No. 13: Oz

About This Movie

So, 'No. 13: Oz' is this intriguing animation that never quite found its footing. There’s a certain melancholy to it, given its unfinished state and the circumstances surrounding its production. The animation style, while a bit rough around the edges, has this charming quality that evokes the whimsical nature of Baum's world. You can feel the potential there, even if it never fully realized it. The pacing is all over the place, which might leave you feeling a bit adrift, but that adds to its unique atmosphere. The bits and pieces of what could have been are fascinating, especially when you consider how it was meant to be a grand adaptation of such a well-loved story.

This film has a rather limited release history, having been shelved after the untimely death of its financial backer. For collectors, finding any remnants of the original camera tests, which span several hours, can be quite a challenge. Portions of the footage resurfaced in later projects, namely No. 16, 19, and 20, but the hunt for the original film remains a quest for those with a keen interest in animation history and unfinished works.