Modern Classics: Ralph Bakshi's "Wizards"

When I was a child, I would usually spend a couple weeks or so of summertime with my cousins who lived a few hours away by car. When at my Aunt's and Uncle's house, I would sometimes sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag in my older cousin's room.

The posters in his room always fascinated me as a young kid; Pink Floyd (the poster with Pink from The Wall, his face shaved and pressed against the frosted-glass shower door). Iron Maiden (the skeleton in a cockpit), and also a poster featuring the character Peace from Wizards, riding on his camel/horse creature.

It's this last poster that brings me to the topic of this article, Ralph Bakshi's 1977 film: Wizards. Maybe we should call this Modern Classics.

It' set in a post-apocalyptic future where after many years, magic has re-emerged, and at the same time, separately, so has technology.  It's a battle of opposing twin brothers/wizards in which lies the fate of the world, struggling to survive and avoid another holocaust. Magic versus technology.

Maybe it's because it was made in the year I was born (1977), or because I always wondered about the mysterious red figure on the horse as I was falling asleep, but for whatever reason, the movie held a great mystique for me. A mystique which carries over until this very day. Maybe it was because it was a span of years from when I was very young and saw the poster, until I was actually able to see and understand and appreciate the movie.

Bakshi directed 9 animated movies (writing 5 of them) in the span of 20 years (1972 - 1992). Togother it forms a cohesive body of work that spans many themes while remaining true to the nuances of the director's style. A feat which many artists never accomplish.

I really like Wizards the best of all his movies, because of the very stylish elements specific to this movie. The simplified use of color to show form and shadow, the loosely drawn but interesting characters, full of detail but just the right amount. Some details are left off, not for lack of technical skill, but as part of the style. It has a very interesting balance of storytelling and efficient, creative, design.

Compared to today's animated movies (made with advanced technology) maybe some would think Wizards is not much to look at. But that is exactly what gives this movie it's power (and a kind of ironic statement on the theme of his movie too). It's stylish, hand-drawn charm gives the movie a right from the sketchbook of an interesting artist playing with abstract figures and forms feel to it.

Some say good art should reflect the time it was made in. Well I think in this movie this is true (while staying true to Bakshi's style also). The kind of mellow, spacey, 70's rock soundtrack, the magic vs. technology theme, the minimalistic use of color and design in a very urban, symbolic, and organic way. To me, it speaks volumes creatively, I really love it. It draws me in and speaks to me in a way that only some art does.