A Forgotten ’90s Animated Series Was A Shocking Sequel to a Classic Movie (And I Think About It All the Time)

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It’s common for popular, well-loved movies to get sequels, but there are other ways to expand a franchise – like through TV shows, animated series, video games, or books. TV shows and cartoons are often the most successful options. Back in 1990, a famous movie unexpectedly got its own animated sequel series. Though many have forgotten it now, the show took some surprisingly creative liberties with the original movie’s story.

Everyone loves the classic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, and it’s become popular again recently with the Wicked movies. But did you know there was also a cartoon series in 1990 with the same name? Although it only lasted 13 episodes, the show essentially changed the original movie’s ending just to reunite the beloved characters. You can find all the episodes in the video linked here.

The Wizard of Oz Undid The Ending of the Original Film, And Then Ran With It

As many remember, the movie ends with the Wicked Witch of the West being defeated when water melts her. Dorothy and her friends then discover the Wizard isn’t magical at all, but an ordinary man from Kansas who was operating special effects. When a planned hot air balloon trip fails, Glinda explains that Dorothy can return home using her ruby slippers. Dorothy clicks her heels, famously saying “there’s no place like home,” and wakes up safely back in her bed.

In the cartoon, Dorothy finds the ruby slippers delivered to her home, and she and Toto are magically transported back to Oz. She clicks her heels together just like before, this time saying, “There’s no place like Oz,” and instantly arrives. She quickly reunites with the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, but soon discovers things have changed during her absence.

The Wicked Witch of the West is surprisingly back to life, brought back by her flying monkeys – effectively undoing her previous defeat. She’s taken over the Emerald City and imprisoned the Wizard in a powerful wind. To make matters worse, she’s stolen the gifts the Wizard gave to the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow, completely reversing the happy ending and setting the stage for a new story.

The show was short-lived, with only 13 episodes airing on ABC starting September 8, 1990. While it reappeared on The Disney Channel from 1991 to 1992 and then on Toon Disney from 1998 to 2002, no new episodes were ever made. However, thanks to the popularity of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, a new generation of fans has emerged, and there’s hope for a future cartoon adaptation.

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2026-05-27 06:40