‘The Hobbit’ (1977)
While most Tolkien fans consider Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy to be the pinnacle of adaptation, there was an earlier, more humble attempt at capturing Middle-earth. 1977’s The Hobbit was directed by Rankin/Bass and animated by the precursor studio to Studio Ghibli. It’s a sweet, hand-drawn, enchanting take on the tale of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit whose life gets turned upside down by the arrival of Gandalf the Grey. The wizard wants to hire Bilbo to be a “burglar” on a dwarf quest to reclaim an ancient, sacred jewel from a dragon. The journey alone takes Bilbo into the most dangerous and magical parts of Middle-earth and sets up the foundation for what would be The Lord of the Rings. The 1977 tells this family-friendly tale with sweet animation and catchy folk songs. It’s a cult classic and for good reason.