Wizards is cartoon in a post apocalyptic fantasy world
Wizards is the work of the great animator and story teller Ralph Bakshi. (He did the animated version of the Lord of the Rings). Like his other cartoons, the intended audience for Wizards is not children. Just take one look at the voluptuous fairy folk or consider the violent themes and you will understand why. Set in a post-apocalyptic world this is the story of good versus evil; magic, love and devotion versus technology , greed and servitude. It’s a dark story, with fantasy characters, but it’s purpose is to show humanity’s pitfalls and how despite repeating the same mistakes over and over, their is always hope.
A combination of Mad Max and Lord of the Rings
Wizards is focused on twin brothers, as opposite in nature as night and day, both capable of great feats of magic. The dark wizard is cruel and alone in his psychotic existence, he uses old tech to attract an army of warriors, who are less than loyal without the proper motivation. The good Wizard has a community that respects him. But watching it I couldn’t help but see the peace and love hippy guru archetype versus the greedy capitalist, who must own and control everything. Of course not all capitalists want world domination and not all peace lovers are unproductive dreamers…but these archetypes frame Bakshi’s concept of good and evil.
Take a peek at Woo Who Vintage
It is often said that magic is simply what science cannot yet explain. In Wizards, science based technology IS dark magic. But where these forces of light and dark are furthest apart is in their adherent’s loyalty. Loyalty born out of love is undaunted, while allegiance born out of fear or greed is fleeting. The evil Wizard Blackwolf has a constant problem keeping his soldiers motivated, so he uses his technology to make himself robots. Perhaps it’s in seeking the perfection of God like power, that one invite’s his creation to become cogniscient and eventually choose its own path. Either way, one of Blackwolf’s robots renames himself Peace, and joins the forces of the good wizard Avatar to help stop the never ending war-machine.
