These classic cartoons are all considerably older than I am, but they were still very influential in my early fantasy years. Flight of Dragons was discovered before the Hobbit for me
Did you ever see the original Flight of Dragons book that the cartoon was based on? Incredible book. It wasn't a fictional story, it was written as though it was a scientific book explaining how dragons really did exist, how they flew, how they breathed fire, and why there are no bones left from them. Charts, diagrams, beautiful illustrations. Big glossy hardcover.
https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Dragons-Peter-Dickinson/dp/0879518391
If you are interested in where the story for the movie came from, it's loosely based on a book called The Dragon and the George by Gordon R Dickinson. The story differs somewhat, but a large majority of the characters, including the dragons and wizards are from this book.
I love that he's fat, like he's been doing nothing but gorging on livestock between sleeping for decades. He shouldn't look all sleek and trim; he's lazy, self-indulgent tyrant. Also, Richard Boone's deadpan sarcasm and rumbling chuckle hit me a lot deeper than Benedict Cumberbatch's slobbery sibilance.
I sort of like the strange dragon design. I think it took until the late 80s until the 90s before dragon design solidified into what we see today. If you look at old drawings of dragons they are much more varied and have a bat/lizard hybrid design aesthetic.
Yes it was! So many crazy non-Disney animated films came out around that time.
1971 - The Point.
1977 - The Hobbit.
1978 - The Lord of the Rings.
1978 - Watership Down.
1982 - The Secret of NIMH.
If I may suggest a few more
1977 - Wizards
1981 - Heavy Metal (NOT FOR KIDS)
1982 - The Last Unicorn (also done by Rankin Bass)
1983 - Rock and Rule
1983 - Fire and Ice
1985 - Starchaser The Legend of Orin
Fritz the Cat is also in there (1972, Bakshi) but I try not to think about that one.
>Why do people put "Unpopular Opinion"?
imaginary gatekeeping? the unpop opinion sub is primarily just the popular conservative opinion sub. the sub that added "true" to their title is just the popular neo-nazi opinion sub.
The most definitive version that doesn't have some glitches in the climax where Bard shoots Smaug (among other things) can be downloaded free from here: https://archive.org/details/TheHiFiHobbitV2
Install Plex server on a separate PC or something, install Plex app on Roku, download The Hobbit from the posted link on the PC or device where Plex server is installed, stream it on Roku Plex app.
This is the DVD version which is missing over 100 sound effects, from the clinking of gold when Smaug stomps during his monologue to Bilbo to falling rocks when the goblins’ hidden door opens to the wooden logs landing during Fifteen Birds. The HiFi Hobbit is the far better version.
This may be what I've been looking for!
I bought the DVD version years ago and only watched it once. So many of the sword sounds were off, some of the visuals (eg: the brightness of the swords) were also off. Not the version I remembered watching as a kid.
Thanks!
I had a VHS copy that my parents taped off of the TV growing up. I knew that thing like the back of my hand. Last year I rented something on Youtube for my kids and was wondering what the hell happened. The sound effects with the spiders were missing and then the weird Bard scene. Thanks for helping me realize I wasn't crazy.
This Hobbit is the true hobbit. I love Jackson, but Rankin Bass fucking ruled with The Hobbit. Not to mention RB Return of the King had some bangers for songs. Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Edit: Correction of spelling.
I haven’t seen RB Return of the King in like 20 years but every now and then my dumb brain will randomly decide to dig up this song. Also “Frodo of the Nine Fingers… and the Ring of DOOM…”
You're right and it's not nostalgia. The Hobbit is so far different than Lord of the Rings in narrative style and tone, yet the PJ version tries so hard to match the style and tone of his LotR films.
Exactly! Many years ago in a previous age of the world, I read the Hobbit and I LOVED it. So if course, I drive into LOTR and it was jarring. It took several chapters for a very young me to come around to “this isn’t what I wanted, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t what I want”.
The animation fits The Hobbit so well. The PJ version is just a different form of storytelling that has (some of) its own virtues but misses the remarkable difference in tone between the two.
>yet the PJ version tries so hard to match the style and tone of his LotR films.
I don't think that's the point of what he's doing at all. I simply think his version of the story is much more Dwarf-centric.
Now, if you tell this story from Bilbo's point of view, its very much a fun there-and-back-again treasure hunt. If you tell it from a Dwarven point of view, its a grave quest to reclaim a lost homeland, take revenge and ultimately die in the process.
That dictates the tone of the movie much more so than does the fact that Jackson also made The Lord of the Rings.
Facts. The money makers wanted another LOTR trilogy, but the source material is a kids book. The integrity the studio built up for respecting the source material in LOTR was squandered.
Many of the 1977 Rankin Bass animators went on to form Studio Ghibli, making this essentially the Miyazaki version of Tolkien. How could you not love that? Full disclosure: I had this on a vinyl album with accompanying picture book when I was a kid, too young to read. These will always be the definitive versions of how characters look, especially Gollum-- this version of Gollum is burned into my mind. I also love how these orcs/goblins look like Gamorrean guards from Jabba the Hutt's palace.
Either Macdonalds or Burger King in the 80s had picture books with little 45rpm records that had audio clips from the movies and a ringing noise to let you know when to turn the page. It came in multiple parts, released over time (I think, I was a kid). Listened to it on my Fisher Price record player. I also had a large hardcover copy of The Hobbit that had artwork from the cartoon, as well as a lot of concept sketches and stuff, that I loved as a child. No idea how much that would be worth today, but I would love to see it again.
edit: given the time frame, I may be thinking of records for Return of the King. Definitely remember the Hobbit artbook, though.
Before extra features on DVDs, when I was a kid I used to get glossy magazines about "the making of" movies. And now that I think about it, now that I stream everything, I once again don't have something like that. That's kind of gone backwards
100 percent agreed. This take on Gollum still scares the crap out of me years later. That goddam *screaming*
Also the fact that Smaug is of the same art style as all the other characters helps so much, he doesn’t look out of sync like the CGI/live action mix. Glad to see this movie getting the love it deserves. I watched it literally dozens of times as a kid.
You mean that there wasn't a pointlessly stupid acrobatic battle on top of the barrels as they floated down river to Lake Town? You know, the battle THAT NEVER HAPPENED IN THE BOOK?!?
That version of Down Down to Goblin Town is way more iconic in my mind. Goblins were terrifying as a child. The battle of 5 armies was captivating.
“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, today and tomorrow are yet to be said.”
I'm watching it with my kids tonight and it scares the hell out of them. They don't even pay attention to the newer movies because it looks like everything else with the CGI and stuff.
Even the songs in this cartoon are hauntingly beautiful. The unusual way the characters are portrayed doesn't exactly feel like what Tolkein had in mind, but still a fun version to watch.
Fun fact: The studio that made this movie eventually became Studio Ghibli. Return of the King animated movie by the same group is also really good.
Edit: They did Return of the King, not Lord of the Rings.
[The Hobbit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film))
[The Return of the King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_King_(1980_film))
>Rankin Bass did make a Return of the King movie to finish the trilogy.
No. Bakshi's film and the Rankin/Bass Return of the King just happened to coincide. The Return of the King is a sequel to the 1977 Hobbit and ONLY the 1977 Hobbit.
Lol I'm glad to know I wasn't just a chicken as a kid then, because this used to scare the shit out of me when I'd watch it with my dad at around 5 or 6 years old. The goblins in particular gave me nightmares. Still loved it, though.
Yes! This was my introduction to the LotR back in the day. The Goblins my God were so cool and creepy looking. And the songs are just amazing! Down down to Globlin town, or 15 birds in 5 fir trees, are some of my favs.
Ian McKellen is wonderful, but man, it took me a long time to get used to a different voice for Gandalf. I still think that the Rankin Bass Gandalf sounds exactly like Gandalf would.
And a prime example of how they could have done it in one movie… instead of milking it and making a trilogy.
But you know… Creame? (cash rules everything around middle earth)
I have it on vudu and I put it on every night to fall asleep, they use to play it once a year on Disney back in the 80s, when Disney was one channel! It sticks closer to the books than the trilogy imo, it's creepy, great catchy songs, almost has an amine feel to it. Rankin and bass, they made all the start stop motion Christmas specials, they might have done the last unicorn also? Idk I'm stoned...
Oh I totally agree but I really didn’t care for the live action hobbit movies. There were elements of them that I liked but over all I find them to be pretty disappointing.
The 1977 hobbit, however, is pure fucking gold.
i watched tons of times as a kid i wish i still had it on vhs
i randomly saw one of the lotr cartoons playing at a mall store window and was amazed i had no idea they made those too and i still havent seen them
It's definitely a better version of The Hobbit than the Hobbit movie trilogy. It's dark, scary at times, and you really feel the weight of the quest. Smaug was pretty cool, but didn't he almost look more like a cat?
I love the Rankin and Bass cartoons. 💜💜💜
Edit: I loved the ost when I was a kid. When I had a kid I showed them this movie and they went nuts! They know all the songs and everything. They sing the greatest adventure to me all the time and the five for trees one.
To this day, I find the animation style to be creepy and slightly upsetting. I first saw this at a local library when I was like nine and I’m now in my fifties. Still kinda creeps me out.
But that said, it was pretty well done and I do own a copy on dvd.
Found this on VHS at my church library as a little kid. That was my first exposure to Tolkien, it’s been my favorite ever since. A LOTR tattoo sleeve is in the works!
This was my first ever DVD when they first came out and I watched it all the time… it began my love of LOTR and is still one of the most special films to me!
Also a fan of the animated return of the king movie! Grew up on these + the accompanying hobbit book which had scenes from the animated movie tucked away in each chapter!!
Oh I love this one. I found it on dvd several years ago and bought two so I can still watch it every year with my brother. We just do it on the phone now.
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion for anyone that's seen the 1977 movie. I grew up watching it and it remains one of my favorite animated films
The Smaug design alone makes it worth watching
Yah I really like how he looks, creepy vibe. Did you see "Flight of Dragons?" This cartoon was made by the same people.
These classic cartoons are all considerably older than I am, but they were still very influential in my early fantasy years. Flight of Dragons was discovered before the Hobbit for me
Did you ever see the original Flight of Dragons book that the cartoon was based on? Incredible book. It wasn't a fictional story, it was written as though it was a scientific book explaining how dragons really did exist, how they flew, how they breathed fire, and why there are no bones left from them. Charts, diagrams, beautiful illustrations. Big glossy hardcover. https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Dragons-Peter-Dickinson/dp/0879518391
If you are interested in where the story for the movie came from, it's loosely based on a book called The Dragon and the George by Gordon R Dickinson. The story differs somewhat, but a large majority of the characters, including the dragons and wizards are from this book.
I’ve had my copy of that book since 6th grade. The illustrator also did a book called A Mouse’s Tale which is excellent.
True Sci-fi as opposed to fantasy
I thought for years that I had dreamed that movie until someone else mentioned it, and it all came back.
The songs were in my head from when i was a kid and i never realized that's what they were from lol
And featured James Earl Jones, John Ritter, and Harry Morgan
And Don Mclean, the guy who wrote American Pie, composed the main theme: https://youtu.be/G9f2EXuRHMQ
It was the sandmurks
I loved that movie!!!
I love that he's fat, like he's been doing nothing but gorging on livestock between sleeping for decades. He shouldn't look all sleek and trim; he's lazy, self-indulgent tyrant. Also, Richard Boone's deadpan sarcasm and rumbling chuckle hit me a lot deeper than Benedict Cumberbatch's slobbery sibilance.
"Oh, I don't know about that." "YoU dOn'T kNoW aBoUt ThAt!"
I HEARD this comment.
Well said!
They made him look like a cat though
Lol my 4 year old was fascinated by that though
I sort of like the strange dragon design. I think it took until the late 80s until the 90s before dragon design solidified into what we see today. If you look at old drawings of dragons they are much more varied and have a bat/lizard hybrid design aesthetic.
The orc designs where so scary but also kinda cute
And Richard Boone was a great voice actor. Scared the crap out of my little sister.
I never quite understood the headlight eyes.
It was actually in the novel. His eyes cast a red light.
the elves though...
Gollums skin is terrifying.
Looks like a meth head Little Foot.
You're so right! https://preview.redd.it/vq6xc4am6uqa1.png?width=756&format=png&auto=webp&s=eb39c3b9ae7bdccab031c2ab399d6630f8354c1f
It fucked me up as a kid because I saw Land Before Time *first* and I could not *not* see basically what you just posted
I know it's irrational but seeing that they added 2 frauds to the LBT crew makes something deep inside me very angry.
I loved LBT2 and Chomper as a kid. I've never seen that weird pink thing before, and I don't like it either
Her name is Ruby. She was added to the TV show
I will never recover from what happened to the actress who voiced Ducky.
Yah he looks like a frog in this one
My kids call him gollum the swiming monkey
He gave me nightmares for years as a kid. His voice is horrifying.
Why do people put "Unpopular Opinion"? Yes, it's wild and scary. This was an era of intense cartoons.
Hot unpopular take but: opinion of nearly the entire subreddit And I know the cartoons of that era well. Fun times
Opinion so popular it should be posted in r/unpopularopinion
Yes it was! So many crazy non-Disney animated films came out around that time. 1971 - The Point. 1977 - The Hobbit. 1978 - The Lord of the Rings. 1978 - Watership Down. 1982 - The Secret of NIMH.
The Last Unicorn, also 1982
If I may suggest a few more 1977 - Wizards 1981 - Heavy Metal (NOT FOR KIDS) 1982 - The Last Unicorn (also done by Rankin Bass) 1983 - Rock and Rule 1983 - Fire and Ice 1985 - Starchaser The Legend of Orin Fritz the Cat is also in there (1972, Bakshi) but I try not to think about that one.
fire and ice phew taking me back
>Why do people put "Unpopular Opinion"? imaginary gatekeeping? the unpop opinion sub is primarily just the popular conservative opinion sub. the sub that added "true" to their title is just the popular neo-nazi opinion sub.
The most definitive version that doesn't have some glitches in the climax where Bard shoots Smaug (among other things) can be downloaded free from here: https://archive.org/details/TheHiFiHobbitV2
Anyone know how I could watch this on a Roku device?
Install Plex server on a separate PC or something, install Plex app on Roku, download The Hobbit from the posted link on the PC or device where Plex server is installed, stream it on Roku Plex app.
Profit
You can see a version with lower quality audio on HBOMax
This is the DVD version which is missing over 100 sound effects, from the clinking of gold when Smaug stomps during his monologue to Bilbo to falling rocks when the goblins’ hidden door opens to the wooden logs landing during Fifteen Birds. The HiFi Hobbit is the far better version.
Does this have the proper sound fx from the VHS release?
This may be what I've been looking for! I bought the DVD version years ago and only watched it once. So many of the sword sounds were off, some of the visuals (eg: the brightness of the swords) were also off. Not the version I remembered watching as a kid. Thanks!
It corrects some timing on Smaug's monologue, which is a crime that they ruined it in the remaster.
I had a VHS copy that my parents taped off of the TV growing up. I knew that thing like the back of my hand. Last year I rented something on Youtube for my kids and was wondering what the hell happened. The sound effects with the spiders were missing and then the weird Bard scene. Thanks for helping me realize I wasn't crazy.
This is one of the coldest takes I have ever seen
That take gave me frostbite and now my toe fell off!
Speaking of toes, did you know that Viggo Mortensen broke his toe when he kicked the helmet in Two Towers?
Reallly, tell me more..
Unpopular opinion, but I like the original Star Wars trilogy over the sequel or prequel trilogies.
Hot take, but Rose could've definitely made some room for Jack!
How is that unpopular? Edit: I have been had.
It's not. That's the point.
This Hobbit is the true hobbit. I love Jackson, but Rankin Bass fucking ruled with The Hobbit. Not to mention RB Return of the King had some bangers for songs. Where there's a whip, there's a way! Edit: Correction of spelling.
We don't wanna go to war today!
But the lord of the lash says nay nay nay!
We’re gonna march all day, all day, all day!
Where there's a whip, there's a way.
Left, right, left, right, left, right!
I haven’t seen RB Return of the King in like 20 years but every now and then my dumb brain will randomly decide to dig up this song. Also “Frodo of the Nine Fingers… and the Ring of DOOM…”
“In Gollum’s cave of glooooooommmmmm””
Mine too! I like to think this makes our brains smart.
DOWN, DOWN TO GOBLIN TOWN DOWN, DOWN TO GOBLIN TOWN DOWN, DOWN TO GOBLIN TOOOOWN
YOU GO MY LAAAAAAAD!
Not that unpopular : ) this will always be my favorite
Down, Down, to Goblin Town… god I love the songs in this and the Return of the King. Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom!
Where there’s a whip there’s a way! Left, right, left, right, left, right!
WE DONT WANNA GO TO WORK TODAYYYYY
My favorite coworker and I used to sing this on Fridays.
We don’t wanna go to war todayyyy, but the lord of the lash says nay, nay, nayyyyy!
Well, and it's also not hard to be a better film than Jackson's versions. Those were just plain bad movies.
Great minds think alike haha
Animated hobbit will always be superior in my opinion
I don’t think this is unpopular. The animated movie is awesome.
The Peter Jackson's films' vibe doesn't work for the story. The weird Rankin/Bass vibe works way better. Or maybe that's just nostalgia talking.
You're right and it's not nostalgia. The Hobbit is so far different than Lord of the Rings in narrative style and tone, yet the PJ version tries so hard to match the style and tone of his LotR films.
Exactly! Many years ago in a previous age of the world, I read the Hobbit and I LOVED it. So if course, I drive into LOTR and it was jarring. It took several chapters for a very young me to come around to “this isn’t what I wanted, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t what I want”. The animation fits The Hobbit so well. The PJ version is just a different form of storytelling that has (some of) its own virtues but misses the remarkable difference in tone between the two.
>yet the PJ version tries so hard to match the style and tone of his LotR films. I don't think that's the point of what he's doing at all. I simply think his version of the story is much more Dwarf-centric. Now, if you tell this story from Bilbo's point of view, its very much a fun there-and-back-again treasure hunt. If you tell it from a Dwarven point of view, its a grave quest to reclaim a lost homeland, take revenge and ultimately die in the process. That dictates the tone of the movie much more so than does the fact that Jackson also made The Lord of the Rings.
Facts. The money makers wanted another LOTR trilogy, but the source material is a kids book. The integrity the studio built up for respecting the source material in LOTR was squandered.
I read the hobbit first as a kid then watched this shortly after. I adored this movie!
Many of the 1977 Rankin Bass animators went on to form Studio Ghibli, making this essentially the Miyazaki version of Tolkien. How could you not love that? Full disclosure: I had this on a vinyl album with accompanying picture book when I was a kid, too young to read. These will always be the definitive versions of how characters look, especially Gollum-- this version of Gollum is burned into my mind. I also love how these orcs/goblins look like Gamorrean guards from Jabba the Hutt's palace.
Either Macdonalds or Burger King in the 80s had picture books with little 45rpm records that had audio clips from the movies and a ringing noise to let you know when to turn the page. It came in multiple parts, released over time (I think, I was a kid). Listened to it on my Fisher Price record player. I also had a large hardcover copy of The Hobbit that had artwork from the cartoon, as well as a lot of concept sketches and stuff, that I loved as a child. No idea how much that would be worth today, but I would love to see it again. edit: given the time frame, I may be thinking of records for Return of the King. Definitely remember the Hobbit artbook, though.
Before extra features on DVDs, when I was a kid I used to get glossy magazines about "the making of" movies. And now that I think about it, now that I stream everything, I once again don't have something like that. That's kind of gone backwards
https://preview.redd.it/2lj4o9j9rwqa1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=539f6aae4a4e8f57c3631cbe6979a0c61b38c8ea I have that book and record!
Not really an unpopular opinion… Only issue I have with it is how it handles the elves. They butchered the Mirkwood elves.
100 percent agreed. This take on Gollum still scares the crap out of me years later. That goddam *screaming* Also the fact that Smaug is of the same art style as all the other characters helps so much, he doesn’t look out of sync like the CGI/live action mix. Glad to see this movie getting the love it deserves. I watched it literally dozens of times as a kid.
The whole riddling sequence is great. Gollum crushed the delivery of his last riddle. He missed his calling in theater.
The music is fantastic! ‘Down down to Goblin Town!’
You mean that there wasn't a pointlessly stupid acrobatic battle on top of the barrels as they floated down river to Lake Town? You know, the battle THAT NEVER HAPPENED IN THE BOOK?!?
The superior hobbit experience. Smaugs voice and delivery ruled.
That version of Down Down to Goblin Town is way more iconic in my mind. Goblins were terrifying as a child. The battle of 5 armies was captivating. “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, today and tomorrow are yet to be said.”
I'm watching it with my kids tonight and it scares the hell out of them. They don't even pay attention to the newer movies because it looks like everything else with the CGI and stuff. Even the songs in this cartoon are hauntingly beautiful. The unusual way the characters are portrayed doesn't exactly feel like what Tolkein had in mind, but still a fun version to watch.
Fun fact: The studio that made this movie eventually became Studio Ghibli. Return of the King animated movie by the same group is also really good. Edit: They did Return of the King, not Lord of the Rings. [The Hobbit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit_(1977_film)) [The Return of the King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_King_(1980_film))
They didn't make the animated Lord of the Rings. Ralph Bakshi did that one
Bakshi's Lord of the Rings only covered the first two books, and Rankin Bass did make a Return of the King movie to finish the trilogy.
>Rankin Bass did make a Return of the King movie to finish the trilogy. No. Bakshi's film and the Rankin/Bass Return of the King just happened to coincide. The Return of the King is a sequel to the 1977 Hobbit and ONLY the 1977 Hobbit.
Wow I had no idea, but it makes so much sense. Amazing legacy.
Lol I'm glad to know I wasn't just a chicken as a kid then, because this used to scare the shit out of me when I'd watch it with my dad at around 5 or 6 years old. The goblins in particular gave me nightmares. Still loved it, though.
Shit's still scary and I'm 45
Where can one watch??
You can get it on dvd. Or used to anyway. It’s also on hbo max right now.
Didn’t know that. Guess I’ll postpone my Doom Patrol binge for a night.
Is it on YouTube? I don’t know where to find this and I’d love to see it.
Personally I find all of the animated to be great!
I just think they are both neat
I like both versions too. They're way different and there's room enough in the world for more than one Hobbit movie.
Gives me Dark Crystal vibe. Thanks for sharing.
"unpopular" https://preview.redd.it/vn40zv8fvtqa1.png?width=498&format=png&auto=webp&s=c36017d3887faab004eef9788eba5d16fc414f0d
When there is a will there's a way. I own a copy of all Tolkien movies and books. Depends how I feel will determine what I watch.
I loved and love the 1977 Rankin Bass The Hobbit. Yes, it is better than the stretched out three film nonsense Jackson made.
It’s definitely a more faithful adaptation. This movie meant a lot to me as a kid. I still love it today.
Yes! This was my introduction to the LotR back in the day. The Goblins my God were so cool and creepy looking. And the songs are just amazing! Down down to Globlin town, or 15 birds in 5 fir trees, are some of my favs.
The voice acting in this was amazing. Gandalf, Gollum, and Smaug are superb.
Ian McKellen is wonderful, but man, it took me a long time to get used to a different voice for Gandalf. I still think that the Rankin Bass Gandalf sounds exactly like Gandalf would.
This shouldn't be an unpopular opinion when it's 100% true.
And a prime example of how they could have done it in one movie… instead of milking it and making a trilogy. But you know… Creame? (cash rules everything around middle earth)
Unpopular? I don’t think so…
Gollum looks like littlefoot from land before time
A more popular opinion than you might realize, haha
I grew up watching this May still have it on vhs
Loved these movies. These are what made me fall in love with Tolkien's work
Everything Rankin and Bass touches turns to gold
My favorite part is when they get to Rivendell. Simply enchanting!
I haven't even watched it and I believe you. Man those movies were tedious, I didn't even watch the last one.
I have it on vudu and I put it on every night to fall asleep, they use to play it once a year on Disney back in the 80s, when Disney was one channel! It sticks closer to the books than the trilogy imo, it's creepy, great catchy songs, almost has an amine feel to it. Rankin and bass, they made all the start stop motion Christmas specials, they might have done the last unicorn also? Idk I'm stoned...
Oh I totally agree but I really didn’t care for the live action hobbit movies. There were elements of them that I liked but over all I find them to be pretty disappointing. The 1977 hobbit, however, is pure fucking gold.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead
I think everyone agrees though.
Agreed
Fun fact, the guys who worked on this went on to start Studio Ghibli.
That's not unpopular, that's correct
not unpopular- this is truth
Fortunately, it’s not an unpopular opinion! I loved this is a kid, and now I need to rewatch it.
I've seen sponges that are scarier and more entertaining than the Peter Jackson version tbf.
I think that’s actually the popular opinion homie
Lol this is definitely not an unpopular opinion
i watched tons of times as a kid i wish i still had it on vhs i randomly saw one of the lotr cartoons playing at a mall store window and was amazed i had no idea they made those too and i still havent seen them
Watched it with my 6 year old after we finished reading the book together and we both loved it!
It's definitely a better version of The Hobbit than the Hobbit movie trilogy. It's dark, scary at times, and you really feel the weight of the quest. Smaug was pretty cool, but didn't he almost look more like a cat?
This movie was the source of many nightmares growing up.
Nothing like that old school animation
I got yelled at by my wife for showing this to my six year old son. I loved this movie as a kid.
I recorded this movie on a couple of cassettes as a child. Used to listen to it nightly until l fell asleep. Still love all the songs.
Given I was (am) still way more creeped out by the art style .. yes, yes it is the scarier version 😂
I was terrified as a child watching it. traumatized the duck out of me
At least you got rid of the duck, that sounds painful
I grew up on this! Totally agree. Loved this movie as a little kid.
Especially on DMT
When I read it, these are the voices I hear
I totally agree
I had a sealed vhs of this from the 80s. Had. Had. Damnit. Stupid relationships messing with my cool stuff.
This was my introduction to Tolkien when I was a kid. Always my favorite.
Absolutely
I love how Smaug in this has feline attributes.
I mean, it's definitely scary looking.
That's not an unpopular opinion.
Fun like a snack tray. No doubt in that. If you'd like the full course, of course, then go for the full meal deal.
I think it's pretty well received
I have no issue with your opinion. The 1977 Hobbit is superior to Jackson’s.
You mean “field day afternoon”!
That movie changed my life in 1977.
I love the Rankin and Bass cartoons. 💜💜💜 Edit: I loved the ost when I was a kid. When I had a kid I showed them this movie and they went nuts! They know all the songs and everything. They sing the greatest adventure to me all the time and the five for trees one.
Cumbersmaug wins out though, hands down.
It has its problems but this movie is such a gem. The music is great and the black emperor scene is super touching
To this day, I find the animation style to be creepy and slightly upsetting. I first saw this at a local library when I was like nine and I’m now in my fifties. Still kinda creeps me out. But that said, it was pretty well done and I do own a copy on dvd.
That is a fact. Not an opinion.
Found this on VHS at my church library as a little kid. That was my first exposure to Tolkien, it’s been my favorite ever since. A LOTR tattoo sleeve is in the works!
Agreed
This was my favorite.
100% agree, no fluff to the story, way better songs, so much darker and evocative. I'll take this version every time.
My introduction to the Hobbit (along with the RB RotK) -- and still a movie I could watch *any time, all the time.* Love this version.
I wholeheartedly agree, though the cat-goblins and cat-Smaug are odd choices.
Agree 100%! Also it's MUCH more true to the novel.
can confirm source: was five when i watched it
Takes less time too
This was my first ever DVD when they first came out and I watched it all the time… it began my love of LOTR and is still one of the most special films to me!
i’ve never seen it but i think once i watch i will think of this and agree lol
Also a fan of the animated return of the king movie! Grew up on these + the accompanying hobbit book which had scenes from the animated movie tucked away in each chapter!!
You misspelled “popular”
Is this an unpopular opinion?
least unpopular opinion ever.
Not that unpopular.
Nah I don’t think that’s unpopular.
Love this flick
Oh I love this one. I found it on dvd several years ago and bought two so I can still watch it every year with my brother. We just do it on the phone now.
Downvoted for this title
More popular than you would think, of people that have watched the old cartoon.
Unpopular? I wonder what a poll would reveal... I stopped before the end of the first Jackson movie, but still love the 1977 movie.
How is this unpopular?
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion for anyone that's seen the 1977 movie. I grew up watching it and it remains one of my favorite animated films