The Hobbit (1967) SWINDLED the Tolkien Estate (Reaction)

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[@allisongliot]

The underhanded way that this animation came about makes me sympathize so much more with the Tolkien estate.

[@elliesenko5173]

For me it's hilarious - I'm Czech and the anim... Ahem, illustrations were made by a czech painter Adolf Born, who illustrated many books I've read as a child and still read to my children ☺️ Later he also did some animated stories for television. So it's a legit Adolf Born bedtime story, even the lenght is right. 🤣 I'm sorry. I love it. Even if my head hurts from all the facepalms.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's awesome! Honestly the art was the best part by far. I'll have to look at some of his other stuff!

[@elliesenko5173]

Please do, his caricatures for adults are wonderfully crazy 😁

[@onojioboardwalk9748]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire .. Thiiis looks like some 'Gag' that South Park would have come up with..! : O : ((

[@JonathanRossRogers]

I like how the reaction video is 50% longer than the film it reacts to.

[@kevinsullivan3448]

The art style reminds me of the common art style of the 60s (I was born in 63) in cartoon shows like Bulwinkle show. It lived into the 70s, I can remember school reading books with that style of art.

[@lordedmundblackadder9321]

Honestly as a 12 minute short film considered on its own it’s just a cute and pretty little movie.

[@brendanmooney7607]

You've discovered our shameful secret: some folks in the Tolkien community have been surreptitiously referring to this Hobbit project as "The Snyder Cut" since that *other* Snyder Cut was rumoured to exist 😊

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Hey, as far as I know, that's nothing to be ashamed of lol

[@seanmalloy0528]

​@@Jess_of_the_Shirethis or the other one?

[@NimbusAngelo]

Smaug looks like he came right out of a Tim Burton movie...

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I think you mean Slag, not Smaug 😂

[@seanmalloy0528]

​@@Jess_of_the_ShireSlag is in London and Smaug is in L.A.

[@cirthador1453]

Peter Jackson really just stole the crossbow thing from this, huh?

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

You make a good point...

[@zacharyclark3693]

He also added a female character and a romance plot line. If you think about it, Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy could be the resurrected Snyder cut version of this film.

[@seanmalloy0528]

​@@zacharyclark3693he never changed any names though

[@zacharyclark3693]

@@seanmalloy0528 True. Got to give him credit for that.

[@kevinoboyle8939]

I’m pretty sure the name changes were a hedge against an unsuccessful license renewal.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

So I have only recently learned a full story of this particular adaptation. I found out about the existence of this adaptation from a KZbinr that I follow who mentioned it in passing. I went looking for it and found it for me to be able to watch the Splendor that is this adaptation. Fast forward to a few days ago and I'm watching the lost in adaptation series by KZbinr Dominic Noble and I find that he did a video on this. With the thumbnail talking about how the producer of this adaptation managed to Swindle money out of the Tolkien estate. I was understandably curious so I clicked on the video to watch and I was flabbergasted to learn the details of this story and the tragedy for the writer and animator who actually wanted to make a legitimate adaptation just before this property became one of the hottest pieces of fantasy fiction in the world it is extremely sad how was the creator of this media got screwed over not only because the producer was trying to cut a deal with the studios to make himself rich but also because of the infamy that is this adaptation now because of those back dealings

[@thedarkdane7]

The first half of the first Hobbit movie on the first date. In at the deep end!

[@ParameterGrenze]

Netflix:“Are you still watching?“ - Someone sure went on an unexpected journey - Well. He sure found the treasure cave - Something, something with „the lonely mountain“ … The possibilities are limitless 🤩

[@otaku-sempai2197]

In 1964 (and 1967) there was no "Tolkien Estate" per se, there was just J.R.R. Tolkien. My recollection was that the animated short was billed as a "proof-of-concept" for the proposed full-length animated feature. However, you are probably more correct to state that the more immediate goal was to retain the rights. Gene Deitch's style is very flat, which is one of my issues with his Tom & Jerry shorts.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

So THIS is where AMAZON got their inspiration for *THE RINGS OF POWER.* 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

[@_emory]

“I’ve seen the first half of ‘the hobbit, an unexpected journey’ on youtube, on our first date” Why only the first half 😶 😂😂😂

[@BecauseOfDragons]

What a wild backstory to this one! I think I'm in the boat of - the artwork looked absolutely lovely and I would gladly see more of that. But, otherwise - what a wild take on The Hobbit haha

[@Pixis1]

This one is so baffling to me. I understand the limitations of the time period they were given and the shady dealings of the guy who held the rights. What I don't understand are the random name changes. Groans? Grablins? WHY?! Aren't trolls and goblins pretty well known from fairy tales? What was the point of changing those names? This was like someone had read a vague synopsis of The Hobbit once and then described it from memory to someone else.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Looks very Rocky and Bullwinkle.

[@michaelterrazas1325]

Exactly! I felt that someone stole some art from "Fractured Fairy Tales" and just put the soundtrack to it.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_"Hey, Rocky!"_* 😉

[@grodesby3422]

The Beatle's Yellow Submarine came out in 1968, as a somewhat popular animation feature.

[@johnbiles419]

I watched this for the first time (the film) while sick and tired; I think it's the ideal way to watch this, like a lot of 60s films.

[@NocandNC]

As an animator, this was basically an animatic in my eyes… which kinda makes me wanna take it and……. base a proper animation on it………. But I have neither time nor energy for that lol

[@jimluebke3869]

This looks like concept art for "It's a Small World".

[@seanmalloy0528]

DO NOT MENTION THAT RIDE

[@doc_multiverse]

My first experience with Tolkien's work was a production of the Hobbit as a puppet show at my local park, of all places, in 1977. I was mesmerized. Shortly after that, the Rankin/Bass production was aired as a Special on television. I would watch it once a year until I had my own copy on CED video disc. I didn't end up reading the book until my early 20s. Been enjoying your videos. The reaction/review videos are fun.

[@Shadowace724]

I may have cracked a rib laughing :)

[@pendragon2012]

It's like the anti-Jackson. Too LITTLE screen-time, lol.

[@Warriorcats64]

And somehow still more coherent or bearable. Albeit the same way The Star Wars Holiday Special is more enjoyable than Rise of Skywalker!

[@BlackDouglas1000]

The book/ game store in the town I grew up in has a poster of The Lord of the Rings done like the Bayeux Tapestry in this art style. It always struck me as quite trippy.

[@DrDolan2000]

I do really like the art style. It reminds me of indie films that tried to rival Disney way back in the day - which is what I grew up on as opposed to the Disney classics

[@cargilekm]

The animation reminds me of the Fractured Fairy Tales on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. But not quite as good. Cheers

[@hawgryder13]

As I watched this I realized I seen it before. I believe it was in the early '80s with the girl who had introduced me to the Lord of the Rings. I think it must have been on reel-to-reel movie from the library and was before the awful Bakshi film came out.

[@TheLuigiBrother77]

If someone doesn't think this art is bad, I am terrified to imagine what kinds of abominations exactly that they would consider bad

[@darnokthemage170]

Gotta have pics of the puffy shirt and skinny jeans combo.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Alas, I didn't get a picture...

[@weaselwolf]

I swear I i saw a trailer for the Harvey Corman Fantastic Four movie when I was a kid...I wanna say the trailer was on Robin Hood: Men in Tights I remember being really excited

[@BIATEC88]

Banksy's The Lord of the Rings animated movie is flawed in many ways but holds a special place in my heart, as it was my introduction to Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings. It was this animated movie that made me want to read the book.

[@AmyBrueckman]

10/10 would Slag again

[@hcdodge4991]

Have you watched The Fabulous Journey of Mr. Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit, Across the Wild Land, Through the Dark Forest, Beyond the Misty Mountains. There and Back Again (1985)? I didn't spot it among your videos, but I may have overlooked.

[@ivane5110]

I wish the artis(s) had had more time; I like their style and wkuld've enjoyed seeing what they could for a proper adaptation. Oh, and my favorite adaptaion(ish) will always be the late 70s Superfriends episode. Nothing better than Batman and Wonder Woman hobbits.

[@walterl322]

May I suggest soviet animated fairytales, The Little Mermaid, for example, or Hedgehog in the Fog, they have a somewhat similar art style and they're really cute, they're also actually animated... they should be on youtube, most of them are in the public domain and even if they're not, no one really bothers to press copyright claims Also, about the language, I don't remember The Little Mermaid being voiced that much, Hedgehog in the Fog was fully voiced, but I watched them in latvian, so there probably do exist english translations too

[@walterl322]

If they changed some names a bit more, they wouldn't even have had to buy the rights cuz it's not even The Hobbit... and the weird name changes like Smaug to Slag and not calling the trolls trolls, it feels like what you would do if you tried to avoid copyright... Honestly, the only good thing I have to say is that the animation reminds me of the old soviet animated fairytales that I grew up watching, which makes me feel nostalgic...

[@tj2375]

Peter Jackson's Hobbit is also not the Hobbit 😂

[@JonathanRossRogers]

13:12 I like the weather-proofing plastic sealing the air conditioner. Most people would probably remove it from the window during winter.

[@MrAlsachti]

The style reminds me a lot of Tomi Ungerer.

[@mithrandir404]

7:00 The Fantastic 4 movie from 2015 was also made for the same reason. Coincidence, I think not!

[@piatc4813]

It looks very very sixties..... But so weird in total! Jeez...

[@TheSkellingtonGhost]

not gonna lie. id love to watch a movie based on the behind the scenes of this movie

[@Frogman1212]

Starring James Franco? _The Disaster Hobbit_

[@damenwhelan3236]

7:01 Yeah. It was the 90s. It just looks that bad.

[@Wombatmetal]

Well too be fair, Disney takes a lot of liberties when it makes classic stories like Aladdin and the Little Mermaid. You can say it's not the same story as the written one.

[@Svensk7119]

Didn't know of this at all!.

[@marlinperkins6910]

I completely agree about the Dietch episodes of Tom and Jerry. They are awful. This was also awful, but the art was very evocative, although not especially appropriate, and it was a creative way to meet the very tough limitations of its creation (I.e. only a month to make).

[@tomklock568]

I missed this thing I guess. Obviously not the best ha ha! I guess Tolkien should have included a princess.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

The EXTREMELY LOW BUDGET Roger Corman[?] version of *THE FANTASTIC FOUR* has entered the comments...😉🤭 *EDIT:* I posted this comment BEFORE I got to it being mentioned in this video...😊

[@paulaccuardi9071]

What “history” did you look at that is more reliable than the actual guy who made the movie?

[@chuckbrotton2449]

Stylistically, it looks a lot like the animation that was being made in the Soviet Union during that era. Just an observation. I sort of like the basic aesthetic, but it certainly doesn't do The Hobbit justice

[@briteness]

The illustrations are superb, but it is not animation.

[@Thraim.]

Release the Snyder cut?

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

Businessmen ruin everything.

[@Eudaimonist]

I dislike the art style, but maybe that's just me. I'm not saying that the art is "bad", but it just doesn't appeal to me as relating to Middle-earth The changes to the storyline, characters, and character names are much more serious in my eyes.

[@kungfreddie]

A month is not that short if u only have 10 drawings that u zoom on.

[@seanmalloy0528]

He has to thrust a sword into a slag. I am however thankful that the 'B's in Bilbo's name were not accidentally changed to 'D's

[@vinzenzdeanson4946]

Lotr the Snyder cut.

[@danielmorlan1558]

This rendition was awful. lol I now know what some podcasters mean now when they say "Snyder cut"

[@GusherManX]

Wait wait wait.... On your first date? That's gotta be a story

[@hakanscoutgogar4997]

Seeing ypu bf... yeah I get the hobbit strain..

[@Dear1Stupit1Dog]

Have you watched the unfinished Russian cartoon of the Hobbit?

[@WillowsVeganBakery]

9:16

[@Danaluni59]

Wackytobbyacky

[@brethilnen]

My mom strongly dislikes this hobbit movie

[@frankeannarino2860]

I was born in 1967 and have never seen this; nevertheless, this is a *FAR* better adaptation of Tolkien's work than Rings of Power. Truly, ROP can't hold a candle to this.

[@deanog2577]

Its impossible for me to have any sympathy for the Tolkien estate after what they allowed Amazon to do.

[@royfugate]

roger corman's The Fantastic Four came out in 1994. if your going to get the facts wrong, GET THEM WRONG CORRECTLY.

[@JoeDatorCartoonist]

New York. Just say New York. Nobody calls it Manhattan.

[@davidnelson7786]

Simply put, it was crap. In the style of puke and should erased from memory.

[@thedreadpiratewesley2301]

Youre so pretty its almost absurd ....

[@RemusKingOfRome]

OMG ! that's bad. Instead of cartoon style, wouldn't it have been easier to use clay models ? motion capture ?

[@k7l3rworkman97]

Jess is wife material❤ Chances are that’s her bf … Or not, but my luck, she’s probably taken

[@conraddickinson24]

You two are being way too kind on this thing. This piece of crap and an insult to the work of JRR Tolkien. Please tell me you were being sarcastic when you were praising the automation and what they did with Gollum, not to mention changing Smaug's name to Slag really? You two should have been tearing this thing apart for the piece of crap that it is. Shame on you.

[@JimsMaher]

"Ooh i wanna watch that again" /s. Well, if that's your go-to contribution when you have nothing insightful to say- unsubscribed. Thanks.