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Plot summary

Wizards (1977) Plot Summary & Timeline

Wizards (1977) movie poster

Wizards is a 1977 fantasy and animation film directed by Ralph Bakshi, running 1 hour 20 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 764 words (about 3 minutes to read) and covers 14 key events in order, 7 characters, where and when it is set and 4 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Wizards.

to read the plot summary
3 min
key events in the timeline
14
characters profiled
7
themes explained
4
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Wizards (1977) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 20m
Director
Ralph Bakshi
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Wizards About?

The premise of Wizards in 370 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In a world reborn from the ashes of a centuries‑long nuclear winter, the planet’s surface glitters with new sunlight while the remnants of humanity have twisted into strange, mutant forms. Out of this scarred landscape the ancient peoples of myth—trolls, elves, dwarves, and fairies—reclaim their forgotten realms, weaving their own kingdoms among the ruins. The dominant land, Montagar, pulses with a fragile peace that balances wild magic with the cautious hopes of its survivors, and the tone is one of sweeping epic fantasy tinged with the lingering echo of loss.

From the heart of this reclaimed realm a miracle occurs: the fairy queen gives birth to twin wizards whose destinies are forever intertwined. The compassionate and gentle Avatar grows up as a beacon of hope, guided by the memory of his mother’s teachings and the belief that magic should protect rather than dominate. His brother, the scarred and grieving Blackwolf, feels the weight of his mother’s death and, fueled by a fierce ego, begins to envision a world reshaped by his own will.

The rivalry between the twins sets the stage for a clash that could decide the fate of Earth itself. Blackwolf seeks to seize the throne his mother once held, rallying an army of mutants and bent on extending his influence across the planet. Opposing him, Avatar embraces his sorcerous gifts, determined to safeguard the fragile harmony of Montagar and to prove that true power lies in compassion. Alongside them stand other pivotal figures—Elinore, the president’s daughter poised to become a true fairy, and the steadfast elf warrior Weehawk, whose loyalty bridges the gap between human and magical realms. Even a reformed machine named Peace hints at the uneasy marriage of ancient technology and arcane art.

The film swirls with a mood that is both grand and intimate, framing a timeless struggle between creation and domination. Its visual palette blends luminous, enchanted forests with the stark remnants of a technocratic past, while its characters navigate questions of grief, responsibility, and the limits of ambition. As the twins’ divergent visions loom over a world still healing, the audience is drawn into a story where every spell and every decision could tip the balance between enduring peace and inevitable conquest.

Full plot

What Happens in Wizards?

The complete story of Wizards, from the first scene to the last, in 764 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

Earth has been devastated by a nuclear war, and it takes about 2 million years for the radioactive clouds to part enough to admit sunlight again. In this long lull, humanity’s survivors have twisted into mutants, while the true ancestors of myth—trolls, fairies, elves, and dwarves—reappear and reclaim the land they once called Montagar. The tale begins with a miraculous birth: in a trance, Delia, the fairy queen, brings forth twin wizards, the kindhearted Avatar and his evil, mutated brother Blackwolf. After Delia’s death years later, Blackwolf attempts to seize leadership, but Avatar defeats him in a magical duel. Blackwolf then retreats, vowing to return and “make this a planet where mutants rule.”

Three thousand years pass, and Blackwolf rises again, ruling the dark realm of Scortch with an army of mutated creatures who salvage and repurpose ancient technology. He launches calculated attacks on Montagar but finds his plans repeatedly foiled as his own troops grow bored or distracted in the heat of combat. A crucial discovery shifts the balance: Blackwolf uncovers an old projector and a trove of Nazi propaganda footage from World War II, which he amplifies with magic to turn his soldiers into a formidable force while terrorizing his enemies.

Meanwhile, in Montagar, Avatar trains the president’s daughter, Elinore, to become a true fairy. A chilling setback arrives when Necron 99, a robot sent by Blackwolf, assassinating the president and threatening to erase belief in magic. Avatar subdues the robot and reconditions it, renaming it Peace in the hope that it will become a force for harmony. From the robot, Avatar learns that the projector—the dream machine—serves as Blackwolf’s hidden weapon. With this knowledge, Avatar, Elinore, Peace, and the elf warrior Weehawk embark on a mission to destroy the projector and avert a renewed Holocaust.

In a forest inhabited by fairies, their path is blocked by the fairy king, and trouble intensifies when an unseen assassin kills Sean, prompting the fairies to kidnap Elinore. Avatar and Weehawk press on toward the forbidden Fairy Sanctuary, where a chasmous fall injures Weehawk. Avatar, though wounded, refuses to fight back when the fairies try to kill him, earning the fairy king’s respect; instead of executions, he teleports Avatar and Elinore to a snowy mountaintop. The couple resumes their journey, only to realize they are wandering in circles until Peace and Weehawk—who both owe a debt to Avatar for Peace’s previous transformation—locate and join them. They soon encounter an elf general and his encamped army preparing to attack Scortch the next day, while Blackwolf makes a night-time strike to disrupt the coalition.

Elinore and Peace come under attack from one of Blackwolf’s demons, but Avatar swiftly dispatches the threat. A battle tank carried by Blackwolf’s forces arrives to crush the camp, and in a shocking twist, Elinore kills Peace and climbs into the tank as it roars forward. The next day, Avatar and Weehawk slip into Scortch by ship and head toward Blackwolf’s castle, while the elf general leads his people in a brutal distraction against the invaders. The two heroes split up, with Weehawk tracking Elinore and Avatar pursuing Blackwolf. In a moment of peril, Weehawk almost harms Elinore, but she reveals Blackwolf has seized control of her mind after she touched Peace, leaving Blackwolf to claim that his magic is supreme.

Avatar admits he has not practiced magic for some time, but he offers a final trick—a trick his mother taught him. From a hidden sleeve, he pulls a pistol and shoots Blackwolf dead, a bold act that destabilizes the mutant army. Weehawk then destroys the projector, leaving Blackwolf’s forces leaderless and vulnerable to the General’s army. With Montagar secured, Weehawk returns home to assume rulership, while Avatar and Elinore decide to establish their own kingdom elsewhere, choosing a life beyond the scars of war and magic.

  • Avatar stands at the center of courage and mercy, a beacon who guides others toward hope even as the world trembles with danger.
  • Blackwolf embodies a fierce, corrupt ambition, bent on weaponizing fear and propaganda to bend reality to his rule.
  • Elinore grows from a protected royal daughter into a capable, magical presence whose loyalty and autonomy shape the fate of two realms.
  • Peace begins as a weaponized machine that learns to reflect a gentler purpose, illustrating the fragile line between creation and conscience.
  • Weehawk acts as a vigilant ally, a warrior whose presence helps bridge human and magical worlds.
  • Sean is a catalyst whose death triggers key twists, underscoring the precarious balance between belief and betrayal in Montagar’s saga.
Timeline

Wizards Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

14 key events in the order they happen, from “Nuclear war devastates Earth and Montagar rises” to “Weehawk destroys the projector and Montagar is saved”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.

  1. 1

    Nuclear war devastates Earth and Montagar rises

    Earth is devastated by a nuclear war. It takes 2 million years for radioactive clouds to clear enough for sunlight. The surviving humans mutate into mutants, while humanity's true ancestors—trolls, fairies, elves and dwarves—reappear and settle the land of Montagar.

    When:2,000,000 years after the war

  2. 2

    Birth of Avatar and Blackwolf amid 3,000 years of peace

    During 3,000 years of peace, Delia, queen of the fairies, falls into a trance and gives birth to twin wizards: Avatar and Blackwolf. Delia dies years later, and Blackwolf makes a bid for leadership. Avatar defeats him in a magical duel, and Blackwolf swears to return and remake the world for mutants.

    When:During 3,000 years of peace Where:Montagar

  3. 3

    Blackwolf's rise and first assaults on Montagar

    Three thousand years after Avatar's victory, Blackwolf establishes the dark land of Scortch and leads an army of mutants and other evil beings. He launches two assaults on Montagar, but his troops frequently become bored or sidetracked during battle, undermining his plans.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Scortch

  4. 4

    The projector as a secret weapon

    Blackwolf discovers an old projector with Nazi propaganda footage and uses magic to enhance it for psychological warfare. The dream machine inspires his soldiers and terrifies enemy troops, giving him a dangerous edge in combat. The device becomes his secret weapon in the war against Montagar.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Scortch

  5. 5

    Avatar trains Elinore and Peace is created

    In Montagar, Avatar trains the president's daughter, Elinore, to become a full fairy. A robot named Necron 99 is dispatched by Blackwolf to kill believers in magic. Avatar subdues Necron 99 and reconditions it for nonviolence, renaming it 'Peace' in the hope it will help bring peace.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Montagar

  6. 6

    The dream machine's secret weapon revealed

    Avatar learns from Peace that the projector is Blackwolf's secret weapon. The group—Avatar, Elinore, Peace, and the elf Weehawk—sets out to destroy the projector and save the world from another Holocaust. Their quest takes them toward the heart of Scortch and into dangerous lands.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Montagar

  7. 7

    Forest confrontation and Elinore's kidnapping

    In a forest inhabited by fairies, the group is confronted by their leader, Sean. Peace goes missing and an unseen assassin kills Sean, prompting the fairies to kidnap Elinore. Avatar and Weehawk begin searching for Elinore in the forbidden Fairy Sanctuary.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Forest / Fairy Sanctuary

  8. 8

    Weehawk falls into a chasm and the fairy king spares Avatar and Elinore

    Weehawk falls into a chasm during the search, and Avatar, ordered to move on, leaves him behind to pursue Elinore. Avatar locates Elinore, captured by fairies and about to be killed. The fairy king shows mercy, teleporting Avatar and Elinore to a snowy mountaintop.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Fairy Sanctuary / Snowy mountaintop

  9. 9

    Reunion and escape from the mountains

    Avatar and Elinore resume their journey, realizing they are wandering in circles. Peace and Weehawk, saved by Peace from a monster, locate Avatar and Elinore, and the group finds their way out of the mountains. They press on toward Scortch.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Snowy mountains

  10. 10

    Elf General's distraction and Blackwolf's night attack

    The elf General's army camps to attack Scortch the following day, while Blackwolf launches a nighttime sneak attack to overwhelm the defenders. The clash escalates as both sides pursue control of the region. The stakes are the salvation of Montagar.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Scortch

Show the other 4 events of Wizards
  1. 11

    Elinore, Peace, and the demon attack

    Elinore and Peace are attacked by one of Blackwolf's demons, which Avatar swiftly defeats. Later, a Blackwolf demon attack coincides with the moment Elinore turns against Peace, killing Peace and climbing into a tank as it drives off.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Montagar camp

  2. 12

    Final pursuit: Avatar vs Blackwolf

    Avatar and Weehawk enter Scortch by ship and make for Blackwolf's castle, while the elf General's army distracts Blackwolf's forces. Weehawk nearly kills Elinore, but she explains that Blackwolf has taken control of her mind after she touched Peace.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Scortch

  3. 13

    Avatar defeats Blackwolf

    Avatar admits he has not practiced magic for some time, but demonstrates a trick their mother taught him. He shoots Blackwolf dead with a pistol, ending his reign of terror.

    When:Three thousand years later Where:Blackwolf's castle

  4. 14

    Weehawk destroys the projector and Montagar is saved

    Weehawk destroys the projector, leaving Blackwolf's mutants leaderless and helpless as the elf General's army defeats them. With Montagar's safety secured, Weehawk returns home as its new ruler. Avatar and Elinore choose to start their own kingdom elsewhere.

    When:End Where:Scortch / Montagar

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Wizards?

7 characters, among them Avatar, Blackwolf and Elinore: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 6 of them link to the actor’s page.

  • A

    Avatar

    The kindhearted twin wizard who champions mercy and balance. He trains Elinore to become a fairy, opposes his mutated brother Blackwolf, and leads the quest to destroy the projector.

    • 🧭 Hero
    • 🪄 Magic user
    • 🛡️ Leader
  • B

    Blackwolf

    Played by Steve Gravers

    Avatar's mutated, ruthless brother who seeks to conquer Montagar and impose a mutant-rule. He wields magic and salvaged technology, using the dream machine projector and propaganda imagery to rally his forces.

    • ⚔️ Villain
    • 🧠 Strategist
    • 🜄 Dark magic
  • E

    Elinore

    Played by Jesse Welles

    President's daughter who is trained to become a fairy. She falls under Blackwolf's mind control, is captured during the journey, and plays a crucial role as the group navigates the threat to their world.

    • 👑 Royalty
    • 🧚 Fairy-in-training
    • 🧠 Mind control
  • David Proval as Peace in Wizards

    Peace

    Played by David Proval

    A robot originally named Necron 99, reconditioned by Avatar into a peaceful symbol. He represents the potential to turn a weapon of war into a force for good, but meets a tragic end when Elinore kills him during the escape.

    • 🤖 Robot
    • 🕊️ Peaceful
    • 🛡️ Ally
  • Richard Romanus as Weehawk in Wizards

    Weehawk

    Played by Richard Romanus

    Elf warrior and ally who helps Avatar on the quest and ultimately aids in the downfall of Blackwolf. He tracks Elinore and contributes to the strategic fight against Scortch.

    • 🗡️ Warrior
    • 🧭 Loyal ally
    • 🧝️ Elf
  • Mark Hamill as Sean in Wizards

    Sean

    Played by Mark Hamill

    Fairy leader encountered in the forest. His death at the hands of an unseen assassin triggers the fairies to abduct Elinore, intensifying the quest to save their world.

    • 👑 Leader
    • 🧚 Fairy
    • 💀 Death
  • G

    General

    Played by Peter Hobbs

    Elf General leading the army allied with Montagar against Scortch during the climactic battles.

    • 🗡️ Commander
    • 🛡️ Military
Setting

Where and When Is Wizards Set?

Wizards is set in Montagar, Scortch and Earth (Far future). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.

When

Far future

The story unfolds in a distant future after a devastating nuclear war. The world is shaped by remnants of ancient technology and pervasive magic, existing in a fragile balance. Three thousand years of peace precede Blackwolf's resurgence, framing Avatar's quest to avert another catastrophe. The timeline blends mythic kingdoms with a post-apocalyptic backdrop.

Where

Montagar, Scortch, Earth

Montagar is the idyllic homeland of fairies, trolls, elves and dwarves, enjoying three millennia of peace. Scortch is the dark, mutant-infested realm ruled by Blackwolf, constantly threatening Montagar. The setting sits on a ruined Earth where nuclear war has reshaped the planet and sunlight only gradually returns through the radioactive clouds.

  • ❄️ Fantasy
  • 🗺️ Post-apocalyptic
  • 🛡️ Epic scale
Themes

What Are the Themes of Wizards?

4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Magic vs Technology, Good vs Evil and Peace and Leadership.

  1. 01

    Magic vs Technology

    The film juxtaposes magic with remnants of technology, notably Blackwolf's use of a projector and Nazi-propaganda imagery as a weapon of war. Avatar relies on magical power and restraint to counter this threat. The story suggests that power can corrupt whether wielded by sorcery or gadgetry, and that destroying the dream machine is key to stopping a Holocaust-like fate.

  2. 02

    Good vs Evil

    Avatar embodies mercy, courage, and leadership, standing in stark contrast to Blackwolf's tyranny and mutation-driven conquest. The battle is both physical and moral, testing whether magic alone or sheer will can prevail over a tyrant's regime. The fate of Montagar rests on their confrontation, culminating in Blackwolf's defeat. The climax implies that righteousness paired with restraint can triumph over brute force.

  3. 03

    Peace and Leadership

    Avatar's attempt to reframe a weapon as Peace illustrates the hope of turning destructive power into a force for good. Weehawk's rise as Montagar's ruler signals a shift toward peaceful stewardship of the land. The narrative invites reflection on what true leadership means—protecting the vulnerable, uniting diverse beings, and rejecting endless vendettas.

  4. 04

    Journey and Alliance

    The group travels through magical and war-torn realms to destroy the dream machine. Alliances form between Avatar, Elinore, Peace, and Weehawk as they face betrayal, mind control, and peril. The journey emphasizes trust, cooperation, and resilience against a seemingly insurmountable foe.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Wizards?

Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Dark
Pacing
Fast
Story
Moderate
Intensity
High
Ending
Bittersweet

A grim and fantastical animated epic set in a post-nuclear future, where high-stakes magical warfare and dark themes of propaganda create a tense and often violent atmosphere, punctuated by moments of hard-won hope.

  • apocalyptic
  • grim
  • hopeful
  • fantastical
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • nuclear apocalypse
  • good vs evil
  • propaganda
  • mutants

Content notes: war violence, assassination, nuclear apocalypse, mind control, death of a parent.

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Read next

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6 films close to Wizards in story and themes that have a full plot summary here: Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1985) and Warlock: The Armageddon (1993) lead.

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FAQ

Wizards Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Wizards, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Wizards about?

In a world reborn from the ashes of a centuries‑long nuclear winter, the planet’s surface glitters with new sunlight while the remnants of humanity have twisted into strange, mutant forms.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Wizards take place?

Wizards is set in Montagar, Scortch and Earth (Far future). The story unfolds in a distant future after a devastating nuclear war. The world is shaped by remnants of ancient technology and pervasive magic, existing in a fragile balance.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Wizards?

The story follows Avatar, Blackwolf (played by Steve Gravers), Elinore (played by Jesse Welles) and Peace (played by David Proval); the character guide covers 7 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Wizards?

The summary picks out 4 themes: Magic vs Technology, Good vs Evil, Peace and Leadership and Journey and Alliance.

The themes explained

Who directed Wizards?

Wizards (1977) was directed by Ralph Bakshi and runs 1 hour 20 minutes.

Ralph Bakshi’s films

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