The Wizard of Oz (TV series)

The Wizard of Oz is a 1990 American animated television series produced by DIC Animation City to capitalize on the popularity of the 1939 film version, to which DiC had acquired the rights from Turner Entertainment, Co. The series aired for thirteen episodes and premiered on ABC, starting on September 8, 1990. The show presented a number of stories and characters from L. Frank Baum's original Oz series.

Author Jeff Lenburg mentioned an aspect of the series wherein Dorothy has to learn to believe in herself.

Plot
Dorothy has decided to return to Oz with Toto using the ruby slippers that showed up on her doorstep. She invokes her return by clicking her heels and reciting "There is no place like Oz". Upon arriving there, she reunites with Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Dorothy learns from Glinda that the Wicked Witch of the West has been resurrected by Truckle and his fellow winged monkeys. With the Wicked Witch of the West back from the dead, the Emerald City has been taken over by her and she has stolen the gifts that were given to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. The Wizard is in his hot air balloon, which is under a spell that causes it to be constantly blown around by an evil wind. Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion set out to rescue him and defeat the Wicked Witch once and for all.

Comparison with source material
The series incorporated music and visual elements from the 1939 film version, including the Scarecrow's diploma and Dorothy's ruby slippers. At the same time, the character of Dorothy was designed with an appearance similar to that of Princess Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid and was not intended to resemble Judy Garland. In the film, it is largely implied that Oz was a head-trauma-induced delirium, instead of a real place, while in the TV series, it was a real land.

Principal voice actors

 * Liz Georges – Dorothy Gale
 * David Lodge – Scarecrow
 * Hal Rayle – Tin Man
 * Charlie Adler – Cowardly Lion
 * Frank Welker – Toto, Hyena (ep. 6)
 * Tress MacNeille – Wicked Witch of the West, Miranda (ep. 10)
 * B.J. Ward – Glinda
 * Alan Oppenheimer – Wizard of Oz

Additional voices

 * Jack Angel
 * Hamilton Camp
 * Pat Fraley – Truckle the Winged Monkey
 * Bibi Osterwald
 * Rob Paulsen
 * Ken Sansom
 * Susan Silo – Munchkin Mayor (ep. 1)

Crew

 * Susan Blu – Voice Director
 * Ginny McSwain – Casting Director

International and re-airings
After its run on ABC, the series reaired on Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures block from 1992 until 1993, and on Toon Disney from the channel's launch in 1998 until 2002. The series also reaired on HBO.

In Canada, the series aired on YTV from 1990 to 1995.

United States
"The Marvelous Milkmaid of Mechanica" has never been released in the United States in any home video format. "The Lion that Squeaked" is available only on VHS.