As a small child, I barely understood any of the words, but I still remember watching wide-eyed in wonder for the entire movie. A deeply beloved film for all time.
One of the main things I love about this animated version is that they included a lot of Tolkien's poetry and songs. Gandalf (John Huston) was magnificent reciting the verses of the Fall of Erebor. All of the songs (except the main title song) were based on Tolkien's words, including the Goblin songs. I was 12 years old when this came out in 1977 and I became an instant fan of Tolkien and got the books and read them all in quick succession.
To be fair.... Many times it isnt actually sung but just recited rotely. Like in this scene. wonderful movie, love the songs... but lets actually sing them, yeah?
I was already a longtime Tolkien fan when this aired on television; a group of Tolkien fans watched it together at a party. We all agreed that while some of it, especially some of the character design, was dubious, and the story downright rushed at times, this scene in particular - which is not rushed at all - stood out for just about everyone as capturing Tolkien in both word and spirit.
I liked the designs but some aspects are rushed but I felt like it was made for tv like Return of the King. Wish they could have fleshed it out as a 2 part tv film and did the whole LotR (whose designs imo were better than Bakshi's despite how intriguing of a film it was).
As a little boy I watched this for the first time. Fell in love with fantasy and sword and sorcery.. this led me to Dragonlance, Conan the barbarian, dungeons and dragons, many other wonderful things. Years later, it brought me full circle back to the pita Jackson trilogies. Now I’m 55.. and I still have a copy of the DVD. And I have shared it with my children.. this was a great animated movie. I love it still
Same here, I turn 60 this year and watched this in the fall of 1978. My 8th grade English teacher talked me into reading the book, which I did and of course that led me to the Holy Trilogy, and then D&D, Donaldson, Terry Brooks, etc.
@@MrEgofreak LOL I was with you until you mentioned Disney, Disney is in the dumps along with CN, Nickoleoden, Netflix. Western animators don't know how to draw anymore.
I love the classical Germanic/Nordic folk art style to this true its not the most accurate to the book but it has an authenticity or an old soul about it.
even loving the book and with them cutting quite a bit to fit this into a Tv spot It still remains the best abridged telling of the Hobbit as it sticks almost word for word with the book, including the numerous songs.
I saw this when it first aired. The line up is just fantastic---Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, etc. I still own the VHS tape, and watch it once in a while.
@@smith1958b Take good care of that, and if you can find a way to digitize it, please do. The DVD's are missing some of the audio, Notably the spiders screaming and other music/sound effects. New versions are still enjoyable, but that noise was just so memorable and it takes me out of the film, when i don't hear it.
@@ghosturiel I watched this with some friends recently who had never seen it before and thought I was losing my mind when the spiders didn't make any noise. Weird that they changed that.
@@TreacherousPineappleKing I don't know if "villain" was really what Jackson wanted, but in the books Thorin is basically a haughty proud dwarf. He loved hearing himself talk and enjoyed giving long winded speeches. For some reason, Jackson interpreted that as "Complete dickhead" and that wasn't the case. You can be haughty and long winded and not be a complete dickhead.
@@Goldenbane He is proud, but much of his pride isn't tyrannical as shown by Jackson. Thorin is shown to be malicious at times in the films, deceitful and out for himself - where in the books he isn't. He is wronged numerous times. He is appreciative of Bilbo and turns to him often. It is clear that Jackson wanted another villain in the films. He wanted there to be angst within the party of dwarves and he needed there to be a heel face turn towards the end with a redemptive arc. As such, he discredits Thorin immensely.
@@TreacherousPineappleKing I wouldn't say 'villain', but you're right in that the Jackson films tried to make him more dramatic which only made him more annoying. To me it felt like they tried to recreate Aragorn, but then added some Gollum style obsession to him. It doesn't really fit Thorin.
@@AmericanZergling yeah and Jackson messed too much with the Lore. For one, Thorin wasnt at the attempted retaking of Moria, and Azog was neve a MAIN villain.
I have this on VHS and I’m in the belief that this is the best adaptation of the Hobbit. Sure it may not be as technologically impressive as the newer films and Rankin Bass doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I feel this film not only captures the spirit of the book better, it overall encompasses the feel of a fantastical grand journey.
Hang on to that copy since when they made the DVD version they lost a bunch of sound effects, like the sound of hammers when the Dwarven crafters are working in this clip.
@@goatcheezius2399 will do. It’s funny: I found out about it years ago and was curious to buy it, and literally a week later I saw it at a goodwill. A lucky and coincidental find to be sure
Watched it as a kid in the 90s and felt the same way. My father is also a huge fan of this animated version. They even used to air it on tv here in Canada every now and then.
Ehhh, I think it could be done well again. People like this version, so it's possible that some people would take cues from it -- and more importantly, from the book.
The only folks I might trust to such an endeavor would have been the old DreamWorks, before Disney and Universal put their grubby taint all over them. They could probably still pull it off, but I wouldn't bet money on it being a faithful recreation.
This just has that looking at a fire while listening to medieval stories type of vibe. I always imagine myself in their setting, the newer movies can’t reach the atmosphere and tone of these older movies.
SO TRUE LORD❣️ @3Dashhh Also MORE SEGMENTz PLEAZ for EDUcational PURPOSE O'KIWI🇳🇿 FANzz And HISTORY Of Te GREAT DIRECTORZ🥝 Also PRIASE For PETER🥝"SON Of.JACK! "
Every fan of the movies should read the books at least once in their life, Tolkien had a way of describing a scene in such detail that your mind conjures up wonders far grander than even Peter Jackson managed. You will also get to see what bits Peter left out and what bits he added in himself, the books differ from the movies quite a lot in some places.
The movies (esp the Jackson ones) are a poor substitute for the books. They're a decent plot summary, but the atmosphere is totally different, and they omit a ton. Plus, everything Jackson added is bad. Anything in the movies a viewer liked, they'll likely discover was taken pretty directly from the books. As an example, look at The Hobbit, where the party arrive at Rivendell. In the movie, the place appears abandoned until they are cornered by a group of militarized elves who greet them with suspicion. In the book, the elves know they are coming, and the party encounters elves that are elusive, full of humor and song. They tease but ultimately welcome the dwarves. In the film, it feels like just another encounter, in the book, it's a magical experience for the Hobbit (and the reader) on his first adventure.
As one who has read through the books, respectfully disagree. The Lord of the Rings books are at best an acquired taste, and more simply not for everyone. While Tolkien certainly succeeded in turning them into a love letter for the epics that inspired him, he has a strong tendency to use fifty words when he only needed to use four, and it can cause the books to drag in places. There is also his habit of devoting entire pages of backstory to every second minor character that shows up for a single scene and is never heard from again. For some people this works, but it’s not a style that everyone can enjoy.
The problem with Jackson's version isn't when he relays Tolkein's story. It's when Jackson strays from Tolkein. Tolkein was a master story teller. Jackson is a master technical movie maker. Jackson's story is lame. When Jackson expresses Tolkein's story, it's good.
It saddens me when I think what Peter Jackson could've accomplished with such a huge budget and three films in which to tell the story if he hadn't listened to the studio heads. This version is still the best adaptation .
I think that Peter Jackson is criticised way too much for the Hobbit films, for a number of reasons. The first is a matter of opinion: I don't think they are that bad as movies. Sure they could definitely be better, but they were still relatively enjoyable (in my opinion). The second is that, compared to the Lord of the Rings, Jackson had hardly any pre-production time (compared to that of Lord of the Rings, being 3 years). In fact, Guillermo Del Toro was going to be the original director of the Hobbit movies. Del Toro wanted to take a more 'fairy tale' approach to the films (reflecting the same way the book is written), perhaps similar to that of Pan's Labyrinth (a film by Del Toro; it's very good and I highly recommend watching it if you haven't already). Unfortunately, about a year and a half into pre-production, Del Toro left the project for a reason that hasn't been disclosed (to my knowledge, at least). We have seen some of the concept art, props etc. from Del Toro's production, and they look very different to what we got in the Jackson version. As these tones and art style differ from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, I personally believe that Del Toro left the project because he was not able to create his vision (the greedy studio wanted a trilogy as close to 'Lord of the Rings' as possible, for more money). Therefore, Jackson jumped into the project, and (as seen in interviews), he had no idea what he was doing. It's a shame really, Del Toro's version could have been so excellent; I really would have liked to see it. Anyway, in conclusion, it was not entirely Jackson's fault, but greedy corporations who let money get in the way of art.
@@chookity372 the movies aren’t bad at all. I’d even say they are good. But when compared to the Lord of The Rings (which people will do unfortunately) they fall short. By movie standards they aren’t complete crap like some people try to make them out to be.
@@redbaron5308 I would say they are bad... It doesn't get the atmosphere of Middle Earth correct, and it doesn't 'feel' like a journey either. It's far too formulaic, and obviously made to cater to people who want a lot of action scenes and battles over developing its characters. It's good in comparison to most movies we get out of hollywood now, however, technically speaking it's pretty flawed, doesn't do the book much justice, and just feels like an action movie with fantasy elements.
There is one place in American media where you can find people who talk like this: American Horror Story. I've only seen Coven and Apocalypse, but Kathy Bates and Frances Conroy deliver speeches with captivating pronunciation based on the old theater tradition. Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson to some extent, too. Now, the series is terrible, with gore and disgusting themes, but it is -surprisingly- a place you can listen to long speeches with high vocabulary and theatrical pronunciation.
@@aaronc4899 Good show except for the over bearing political cast they put the show in. Main reasoning as to why i stopped watching it. Especially the alien/vamp one season. The first ep. of the alien side really turned me off of it.
I remember borrowing this VHS as a little girl from my Church at the time. They had this little area of various VHS tapes that could be borrowed and returned. Because I kept borrowing this one, they let me keep the VHS tape, and I still have it. I can't watch it anymore, the VHS movie anyway, being that my VCR no longer works and I can't find one that is compatible with my tv screen. But! After a lot of searching, I found it on DVD and bought it once I was able. I love this movie so much. I love the artistry, the music, the voice acting, all of it. I love all of it. I didn't know who Tolkien was at the time. Many years later I read the book, and loved it. I haven't read all of LOTR books, but I do enjoy the adaption movies a lot. But, this one out of them all holds a special place in my heart.
There was something so magical about these. And not just that it brings back memories of childhood. The songs were great and seemed to transport you in Tolkien’s world.
Back in the late seventies this movie came on TV. I was ignorant of HRR Tolkien's work, but this movie hooked me in. Right after that I bought the book and was blown away by the mystery and scope of the tale. I have a special place in my heart for this film and I wish it would be shown again. Yes, it's a much better version than Peter Jackson's.
I have never read the books and listening to the dialogue of this clip I just realized something I didnt as a kid. This is the most poetic thing i have ever heard!! Its like Shakespeare with words I can understand. Im going to go buy the books. That was beautiful.
@@DixiePokerAce The DVD version I have (not sure if it's the same version you have) removed the spider death sounds =( I am quite disappointed by this.
@@whiskeyvictor5703 When I got a copy of "Day of the animals" on DVD it has the standard and the theatrical (two movies) on the same disk. In the day and age of DVD/Blue ray I don't see why the studio that released them couldn't put a version with sound on one side and one without on the reverse side. So I have to suspect legality & trademarks as the culprit. I also recommend avoiding "The Warriors" on DVD as the director pulled a Lucas and re-edited chunks of the film and it throws off the pacing if you ask me.
Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away, ere break of day To seek our pale enchanted gold The dwarves of yore made mighty spells While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep In hollow halls beneath the fells For ancient king and elvish lord There many a gleaming golden hoard They shaped and wrought, and light they caught To hide in gems on hilt of sword On silver necklaces they strung The flowering stars on crowns they hung The dragon-fire in twisted wire They meshed the light of moon and sun Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away, ere break of day To claim our long-forgotten gold Goblets they carved there for themselves And harps of gold, where no man delves There lay they long, and many a song Was sung unheard by men or elves The pines were roaring on the heights The winds was moaning in the night The fire was red, it flaming spread The trees like torches blazed with light The bells were ringing in the dale And men looked up with faces pale The dragon's ire, more fierce than fire Laid low their towers and houses frail The mountain smoked beneath the moon The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom They fled their hall to dying fall Beneath his feet, beneath the moon Far over the misty mountains grim To dungeons deep and caverns dim We must away, ere break of day To win our harps and gold from him Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old
For some reason, this poem makes me choke up every time I read it; if I hear it, I sometimes burst into tears. It has such beauty, grandeur and gives me the urge to go on an epic adventure.
I love this movie, have since I was a little kid. But honestly something about the art style and music are still scary. And that line, "In places deep, where dark things sleep" still creeps me out. The idea of living things so dark and terrible even Gandalf will not say their names
There is a radioplay of the movie that literally covers the ENTIRE book, "The Hobbit", same voices and music, everything, and it runs about 6 hours. I have it on tape... Unfortunately, I literally do not have a tape deck to play it on anymore.
@@DocWolph It’s available from the BBC in the UK I have a beautiful collection of the 10 CDs making up the Lord of the Rings And the earlier 4 CD collection telling the story of the Hobbit It is THE best medium for the story outside of reading the books and very faithful to Tolkien’s original
I have it on cassette… there are 5 or 6 but I’ve never played them. The wrapper is still on for all I know. I still have them somewhere. They are in a cute little wooded box.
This was my introduction to Middle Earth as a 90s kid. I used to watch this animated version with my father (who watched this religiously on VHS 📼). Good times.
I love love love this movie. Probably the first thing I remember my father ever sharing with me. I'd watched this movie hundreds of times but havent seen it in years. Thanks for the upload.
I will always have a soft spot for this adaptation of "The Hobbit". While I acknowledge the live action trilogy was better in some ways, this one was more faithful to the original story, and Thorin actually looks younger during the flashback than in the main story (which takes place 171 years later) instead of the same age!
Originally, they had Richard Armitage's Thorin have a longer beard so he looked older. However, that seems to be during the early days when Guillermo Del Torro was going to be directing 2 movies. It's sad to admit it but the hobbit movies could've been worse if it hadn't been for Peter Jackson salvaging what he could with less time in pre production than the lotr movies.
The music is extraordinary and John Huston is a great narrator and a great Gandalf. The voice actor for Bilbo is also fantastic and makes Bilbo incredibly likable.There is an appreciation for pacing and silence in places. It’s the complete opposite of a JJ Abrams film and that’s remarkably refreshing. I think we yearn for it a little bit for that especially when we’re assailed with so much information overflow these days in art and life. Respect for the cinematic moment to marinate needs to return.
Thorin is voiced by Hans Conried, who voiced Captain Hook in the Disney film, Dr. Terwilliger in the 5,'000 Fingers of Dr. T, King Azaz and the Mathemagician in the Phantom Tollbooth, and the Grinch in Halloween is Grinch Night.
Most of the animators from TopCraft went on to create Studio Ghibli when their studio was bought. Sometimes when people ask me "what's your favorite Ghibli films" I'll respond with "The Hobbit".
I spent many nights watching movies like this with my maternal grandfather. I inherited these VHS tapes. Sometimes when I miss him, I watch them on one of my working VCRs.
Mystical ancient conversation in Dwarven forge: "Hey, how do you get your tongs to stay cool?" "Oh, I just wrap some leather around the handle and shimmy em a bit when I take em out." "Works with magical stuff too?" "Sure, why not. If it works it works. Don't overthink it. Hey, your sister say anything about me?"
i remember watching this when i was a kid, and i loved it so much. smaug spooked me at first sight but then i didnt feel fear from him. they did a really good job.
I LOVE the animation for these animated movies, their so magical and remind me of my childhood anytime I see them. Even though this movie came out 13 years before I was born, I loved every minute of it.
The difference between this version and the newer ones is that this one, as with any animated version for any movie make, it leaves our imagination wide open to our own minds illustrations and visions, wishful thinking and own sense of adventure: live movies takes that away overall.
The fellowship trilogy did this successfully tho, leaving magic, world details, and characters to be mysterious and discovered later. Its not a live movie problem, its a story telling problem, which can be attributed to the difference between one set of movies produced with years of time and minimal money politics, as opposed to the newer ones with half the time allowed as well as multiple entanglements concerning property ownership.
@@BazzBrother Not successful at all, since it was live and not animated and therefore it could not have left our imagination wide open but it shut it. Every time I now read anything LOTR or Hobbit, I see the actors' faces and that is what namely removes imagination from us. The blue light for night time was too much, getting that from other movies who have used it I noticed. I have seen other movies where the blue is mostly left out and it looks much better as a night scene. A modern movie that still leaves the imagination running with wonders and visions are, for example, Beowulf. I can read it but still see images that the movie hasn't ruined. As for politics and other entanglements in movie-making, there have been quite a few well done recent films, displaying that movies can be done properly. Peter Jackson said Tom Bombadil was not in the movie because he (and Goldberry) did not contribute to the story. Jackson is human first and foremost, prone to stupidity and such errors as any one else. TLOTR is primary an epic and high fantasy story, and Toms presence would have contributed to the us being completely taken to this whole new Fantasy world had he been added. "spare no expense" said the good doctor in Jurassic World, and many blockbuster movies do that and yet fail many times in what matters even though, these directors and producers and studios have seen other movies done very well with dignity and respect regarding books or remakes. I love TLOTR movies because Tolkien's books are my favorite readings, but honesty I value highly and P Jackson messed up many times.
Between the music (including Tolkien's poems), quality of animation, and faithfulness to the actuall book verbatim...there is a reason why I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid.
@@josebro352 i agree i watch jacksons films more often than i read the books or these animated films, they are good but jackson made art, his works make me cry with hapiness and sadness and more.
Maybe the most accurate and don't get me wrong these versions are pure art but Peter Jackson's versions in my opinion are truly the best and can't be beat
You all are free to enjoy whatever you want. All I know is a piece of my soul dies every time I see that Radagast, and then again when I see Goblin-town. Only so much can be blamed on del Toro. Jackson is wholly responsible for the other two films. Lindsay Ellis sums it all up far better than I ever could. th-cam.com/video/uTRUQ-RKfUs/w-d-xo.html
@@ScarletBrotherhood oh yea the hobbit is not on par with the original trilogy for me either. Also legolas' shield stair skate and mumakil kill scene is really out of place too.
As a small child, I barely understood any of the words, but I still remember watching wide-eyed in wonder for the entire movie. A deeply beloved film for all time.
You said it
As did I, we have a teleplay movie in the USSR. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (Хоббит, или туда и обратно. 1985).
Same, I didn't understand what I saw a lot either
I discovered this movie as an adult and fell in love with its style.
@@sampeacaml9307 it has a 70s early 80s anime style reminiscent of the last unicorn
One of the main things I love about this animated version is that they included a lot of Tolkien's poetry and songs. Gandalf (John Huston) was magnificent reciting the verses of the Fall of Erebor. All of the songs (except the main title song) were based on Tolkien's words, including the Goblin songs. I was 12 years old when this came out in 1977 and I became an instant fan of Tolkien and got the books and read them all in quick succession.
The songs are one of the most joyous parts of reading the book!
@@MrEgofreak Absolutely!
To be fair.... Many times it isnt actually sung but just recited rotely. Like in this scene. wonderful movie, love the songs... but lets actually sing them, yeah?
@@IlViciouslI Where there's a whip! **WHIPCRACK!** There's a way!
I thought Thorin was reciting, here, not Gandalf.
I was already a longtime Tolkien fan when this aired on television; a group of Tolkien fans watched it together at a party. We all agreed that while some of it, especially some of the character design, was dubious, and the story downright rushed at times, this scene in particular - which is not rushed at all - stood out for just about everyone as capturing Tolkien in both word and spirit.
The modern movies full of effects and fireworks are no comparison to this old good animation!
The character designs obviously did something right, because the original Legend of Zelda ripped them off. :P
I liked the designs but some aspects are rushed but I felt like it was made for tv like Return of the King. Wish they could have fleshed it out as a 2 part tv film and did the whole LotR (whose designs imo were better than Bakshi's despite how intriguing of a film it was).
GA
Just like the Rings of Power 😂😂
As a little boy I watched this for the first time. Fell in love with fantasy and sword and sorcery.. this led me to Dragonlance, Conan the barbarian, dungeons and dragons, many other wonderful things. Years later, it brought me full circle back to the pita Jackson trilogies. Now I’m 55.. and I still have a copy of the DVD. And I have shared it with my children.. this was a great animated movie. I love it still
Im 55 still playing DND sometimes
@@jasoneverley8164 I am also 55, love Tolkien's books, the movies, Conan, etc (including D&D), and I also DM sometimes. 😃
Same here, I turn 60 this year and watched this in the fall of 1978. My 8th grade English teacher talked me into reading the book, which I did and of course that led me to the Holy Trilogy, and then D&D, Donaldson, Terry Brooks, etc.
I am 74 & still feel spellbound by this genre
Dragonlance.
I named my daughter Larelanthelasa. Almost got a way with naming the boys Raistlin and Caramon, too.
This manages to convey the secret meeting atmosphere that the books gives- and makes Bilbo's home seem even more attractive and cozy.
Of course it's cozy. A Hobbit hole means comfort.
Never doubt what masters of animation can do: Ralph Bakshi, Hayao Miyazaki, Walt Disney and others. They put so much soul into their work.
@@MrEgofreak Oh yeah definitely. Among others I find Ray Harryhausen inspiring.
Jackson's hobbit houses give me that feeling too. Gandalf was just extraordinarily tall.
@@MrEgofreak LOL I was with you until you mentioned Disney, Disney is in the dumps along with CN, Nickoleoden, Netflix. Western animators don't know how to draw anymore.
Pre VCR / DVD days when this was on TV once a year as a "special" it was such a big deal to me as a pre teen.
Pretty sure vcr were available in the 1970's
@@tmnt10000 Commercially available to most the US no, invented before sure. OP is still correct.
Me too!!
And this is a very good adaptation in my opinion.
This was on Video Disk...before Beta and VHS existed...sorry your not old enough to know that
I love the classical Germanic/Nordic folk art style to this true its not the most accurate to the book but it has an authenticity or an old soul about it.
It really does. It has a very strong spirit to it
even loving the book and with them cutting quite a bit to fit this into a Tv spot It still remains the best abridged telling of the Hobbit as it sticks almost word for word with the book, including the numerous songs.
Exactly. There's a primal earthiness to so much of it.
me too, do you know other movies with the same style??
@@joaquindarby4208 the movie Fire and Ice
This version of Hobbit is so endearing.
Always thought the art was weird when I watch this as a kid maybe it was to advance for me back then
By far my favorite.
I saw this when it first aired. The line up is just fantastic---Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, etc. I still own the VHS tape, and watch it once in a while.
@@smith1958b Take good care of that, and if you can find a way to digitize it, please do. The DVD's are missing some of the audio, Notably the spiders screaming and other music/sound effects.
New versions are still enjoyable, but that noise was just so memorable and it takes me out of the film, when i don't hear it.
@@ghosturiel I watched this with some friends recently who had never seen it before and thought I was losing my mind when the spiders didn't make any noise. Weird that they changed that.
This movie is a magical masterpiece. Sincerely, I love this movie.
1980 or 81, the town library showed this film. It started 7yr old me down a lifelong friendship with all Tolkien’s books.
Thorin here is much more humble and grateful to Bilbo in the beginning than Jacksons Thorin.
Because Jackson didn't understand the source material and tried to turn Thorin into a villain.
@@TreacherousPineappleKing I don't know if "villain" was really what Jackson wanted, but in the books Thorin is basically a haughty proud dwarf. He loved hearing himself talk and enjoyed giving long winded speeches. For some reason, Jackson interpreted that as "Complete dickhead" and that wasn't the case. You can be haughty and long winded and not be a complete dickhead.
@@Goldenbane He is proud, but much of his pride isn't tyrannical as shown by Jackson. Thorin is shown to be malicious at times in the films, deceitful and out for himself - where in the books he isn't. He is wronged numerous times. He is appreciative of Bilbo and turns to him often.
It is clear that Jackson wanted another villain in the films. He wanted there to be angst within the party of dwarves and he needed there to be a heel face turn towards the end with a redemptive arc. As such, he discredits Thorin immensely.
@@TreacherousPineappleKing I wouldn't say 'villain', but you're right in that the Jackson films tried to make him more dramatic which only made him more annoying. To me it felt like they tried to recreate Aragorn, but then added some Gollum style obsession to him. It doesn't really fit Thorin.
@@AmericanZergling yeah and Jackson messed too much with the Lore. For one, Thorin wasnt at the attempted retaking of Moria, and Azog was neve a MAIN villain.
Hand painted animation cells are more magical that cgi.
Fun fact, this was animated by Topcraft, a precursor to Studio Ghibli
Like with all art. When done with heart. :)
Im sorry but nothing compares to seeing minas tirith for the first time in the peter jackson films
@@quorthonsinferno5119 ah my friend but that was a miniature. Believe it or not :)
I agree 100%
I have this on VHS and I’m in the belief that this is the best adaptation of the Hobbit. Sure it may not be as technologically impressive as the newer films and Rankin Bass doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I feel this film not only captures the spirit of the book better, it overall encompasses the feel of a fantastical grand journey.
Hang on to that copy since when they made the DVD version they lost a bunch of sound effects, like the sound of hammers when the Dwarven crafters are working in this clip.
@@goatcheezius2399 will do. It’s funny: I found out about it years ago and was curious to buy it, and literally a week later I saw it at a goodwill. A lucky and coincidental find to be sure
The complete series was incredibly drawn. I wish Ralph Bakshi would have redone it a few years back
@@goatcheezius2399 I have an ancient dvd of this and it absolutely has the ting of hammers in it.
Being the best adaptation of The Hobbit is not a high bar...
Some of the greatest voice acting ever
I watched this so many times as a kid in the 80s and it's still incredibly moving. So much heart in an 90 min cartoon
Watched it as a kid in the 90s and felt the same way. My father is also a huge fan of this animated version. They even used to air it on tv here in Canada every now and then.
Good God this brought back forgotten memories, Even such a short clip amazing how songs can capture such a time and feeling so long ago
Tons of effort. Especially the soundtrack. Nobody does this anymore
@@jswin2084 Can we also talk about the excellent narration? That man's oration skills are on point.
I watched this movie so many times throughout my childhood that even now, I can act out the entire film. And I haven't even watched it in years.
This is such a fantastic adaptation.
Imagine a 1st person RPG with this art stlye. It would be glorious!
LIke Dragon's Lair
@@dkoz8321 that looks really cool but no it’s not 1st person and there are very limited controls
Take my money!
Actually, for this animation at it's time, this is really good! I got chills!
Nobody understands how epic the animation is, drawn by hand, frame after frame for 90 minutes. Incredible.
They can remake it as many times as they'd like, but it will never capture the same spirit that this version evoked.
agreed 100%
Ehhh, I think it could be done well again. People like this version, so it's possible that some people would take cues from it -- and more importantly, from the book.
i would like to see a new animated version
The only folks I might trust to such an endeavor would have been the old DreamWorks, before Disney and Universal put their grubby taint all over them.
They could probably still pull it off, but I wouldn't bet money on it being a faithful recreation.
@@VincentVanHorn I would have more faith in a new/independent studio.
This just has that looking at a fire while listening to medieval stories type of vibe. I always imagine myself in their setting, the newer movies can’t reach the atmosphere and tone of these older movies.
SO TRUE LORD❣️ @3Dashhh Also MORE SEGMENTz PLEAZ for EDUcational PURPOSE O'KIWI🇳🇿 FANzz And HISTORY Of Te GREAT DIRECTORZ🥝
Also PRIASE For PETER🥝"SON Of.JACK! "
New movies are a shallow cgi shitfest with no soul
Every fan of the movies should read the books at least once in their life, Tolkien had a way of describing a scene in such detail that your mind conjures up wonders far grander than even Peter Jackson managed. You will also get to see what bits Peter left out and what bits he added in himself, the books differ from the movies quite a lot in some places.
The movies (esp the Jackson ones) are a poor substitute for the books. They're a decent plot summary, but the atmosphere is totally different, and they omit a ton. Plus, everything Jackson added is bad. Anything in the movies a viewer liked, they'll likely discover was taken pretty directly from the books.
As an example, look at The Hobbit, where the party arrive at Rivendell. In the movie, the place appears abandoned until they are cornered by a group of militarized elves who greet them with suspicion. In the book, the elves know they are coming, and the party encounters elves that are elusive, full of humor and song. They tease but ultimately welcome the dwarves. In the film, it feels like just another encounter, in the book, it's a magical experience for the Hobbit (and the reader) on his first adventure.
@@WalterLiddy Absolute nonsense. Peter Jackson did an incredible job, his movies are magic. So stfu.
As one who has read through the books, respectfully disagree. The Lord of the Rings books are at best an acquired taste, and more simply not for everyone. While Tolkien certainly succeeded in turning them into a love letter for the epics that inspired him, he has a strong tendency to use fifty words when he only needed to use four, and it can cause the books to drag in places. There is also his habit of devoting entire pages of backstory to every second minor character that shows up for a single scene and is never heard from again.
For some people this works, but it’s not a style that everyone can enjoy.
The problem with Jackson's version isn't when he relays Tolkein's story. It's when Jackson strays from Tolkein. Tolkein was a master story teller. Jackson is a master technical movie maker. Jackson's story is lame. When Jackson expresses Tolkein's story, it's good.
@@PhazonKing He left out Tom Bombadil. I will never forgive him for that
That’s so cool that they made a whole spinoff for Mip from Smiling Friends.
It saddens me when I think what Peter Jackson could've accomplished with such a huge budget and three films in which to tell the story if he hadn't listened to the studio heads. This version is still the best adaptation .
Also he was screwed with having to make do with what he had and little time
Did he have a choice?
I think that Peter Jackson is criticised way too much for the Hobbit films, for a number of reasons. The first is a matter of opinion: I don't think they are that bad as movies. Sure they could definitely be better, but they were still relatively enjoyable (in my opinion). The second is that, compared to the Lord of the Rings, Jackson had hardly any pre-production time (compared to that of Lord of the Rings, being 3 years). In fact, Guillermo Del Toro was going to be the original director of the Hobbit movies. Del Toro wanted to take a more 'fairy tale' approach to the films (reflecting the same way the book is written), perhaps similar to that of Pan's Labyrinth (a film by Del Toro; it's very good and I highly recommend watching it if you haven't already). Unfortunately, about a year and a half into pre-production, Del Toro left the project for a reason that hasn't been disclosed (to my knowledge, at least). We have seen some of the concept art, props etc. from Del Toro's production, and they look very different to what we got in the Jackson version. As these tones and art style differ from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, I personally believe that Del Toro left the project because he was not able to create his vision (the greedy studio wanted a trilogy as close to 'Lord of the Rings' as possible, for more money). Therefore, Jackson jumped into the project, and (as seen in interviews), he had no idea what he was doing. It's a shame really, Del Toro's version could have been so excellent; I really would have liked to see it. Anyway, in conclusion, it was not entirely Jackson's fault, but greedy corporations who let money get in the way of art.
@@chookity372 the movies aren’t bad at all. I’d even say they are good. But when compared to the Lord of The Rings (which people will do unfortunately) they fall short. By movie standards they aren’t complete crap like some people try to make them out to be.
@@redbaron5308 I would say they are bad...
It doesn't get the atmosphere of Middle Earth correct, and it doesn't 'feel' like a journey either. It's far too formulaic, and obviously made to cater to people who want a lot of action scenes and battles over developing its characters.
It's good in comparison to most movies we get out of hollywood now, however, technically speaking it's pretty flawed, doesn't do the book much justice, and just feels like an action movie with fantasy elements.
To this day, this Narration gives me chills. Why does no one talk like this anymore?
There is one place in American media where you can find people who talk like this: American Horror Story.
I've only seen Coven and Apocalypse, but Kathy Bates and Frances Conroy deliver speeches with captivating pronunciation based on the old theater tradition. Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson to some extent, too. Now, the series is terrible, with gore and disgusting themes, but it is -surprisingly- a place you can listen to long speeches with high vocabulary and theatrical pronunciation.
I tried but people kept yelling at me to pick something from the menu or get out of the line.
@@aaronc4899 Good show except for the over bearing political cast they put the show in. Main reasoning as to why i stopped watching it. Especially the alien/vamp one season. The first ep. of the alien side really turned me off of it.
That's the late John Houston another role he had period was the lawgiver in battle of the Planet of the Apes
I remember borrowing this VHS as a little girl from my Church at the time. They had this little area of various VHS tapes that could be borrowed and returned. Because I kept borrowing this one, they let me keep the VHS tape, and I still have it. I can't watch it anymore, the VHS movie anyway, being that my VCR no longer works and I can't find one that is compatible with my tv screen. But! After a lot of searching, I found it on DVD and bought it once I was able. I love this movie so much. I love the artistry, the music, the voice acting, all of it. I love all of it. I didn't know who Tolkien was at the time. Many years later I read the book, and loved it. I haven't read all of LOTR books, but I do enjoy the adaption movies a lot. But, this one out of them all holds a special place in my heart.
Nothing against the live action movie. but I think the animated version captured the feel of the Hobbit the best.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Indeed and in less than 1/6 of the runtime of that trilogy.
I completely agree. 👍
You can go ahead and criticize that hollywood cash grab. Nobody is going to argue
There was something so magical about these. And not just that it brings back memories of childhood. The songs were great and seemed to transport you in Tolkien’s world.
Back in my early childhood, this simple yet wonderous cartoon began a lifelong enchantment with Middle Earth. Thanks!
The art style is so good.
It was animated by Topcraft, the precursor to Studio Ghibli
@@Mare_Man wow thank you, my friend! I didn't know that. Thats awesome
@@a7dv7en7t On top of that it has a very Arthur Rackham vibe to it.
@@LewisChristisonVids omgosh I just searched Arthur Rackham and the details are amazing! His lines remind me of David Day. Thank you for sharing
At the time, this is the same studio that animated the intro to Thundercats.
A Rankin Bass classic! One of my childhood favorites!
The art style was just something else completely.
Animation with soul. This is a real gold.
My mom put me on to this when i was a kid. As an adult....the amount of love and dedication to the core material is insane.
The dwarves all look like friars that have been into the cheese wheels too much and it went to their noses.
I love dwarves
This is probably the adaptation that got closer to the spirit of Tolkien’s writings. I wish we had more of those.
0:46 The concept art of "Lonely Mountain" looks amazing!
Yees, I went looking for this art for my computers wallpaper, couldnt find anything
every frame gives me such an eerie feeling
This animated special is very much a mixed bag, but this one scene is nearly perfect. It gives me chills
Back in the late seventies this movie came on TV. I was ignorant of HRR Tolkien's work, but this movie hooked me in. Right after that I bought the book and was blown away by the mystery and scope of the tale. I have a special place in my heart for this film and I wish it would be shown again. Yes, it's a much better version than Peter Jackson's.
I have never read the books and listening to the dialogue of this clip I just realized something I didnt as a kid. This is the most poetic thing i have ever heard!! Its like Shakespeare with words I can understand. Im going to go buy the books. That was beautiful.
The music, the art, and the atmosphere in this version are so good.
Got it on DVD. This was a great version of the Tolkien classic.
How's the picture quality of the DVD?
@@whiskeyvictor5703 It is very good.
@@DixiePokerAce The DVD version I have (not sure if it's the same version you have) removed the spider death sounds =( I am quite disappointed by this.
@@vivaelgato4541 I've read many reviews of DVDs of the Hobbit, and most refer to a lack of sound effects and audio cues throughout. Pity.
@@whiskeyvictor5703 When I got a copy of "Day of the animals" on DVD it has the standard and the theatrical (two movies) on the same disk. In the day and age of DVD/Blue ray I don't see why the studio that released them couldn't put a version with sound on one side and one without on the reverse side. So I have to suspect legality & trademarks as the culprit. I also recommend avoiding "The Warriors" on DVD as the director pulled a Lucas and re-edited chunks of the film and it throws off the pacing if you ask me.
These...were...the...BEST.
LOVED this type of drawing's and art...just feels...right.
HOO-YAH & God Bless Tolkien's Soul & Memory...!!!
There is something so magical about this animation style as well as the music.
I wonder what the balrog would look like in this style of art
I loved this version as a kid. And I still do.
It’s incredible to see such kindness and love. Thank you all!
"There is magic in the music."
"And it moves through me."
Brings back memories 🤩
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To seek our pale enchanted gold
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep
In hollow halls beneath the fells
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To claim our long-forgotten gold
Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold, where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves
The pines were roaring on the heights
The winds was moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light
The bells were ringing in the dale
And men looked up with faces pale
The dragon's ire, more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail
The mountain smoked beneath the moon
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom
They fled their hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon
Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day
To win our harps and gold from him
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
For some reason, this poem makes me choke up every time I read it; if I hear it, I sometimes burst into tears. It has such beauty, grandeur and gives me the urge to go on an epic adventure.
The art style is beyond what the live action film is capable of.
I love this movie, have since I was a little kid. But honestly something about the art style and music are still scary. And that line, "In places deep, where dark things sleep" still creeps me out. The idea of living things so dark and terrible even Gandalf will not say their names
Or perhaps those dark creatures down in the depths where Gandalf and the Balrog fell when fighting.
i think that was the point.
This is beautiful in its own little way
Saw this movie as a child. And loved it all. Would watch again in a second.
I love how the fire was animated in this, it seems to have a life of it's own.
I love the ambient music tones and sound effects.
The artwork is amazing!
There is a radioplay of the movie that literally covers the ENTIRE book, "The Hobbit", same voices and music, everything, and it runs about 6 hours. I have it on tape... Unfortunately, I literally do not have a tape deck to play it on anymore.
Was it ever available on CD?
@@whiskeyvictor5703
I do not know. Even if it is it is pretty hard to find. The Radioplay is about 40 years old at this point.
@@DocWolph
It’s available from the BBC in the UK
I have a beautiful collection of the 10 CDs making up the Lord of the Rings
And the earlier 4 CD collection telling the story of the Hobbit
It is THE best medium for the story outside of reading the books and very faithful to Tolkien’s original
I have it on cassette… there are 5 or 6 but I’ve never played them. The wrapper is still on for all I know. I still have them somewhere. They are in a cute little wooded box.
It’s on iTunes as an audiobook
I owned it on VHS, I donated all of my possessions, to the Youth Centre in Quesnel and The Native Band. Had almost everything they needed.
I envy all of those that got to sit and see this as little children, it must have been a fantastic journey into Tolkien's world.
This was my introduction to Middle Earth as a 90s kid. I used to watch this animated version with my father (who watched this religiously on VHS 📼). Good times.
The rhyming storytelling is awesome. I loved it as a child, and love it still. Same with the music.
I love love love this movie. Probably the first thing I remember my father ever sharing with me. I'd watched this movie hundreds of times but havent seen it in years. Thanks for the upload.
even though somethings were misspoken in these versions, i still love them to this day
I will always have a soft spot for this adaptation of "The Hobbit". While I acknowledge the live action trilogy was better in some ways, this one was more faithful to the original story, and Thorin actually looks younger during the flashback than in the main story (which takes place 171 years later) instead of the same age!
Originally, they had Richard Armitage's Thorin have a longer beard so he looked older. However, that seems to be during the early days when Guillermo Del Torro was going to be directing 2 movies. It's sad to admit it but the hobbit movies could've been worse if it hadn't been for Peter Jackson salvaging what he could with less time in pre production than the lotr movies.
The film trilogy lacks the *feeling* of the Hobbit
This is less gay.
This version is undoubtedly the better adaptation
The music is extraordinary and John Huston is a great narrator and a great Gandalf. The voice actor for Bilbo is also fantastic and makes Bilbo incredibly likable.There is an appreciation for pacing and silence in places. It’s the complete opposite of a JJ Abrams film and that’s remarkably refreshing. I think we yearn for it a little bit for that especially when we’re assailed with so much information overflow these days in art and life. Respect for the cinematic moment to marinate needs to return.
Thorin is voiced by Hans Conried, who voiced Captain Hook in the Disney film, Dr. Terwilliger in the 5,'000 Fingers of Dr. T, King Azaz and the Mathemagician in the Phantom Tollbooth, and the Grinch in Halloween is Grinch Night.
Mip, the animated series
I still remember my 4th grade teacher both reading us the book and showing us this movie. It was my introduction to Tolkien.
Most of the animators from TopCraft went on to create Studio Ghibli when their studio was bought. Sometimes when people ask me "what's your favorite Ghibli films" I'll respond with "The Hobbit".
This makes me hand drawn animation so much
As a kid growing up this movie fascinated and terrified me. I never missed it when it aired and I've been hooked ever since.
The narrative and the music is what moved me to like it. It has a certain ancient connotation of adventure about it.
I loved this movie as a kid and I still love it
I spent many nights watching movies like this with my maternal grandfather. I inherited these VHS tapes. Sometimes when I miss him, I watch them on one of my working VCRs.
Digitize them ASAP, or buy the DVD, I don't think it cuts anything out. VHS's don't last.
MIP ROCKS!
Man, doesn't matter how old I grow, seeing this always makes feel like a boy yearning for adventure and battle
If wood carvings became animated
I remember this as a child. I loved To There and Back Again, my father preferred the trilogy. I wish I still had this and on VHS.
First animated film I brought home from the library. Inspired my imagination to this day. Remarkable artistic creativity I wish could be seen today.
The live action Lord of the Rings is the best adaptation of that.
But the animated Hobbit is the best adaptation of that.
I love the animated hobbit as it takes lines straight from the book. It's just so poetic as the original book was.
I remember having this movie on VHS and I loved it and still do today.
I loved this version !! Closest to the book in my opinion .
Mystical ancient conversation in Dwarven forge:
"Hey, how do you get your tongs to stay cool?"
"Oh, I just wrap some leather around the handle and shimmy em a bit when I take em out."
"Works with magical stuff too?"
"Sure, why not. If it works it works. Don't overthink it. Hey, your sister say anything about me?"
growing up the hobbit films hadn't come out yet, this was and still is the first part of any LOTR viewing
i remember watching this when i was a kid, and i loved it so much. smaug spooked me at first sight but then i didnt feel fear from him. they did a really good job.
This brings back memories I’ve since long forgotten. Very nice to remember this all again.
MIP from smiling friends.
Lord, what magnificent animation!
I see where Mip came from lol 😂
The best adaption ever .... period
So this is where smiling friends got their design for that hobbit in the fantasy adventure episode. It was a reference to The Hobbit animated series.
I LOVE the animation for these animated movies, their so magical and remind me of my childhood anytime I see them. Even though this movie came out 13 years before I was born, I loved every minute of it.
We need this for Dune.
Awesome.
And Richard Boone as Smaug.😎
The difference between this version and the newer ones is that this one, as with any animated version for any movie make, it leaves our imagination wide open to our own minds illustrations and visions, wishful thinking and own sense of adventure: live movies takes that away overall.
The fellowship trilogy did this successfully tho, leaving magic, world details, and characters to be mysterious and discovered later.
Its not a live movie problem, its a story telling problem, which can be attributed to the difference between one set of movies produced with years of time and minimal money politics, as opposed to the newer ones with half the time allowed as well as multiple entanglements concerning property ownership.
@@BazzBrother
Conan the Barbarian had no such problems :-) it executed perfectly
@@BazzBrother Not successful at all, since it was live and not animated and therefore it could not have left our imagination wide open but it shut it. Every time I now read anything LOTR or Hobbit, I see the actors' faces and that is what namely removes imagination from us.
The blue light for night time was too much, getting that from other movies who have used it I noticed. I have seen other movies where the blue is mostly left out and it looks much better as a night scene.
A modern movie that still leaves the imagination running with wonders and visions are, for example, Beowulf. I can read it but still see images that the movie hasn't ruined.
As for politics and other entanglements in movie-making, there have been quite a few well done recent films, displaying that movies can be done properly. Peter Jackson said Tom Bombadil was not in the movie because he (and Goldberry) did not contribute to the story. Jackson is human first and foremost, prone to stupidity and such errors as any one else. TLOTR is primary an epic and high fantasy story, and Toms presence would have contributed to the us being completely taken to this whole new Fantasy world had he been added. "spare no expense" said the good doctor in Jurassic World, and many blockbuster movies do that and yet fail many times in what matters even though, these directors and producers and studios have seen other movies done very well with dignity and respect regarding books or remakes.
I love TLOTR movies because Tolkien's books are my favorite readings, but honesty I value highly and P Jackson messed up many times.
Loved this as a kid. Gollum and the goblins were far more creepy and disturbing than the live action films.
Man that chord at 3:05 is so cool.
Between the music (including Tolkien's poems), quality of animation, and faithfulness to the actuall book verbatim...there is a reason why I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid.
"quality of animation"😂
@@SwitchFlipMan Compare to literally anything else from 1977...yes.
Still the best film rendition of Tolkien's story to date.
I know I'm in the minority but I actually like the Peter Jackson version and I don't think it's that bad.
@@josebro352 i agree i watch jacksons films more often than i read the books or these animated films, they are good but jackson made art, his works make me cry with hapiness and sadness and more.
Maybe the most accurate and don't get me wrong these versions are pure art but Peter Jackson's versions in my opinion are truly the best and can't be beat
You all are free to enjoy whatever you want. All I know is a piece of my soul dies every time I see that Radagast, and then again when I see Goblin-town. Only so much can be blamed on del Toro. Jackson is wholly responsible for the other two films. Lindsay Ellis sums it all up far better than I ever could. th-cam.com/video/uTRUQ-RKfUs/w-d-xo.html
@@ScarletBrotherhood oh yea the hobbit is not on par with the original trilogy for me either. Also legolas' shield stair skate and mumakil kill scene is really out of place too.
I just realized this is what smiling friends based that one character on