The painter and animation artist Ralph Bakshi made a name for himself in the 1970s with a series of Animated films for adults a name. Fritz the Cat, Wizards – The World in 10 Million Years and Coonskin, for example, were celebrated as so-called midnight movies and expressions of counterculture.
Using the rotoscoping process, in which filmed live-action sequences are overlaid with animation, Bakshi set about putting together an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings in the late 1970s. For a long time the best-known film version of the Tolkien novel and also inspired Peter Jackson immensely. The fact that Bakshi has never heard of him seems to have offended him somewhat.
The Lord of the Rings: The Bakshi/Jackson Connection
Many fantasy and film fans know the Jackson trilogy almost by heart. Several scenes from it are burned into our brains and can hardly be separated from the original. If you look at Bakshi’s somewhat forgotten Lord of the Rings film, you notice, despite all the problems the project had, how many of these iconic images are based on his production. Here is just one example scene:
Warner
Hobbits hide from a Ringwraith
This is not controversial, conspiratorial or even news at all. Peter Jackson himself revealed Bakshi as a source of inspiration in the bonus material for his films. When a fan asked the animator in 2018 whether Jackson had ever contacted him, he replied as if he felt a little left out – if you don’t imagine a mischievous wink: “Peter Jackson never spoke to me and never even sent me a bottle of wine.” Scandal!
Here you will find an external content from Twitterthat complements the article. You can display it and hide it again with one click.
One would almost like to imagine that Jackson would have liked to talk to his predecessor if he had found the time while producing three unprecedented fantasy blockbusters at the same time. Then fans of the newer films might have a little more respect for the unfinished and yet influential predecessorwhich is often unfairly compared to Jackson’s modern budget behemoth.
Tolkien fans are currently eagerly awaiting a new animated film on the topic of The Lord of the Rings – albeit from Japan and based on a different story from the legendarium. We are talking about the anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, of which the first images were recently released. December 12, 2024 The film is scheduled to be released in this country.
Podcast: What to expect in season 2 of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series
Amazon’s big fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is returning and wants to take a closer look at more than just Sauron in a “season of villains”. We discuss what is known about season 2 so far.
At this point you will find external content that supplements the article. You can display it and hide it again with one click.
In addition to a slightly changed cast, legendary Tolkien characters such as Tom Bombadil and probably also the giant spider Shelob await us in Middle Earth in Season 2. We classify the rumors and theories that promise a dark return.