Get Baumed!

During one of my escapades in a far away town, I came across a version of Ozu no Mahoutsukai that I have never seen before. Since May 15th happens to be the birth date of L.Frank Baum, I will showcase the pictures of the book with a few observations.

A great cover with a recently crowned King of the Jungle.

A map of the Land of Oz on the inside front cover (actually back cover to Western eyes, the book reads from right to left.)

I like the beard on her Uncle.

Her wind-swept home lands upon the Wicked Witch. Note the shoes are silver, not ruby.

She encounters the Kakashi (Scarecrow).

They meet the Beruki (Tinman). I dig the funnels he has for ears.

They're all scattered by the roar of the ferocious Lion.

Dorothy admonishes the beast and Toto gets in a few nips as well.

A power nap in the poppy field leaves the Lion and Dorothy in a somnolent state.

Here's where it veers from the movie version with the rescue by the Queen of the Field Mice and her troops.

Lo, the Emerald City.

They must don protective glasses to avert the glare of the city.

The Wizard appears to Dorothy as a giant head.

To the Lion he appears in the guise of a ball of fire, to the Tin Woodsman a terrible beast and to the Scarecrow a lovely lady.

Check out the Witch that they have been sent to slay. WICKED!

Doh! Captured by flying monkeys.

The Witch manages to snag one of the Silver Slippers from Dorothy but then gets liquidated by her.

As she melts, the gang make their escape.

The Lion roars!

The Wizard is exposed and again Toto gets in a nip.

The three heroes receive their prizes.

Unfortunately the Wiz flies off with out Dorothy.

Fortunately Glinda reveals the magic within the Silver Slippers.

After several tears, Dorothy bids her companions farewell.

Dorothy enters a wormhole to whisk her back to Kansas.

Notice she has lost her slippers and runs to see her Aunt and Uncle barefoot.

Owari.

The adaptation is by Hideo Tokuda and beautifully illustrated by Tamiko Koike.
Happy Birthday to L. Frank Baum!