Animated Tolkien Marathon Part 2: The Lord of the Rings

By: Gandalf the Grey

March 8, 2023

On this edition of Watching Series, we take a look at the three loosely connected animated Tolkien movies from the late 1970s: The Hobbit (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), and The Return of the King (1980). This week, we will be discussing the second film in the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings is a 1978 British-American animated fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi from a screenplay by Chris Conkling and Peter S. Beagle. It is based on the novel of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien. The film features the voices of Christopher Guard, William Squire, John Hurt, and Anthony Daniels. It was produced by Bakshi and Saul Zaentz, and distributed by United Artists.

The film tells the story of the Fellowship of the Ring, a group of hobbits, men, elves, and dwarves who set out on a journey to destroy the One Ring, an evil artifact created by the Dark Lord Sauron. The film follows the Fellowship as they travel through the treacherous lands of Middle-earth, facing many dangers and challenges along the way.

The Lord of the Rings was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $30 million at the box office. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. The film has been praised for its animation, its faithfulness to the novel, and its powerful storytelling.