I really love how in the speaking interlude in Defying Gravity Glinda gives Elphaba the cape. Even though it’s just scrounged from around them in the Wizard’s palace. In this scene Glinda knows she won’t go with Elphaba. That’s something she can’t commit to. But she still loves her and wants to protect her. Glinda does not have much power or strength in the same way Elphaba does. The way she protects Elphaba and shows she cares here is the same way she does in Popular: through costume. If there’s one thing Glinda understands, it’s perception and image. She expresses herself through her clothing. She doesn’t give the cape to Elphaba just because it’s cold out and it’ll keep her warm (though that’s true) but also because it is a visual symbol of who she wants to become, and in this moment Glinda is empowering her towards that even though she can’t agree with her choices. Just like in Popular Glinda is helping Elphaba manage her image to get the results she wants, although in Popular urging Elphaba to conform not only protected her but lent her credibility, while here it allows her to break out of the role Glinda helped put her in in the first place. I think this moment really shows how much Glinda cares about Elphaba. And the fact that Elphaba keeps wearing it for the next several years also shows how Elphaba feels about Glinda.

All in all, Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz was a pretty good adaptation as an Oz sequel. Despite very clearly following up the 1939 film and using those variations of the characters, it was made by people who really cared about the books and knew their stuff. It was chock filled with references and nods to Oz things from several adaptations, not just the books. Though of course they were warped to fit the plot the movie was telling.

Some of these details in no particular order included the erection of a Dorothy statue, the Nome King pursuing revenge on Dorothy, being able to bring inanimate objects to life with a magical substance, background posters for the ‘39 Professor Marvel, bringing the Wizard back to Oz, casting actors like James Monroe Igleheart (literally how did they get him?!) who were in other productions, the inclusion of musical numbers from the '39 film that didn’t make the first Hanna-Barbera film or reprises (including the Jitterbug!), the Queen of the Field Mice appearing, the nomes having a giant unending pit they throw people in, and the Wizard returning to Oz to stay even after Dorothy leaves.

It was really nice to see the nomes finally in a film adaptation! And Jason Alexander killed as Ruggedo. I am a hater at heart though, so I have a few minor issues with their portrayal. The emphasis on his being a King first and foremost and wanting things due to his station obscured his portrayal that I always read as a critique of a uber rich gilded age American business man, and things like his symbol mimicking the flag of the Soviet Union also didn’t mesh cohesively. And they spelled Nome with a G. That being said they really cashed in on the puns with things like nome sweet nome, and there’s no place like nome, which I appreciated and felt was in the spirit of the source material while also honoring the '39 film.

The animation was significantly worse than the last film, but this is a sequel and a Hanna-Barbera annual film at that, so keeping that in mind it was pretty good. I think the whole animation budget went to the Jitterbug sequence, which looked significantly better than the rest of the film.

My only comment on it as a Hanna-Barbera piece of media is that, unlike the last movie where Tom and Jerry played a big role and basically propelled the plot forward, they do absolutely nothing here. They are barely in any scenes. This movie is much more about Oz and all the characters, and would lose only minutes of screen time if you cut Tom and Jerry. Not that I mind, but I’m sure Tom and Jerry fans weren’t as thrilled about this one. The original songs were nice touches though.

All in all a fun but simple time, made better if you know it’s a goofy watch and enjoy with your Ozian friends or a drink or two!