate to write off The Hobbit as a glorified "Saturday morning cartoon". The exaggeration of characters like the wood elves, led by the decrepit Thranduil (called "The Elvenking"), or the loathsome, toad-like goblins, is intended to give the audience as much information about the character at a glance. This avoids instances of lengthy exposition--far too precious of a luxury in a TV movie, and an animated one no less. The depiction of the dwarves in The Hobbit is similar to the most iconic of all animated dwarves, from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; both have a fondness for mining treasures and singing given the opportunity. With vibrant displays of mythical realms, magical spells, and legendary swords, The Hobbit is a colorful and enchanting piece of animated history, while also being a kid-friendly introduction into the mythos of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Recommended for: Fans of Tolkien's classic fantasy stories, as well as those who enjoy hand-drawn animation, itself a nearly lost art. Clocking in at just shy of eighty minutes, The Hobbit is a svelte adaptation of the book, but is more than manageable in a single sitting, especially with the target audience of children in mind.