This was
the cartoon to watch in Holland in the 80s. A very, very sweet Wizard of Oz animation series. It's about 50 episodes and covers not only the Wizard of Oz book, but also its sequals. From what I've read, it seems to stay pretty close to the book (except for later story arcs), but I can't confirm this, never having read it.
I think I can safely say this is the first anime I ever watched.
To add an SPC angle to it; the dutch translator, Tony Dirne, apparently heavily edited the script. While not altering the story itself a lot of text and humor was added; double meanings, all sorts of references to normal life (not really pop culture, just normal life) and the occasional 4th wall remark. Almost all of this humor seems to be geared to adults, however without ever being "edgy". He was pretty adept at taking everything out of context and putting a whole new meaning to what was said or what the characters were doing in the cartoon.
Apart from this all, the voice acting is really, really good; especially for its time and I think it holds up very well compared to contemporary work (although the audio quality suffers as it seems the episodes on youtube are digitized VHS recordings from TV).
 | Originally, this scene depicts Dorithy looking back at Emerald City for the last time when they go to the Wicked Witch of the West.
Doortje (Dorithy), in the translation says, "I see the radio and TV are being warned already." |
 | Especially when this guy entered the scene in the last 3rd of the series, things got really hilarious. Ends every other line with "Simple, really". |
| Dus kan je dit lezen, en zeggen de namen Lappie, Blikmans, Droezel en Doorje je iets, bekijk de serie!  |
EDIT: put text & pictures in a table
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