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Fantastic Return to Oz (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Fantastic Return to Oz (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 77 mins · Russian
Directed by
Fedor Dmitriev
Starring
Konstantin Khabenskiy, Dmitriy Dyuzhev, Yuliya Rudina, Yuliya Zorkina, Maxim Sergeev, Oleg Kulikovich

A year after Dorothy and the Emerald City celebrated victory over Urfin Jus, the villain seeks revenge. To command a Carraci army, he needs a magic book and Dorothy’s silver slippers, which are hidden in her house. When Dorothy’s young guest, Tim, impulsively takes the slippers, he accidentally sends himself, Dorothy, and the shoes back to the Land of Oz. Now, the Emerald City faces renewed danger as Urfin plots his return.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (13)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Fantastic Return to Oz
  7. 7 Every angle

13 main characters · contains spoilers

Fantastic Return to Oz Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Fantastic Return to Oz (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Urfin Jus (voice) — Konstantin Khabenskiy

    A power-hungry mastermind who wakes from a dream of ruling Emerald City and schemes to seize the magical book. He manipulates allies, promises a formidable army, and pursues control at any cost. His plans unravel as reality clashes with his fantasies, exposing the emptiness of his ambitions.

    • ⚔️ Villain
    • 🧠 Cunning
  • Bear (voice) — Dmitriy Dyuzhev

    Loyal, boisterous ally to Urfin who provides muscle and a touch of comic relief. He is devoted to his master but often blunders in ways that reveal the limits of brute force. His steadfast presence keeps the group together during risky infiltrations.

    • 🐻 Loyal
    • 🎭 Comic Relief
  • Ellie (Elly) — Yekaterina Gorokhovskaya

    A living robot statue central to Oz’s magic, part of the Emerald City’s façade and a symbol of hope. Her presence drives the quest and her true form hints at deeper powers within the book. She becomes a focal point for Tim and the team’s mission to defend Oz.

    • 🤖 Robot
    • 💖 Heroine
  • Tim

    played by Aleksandr Bykovsky

    A boy who wields the enchanted silver slippers and becomes key to returning home. He navigates danger, learns to trust in his friends, and plays a crucial role in thwarting Urfin’s flood plot. His bond with Ellie motivates the team to persevere through peril.

    • 🧑 Hero
    • 🧭 Resourceful
  • Scarecrow

    A clever and resourceful ally who guides the group through Oz’s dangers. He uses wit and insight to decipher clues and keep morale high in the face of Urfin’s schemes.

    • 🪧 Wise
    • 🤝 Ally
  • Woodman

    The steadfast companion who fights on the front lines and helps organize defense against Urfin’s forces. His practical strength complements the group’s plans and keeps the team moving forward.

    • 🪵 Loyal
    • 🛡️ Protector
  • Lion

    Brave and loyal, the Lion provides courage and physical strength to the team. He stands firm against threats and inspires others to persevere.

    • 🦁 Courage
    • 🤝 Ally
  • Ruf Bilan

    The schemer who steals the book and manipulates events from the shadows, driving the central conflict toward a flood-based catastrophe. His actions threaten Emerald City and test the protagonists’ resolve.

    • 🧭 Thief
    • ⚠️ Villain
  • Carraci

    Mysterious captors who abduct Tim and chase Ellie, acting on the crow’s orders. They complicate the mission by guarding crucial artifacts and challenging the group’s plans.

    • 🌀 Mysterious
    • 🗺️ Antagonist
  • Crow

    A cunning messenger whose actions influence events around Tim, Ellie, and Urfin. The crow’s intelligence guides or misleads depending on the moment.

    • 🗣️ Messenger
    • 🧭 Trickster
  • Queen Ramina

    A queen mouse who provides aid and guidance to Tim, offering an enchanted whistle to help him return home after a perilous journey.

    • 👑 Leader
    • 🐭 Ally
  • Princess (Book’s True Form)

    The book’s true form appears as a princess who tricks Urfin into thinking he is master of the book, highlighting the dangers of deceit and power’s illusion.

    • 👑 Deceiver
    • 🧭 Illusion Holder
  • Rabbit (voice)

    played by Dmitry Vysotsky

    A talking rabbit ally encountered via Tim’s app, guiding the group and providing timely information about Ellie’s whereabouts.

    • 🐇 Guide
    • 🧠 Clever

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 16:51

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Setting

Where and When Does Fantastic Return to Oz Take Place?

The setting of Fantastic Return to Oz (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Timeless fantasy (Oz)

The events unfold in a fairy-tale version of Oz, a timeless realm without a fixed historical period. Magic and talking creatures define the era, alongside unusual enchanted devices like a robotic Ellie statue. The plot revolves around recovering a powerful book and preventing a flood that could engulf Emerald City.

Location

Emerald City, Oz, swamp, ogre's house, palace

The action centers in the magical land of Oz, with the Emerald City as the hub of power and intrigue. The journey travels through a swamp, an ogre's house, and a distant palace, all connected by enchanted pathways and a living robot statue of Ellie. The setting blends fairy-tale kingdoms with whimsical technology and perilous magic.

  • 🗺️ Fantasy setting
  • 🏙️ Emerald City
  • 🧭 Magical landscapes

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 16:51

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3 major themes

Fantastic Return to Oz Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Fantastic Return to Oz (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Ambition

    Urfin's drive for power drives the central conflict, pushing him to manipulate allies and seize the magical book. His schemes promise an undefeatable army and control over Oz, revealing how unchecked ambition can corrupt judgment. The city and its inhabitants face the consequences of pursuing power at any cost. The clash between Urfin's plans and the heroes' defense shows the dangers of ruthless aspirations.

  • Teamwork

    Despite initial mistrust, Scarecrow, Woodman, Lion, Tim, Ellie, Bear, and others unite to thwart Urfin. Their cooperation demonstrates that diverse skills and loyal friendships can overcome cunning plots. They overcome dangers through shared effort, strategy, and mutual trust. The strengthened bonds among the group become the true strength that saves Emerald City.

  • Illusion

    The palace's true nature and the pink glasses reveal a divide between appearance and reality. Urfin is tempted by promises of power that a manipulative book can grant, showing how perception can be twisted. The colorful world hides a dangerous undercurrent that tests the heroes' resolve. Removing the illusion requires courage and trust in friends rather than seductive falsehoods.

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 16:51

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Character & theme questions

Fantastic Return to Oz Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Fantastic Return to Oz (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place in the magical land of Oz, with Emerald City serving as the central hub. The adventure travels through various locations including a swamp, an ogre's house, and a distant palace, all connected by enchanted pathways.

  • emerald city
  • oz
  • magical setting
  • fantasy location
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The movie is set in a timeless fantasy version of Oz rather than a specific historical era. Magic, talking creatures, and enchanted devices like the robotic Ellie statue define the world's technology and culture.

  • time period
  • oz
  • fantasy era
  • timeless
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film explores three major themes: Ambition, showing how unchecked desire for power corrupts judgment; Teamwork, demonstrating that diverse skills and loyal friendships can overcome cunning plots; and Illusion, revealing how appearance and reality often diverge, with seductive promises masking dangerous truths.

  • themes
  • ambition
  • teamwork
  • illusion
  • message
Q4

Who is the main villain?

Urfin Jus is the primary antagonist, a power-hungry mastermind who schemes to seize a magical book and Dorothy's silver slippers to command an undefeatable army and control Emerald City.

  • urfin jus
  • villain
  • antagonist
  • main villain
Q5

Who is Tim and what is his role?

Tim is a young boy who accidentally takes Dorothy's enchanted silver slippers, inadvertently sending himself, Dorothy, and the shoes back to Oz. He becomes key to returning home and plays a crucial role in thwarting Urfin's flood plot.

  • tim
  • silver slippers
  • protagonist
  • young hero
Q6

Who is Ellie in the movie?

Ellie (also called Elly) is a living robot statue central to Oz's magic, forming part of the Emerald City's façade. She serves as a symbol of hope and becomes a focal point for Tim and the team's mission to defend Oz.

  • ellie
  • elly
  • robot statue
  • emerald city
Q7

What is Emerald City like in the film?

Emerald City is the hub of power and intrigue in Oz, depicted as a magical kingdom blending fairy-tale aesthetics with whimsical technology. It faces renewed danger as Urfin plots his return to seize control.

  • emerald city
  • oz capital
  • magical city
Q8

Who are the main allies that help the heroes?

The team includes Scarecrow, Woodman, and Lion, classic Oz characters who guide and protect. Tim receives additional help from Queen Ramina, a queen mouse who provides an enchanted whistle, and a talking rabbit ally encountered through an app.

  • scarecrow
  • woodman
  • lion
  • queen ramina
  • allies
  • team
Q9

What role does the magical book play in the story?

The magical book is a central plot device that Urfin seeks to command a Carraci army. Its true form is a princess who tricks Urfin into thinking he controls the book, highlighting how promises of power can be deceptive illusions.

  • magic book
  • princess
  • power
  • deception
Q10

What does the movie say about power and ambition?

The film warns that unchecked ambition corrupts judgment. Urfin's pursuit of power at any cost leads to his downfall, while the heroes' cooperation and trust prove stronger than ruthless aspirations. The story shows that true strength comes from unity, not domination.

  • power
  • ambition
  • corruption
  • greed
  • message

Movie threads

More Movies Like Fantastic Return to Oz, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Fantastic Return to Oz tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Whimsical Portal Fantasy Adventures like Fantastic Return to Oz

Accidental journeys to magical worlds filled with wonder and peril. Find more movies like Fantastic Return to Oz where characters are whisked away to magical lands. These films feature family-friendly fantasy quests, vibrant worlds, and a mix of playful whimsy and adventurous danger.

  • magical
  • adventurous
  • playful
  • fantastical
  • youthful
  • quest
  • Tone: whimsical, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a character's unexpected transportation to a magical realm. They must navigate this new world, often with the help of quirky companions, to complete a quest and return home, facing a clear villain along the way.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared structure of a 'portal' narrative, a consistently whimsical tone, and a focus on magical adventure that balances youthful excitement with accessible, high-concept fantasy plots.

Lighthearted Action Adventure Movies like Fantastic Return to Oz

Energetic stories where friendship and courage conquer cartoonish evil. If you enjoyed the playful action and heroic quest of Fantastic Return to Oz, you'll love these movies. They offer fast-paced, family-friendly adventures with medium intensity and a focus on friendship overcoming fantastical threats.

  • adventurous
  • lighthearted
  • playful
  • energetic
  • heroic
  • friendship
  • Tone: playful, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, scene-changing
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives unfold with constant forward momentum, featuring parallel plots where heroes and villains pursue clear goals. The conflict includes action sequences and moments of peril, but the tone remains upbeat, ensuring a satisfying and happy conclusion.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films that share a specific mix of fast pacing, medium intensity, and a light emotional weight, creating an experience that is exciting and engaging without being dark or emotionally heavy.

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Movies Like Fantastic Return to Oz

Similar movies to Fantastic Return to Oz: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Fantastic Return to Oz (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Fantastic Return to Oz in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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