Ralph Bakshi had a thing for Tolkien, like many of us did, before it was the quintessential hippie read in the late '60s. Some of us made a few renderings here and there of our visions of Middle Earth. But most of us found other diversions and daydreams, while Bakshi buckled down and went on to make the ambitious animated film, Lord of The Rings (part 1 only, doggone it—not his fault!)
This painting was made by Bakshi at least 7 years before the film, although it does seem to be a loose interpretation of Tolkien.
Ralph Bakshi — A Scene from Tolkien — ca 1971 or earlier
I actually think this is a Bakshi depiction of a scene from "Wizards", his animated cinema masterpiece on life and death, war and peace (and a lot of psychedelic hoopla in between)... I don't see it as relevant to his Tolkien "Hobbit" work at all (but I DO agree that I didn't like his imagining of Middle Earth, either)! Of course, mayhap it is *I* who am mistaken, but I thought I'd throw it out there... ;-)
Yeah, Bakshi's version of Middle Earth is a little too Hanna Barbera for me.
ReplyDeleteThe castle is from Corben and the rider from Bodé ???
ReplyDeleteI wondered that too, Li-An. Bode at least, and maybe Bode/Jeff Jones?
ReplyDeleteI'm not well aware of Bakshi's work but he seems to always look at artist he likes. I have no idea of his real style...
ReplyDeleteI actually think this is a Bakshi depiction of a scene from "Wizards", his animated cinema masterpiece on life and death, war and peace (and a lot of psychedelic hoopla in between)... I don't see it as relevant to his Tolkien "Hobbit" work at all (but I DO agree that I didn't like his imagining of Middle Earth, either)! Of course, mayhap it is *I* who am mistaken, but I thought I'd throw it out there... ;-)
ReplyDeletejipsi, I feel that you must be right. I was just loyally posting the caption information from the magazine the graphic was published in.
ReplyDelete