‘Wizards’ trailer title, 1976
“The ultimate futuristic fantasy epic.”
Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards, an animated post-apocalyptic fantasy tale, zapped into theaters in February of 1977. The film tells the story of two brothers, a kindly wizard named Avatar and an evil sorcerer, Blackwolf, who battle over the destiny of a scarred, wondrous Earth of the future.
Necron 99 aka Peace (‘Wizards,’ 1977)
Wizards features the voice talents of Bob Holt (Avatar), Jesse Welles (Elinore), Richard Romanus (Weehawk), Steve Gravers (Blackwolf) and David Proval (Peace). Mark Hamill appears in a small role as the fairy, Sean. A few months later, Hamill found fame in Star Wars, whose release would crush Wizards into near oblivion.
At 10-yrs-old, I saw Wizards when it first hit theaters and adored it. I went bonkers over Star Wars soon after, but never forgot Wizards. For many years, Bakshi’s fantasy epic was unavailable on home video and, at least to my memory, was rarely shown elsewhere. Thankfully, the film is now readily available in various formats. Enjoy the trailer (which according to the copyright date and release schedule likely dates from the end of ’76).
Wizards Wiki, IMDb
Wizards review at Every70sMovie
Previously on Trailer Tuesday: ‘The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother’ (1975)
It didn’t take long for “Wizards” to become a cult film (at least here in Phoenix). We had a grindhouse cinema called the “Sombrero Playhouse” that played only cult/underground/grindhouse flicks. From the time “Wizards” opened in 1977 to the time the Sombrero closed in 1982-83,it played there at least once a month.
Nice. You were lucky. It must have played in L.A. art houses too but I wasn’t aware of it or was too young to get there. I wasn’t able to see ‘Wizards’ for a second time until I saw it on laser disc in the mid-to-late 80s when I worked at Tower Video.