Sunday, April 26, 2026

Flopcast 729: Rusty and Dandy

A few months before the debut of their classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon, Rankin/Bass produced their very first prime time animated TV special. And it was very, very different. So this week we're looking at yet another Wizard of Oz adaptation: 1964's Return to Oz. The animation was simple, but a little of that classic Rankin/Bass weirdness was already present. Including: Munchkins who look like turnips, a mayor with a top hat, some of the same voice actors from Rudolph, flying crocodiles to complement the flying monkeys, and a chicken. It's goofy fun and it's waiting for you on YouTube right now. Also: How to cross the street during the Boston Marathon. (It's complicated.)

Show Notes

Watch Return to Oz on YouTube!

Most, if not all, of the Tales of the Wizard of Oz shorts from 1961 are in this playlist. They are about as close to the original book as the 1925 silent film, but at least they're brief!