The forgotten Lord of the Rings film that Tolkien never wanted to see, FREE at this Buenos Aires cinema in November

The Forgotten Animated Lord of the Rings Film

Before Peter Jackson’s legendary adaptation, there was an animated version of The Lord of the Rings that Tolkien himself disapproved of. This lesser-known film is being screened for free in Buenos Aires on November 14.

Tolkien’s Resistance and Early Attempts

Many directors aimed to bring Tolkien’s epic to the big screen due to its rich story and compelling characters. However, Tolkien strongly opposed an animated adaptation, which limited early projects. One notable effort was by director John Boorman, who envisioned a mystical, dreamlike interpretation. Directors such as Steven Spielberg also expressed interest, but the technology in the 1970s was not advanced enough to bring Tolkien’s fantastical world of orcs, wizards, and magic rings to life.

The Animated Film by Ralph Bakshi

Following Tolkien’s death in 1973, producer Saul Zaentz, who held the rights, took a bold move by hiring Ralph Bakshi to create an adaptation. Bakshi introduced an innovative technique called rotoscoping, filming real actors and then tracing their movements in animation. This led to a dark, intense, and unusual film that realistically portrayed epic battles, including the famous conflict at Helm’s Deep.

“The result was an intense, dark and strange film, where the epic battles of Helm’s Deep came to life with a realism never before seen in the genre.”

Screening Details

This film remains a remarkable, if overlooked, piece of Tolkien cinema history that offers a unique visual experience distinct from later adaptations.

Author’s summary: This forgotten animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings used groundbreaking rotoscoping techniques to create a dark, realistic interpretation that Tolkien himself never wanted made.

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Buenos Aires Secreta Buenos Aires Secreta — 2025-11-02

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