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The Steam Engines of Oz (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Steam Engines of Oz (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 79 mins · English
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Starring
Ron Perlman, Kiefer O'Reilly, Ashleigh Ball, William Shatner, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Julianne Hough

A century after Dorothy’s departure, the Emerald City faces a new threat. A once-respected hero now holds the land in his grasp, and hope arrives with young Victoria Wright and her tools. She embarks on a journey to restore balance to the Land of Oz, encountering familiar faces and forging new alliances in this exciting continuation of the beloved story.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Steam Engines of Oz
  8. 8 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Steam Engines of Oz Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Steam Engines of Oz (2018), 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.

  • Victoria (voice: Ashleigh Ball)

    A resourceful young mechanic who becomes the last hope for Oz. She is determined, brave, and compassionate, willing to challenge authority to restore balance between progress and magic.

    • 🌟 Hero
    • 👩‍🔧 Inventor
    • 💪 Determined
  • Tin Man (voice: Matthew Kevin Anderson)

    A once-heroic ruler of Emerald City, now obsessed with rebuilding his past love Nimmie Amee through mechanical means. He grapples with guilt and regret, symbolizing the struggle between progress and emotional connection.

    • 🤖 Ruler
    • 🛠️ Obsessive
    • 💔 Heartless
  • Locasta (voice: Julianne Hough)

    The Good Witch of the North, serving as a guide and protector. She warns about the dangers of unchecked expansion and supports Victoria's quest to save Oz's magic.

    • ✨ Wise
    • 🧙️ Protective
    • 🌈 Guiding
  • Gromit (voice: Elijah Dhavvan)

    A Munchkin technician loyal to Victoria, Gromit is brave and resourceful. He plays a key role in rescuing and supporting the main characters through dangerous situations.

    • 🛠️ Loyal
    • 🐾 Inventor
    • 🎖️ Courageous
  • Phadrig Diggs (voice: Scott McNeil)

    Brother of Oscar Diggs, Phadrig is a supportive and protective figure. He helps Victoria and Gromit in their quest, representing familial loyalty and friendship.

    • 🤝 Loyal
    • 🧭 Supportive
    • 🎩 Adventurous

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:56

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Setting

Where and When Does The Steam Engines of Oz Take Place?

The setting of The Steam Engines of Oz (2018): 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

A hundred years after the original Wizard of Oz events

The story is set a century after the classic events in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, reflecting a modernized version of Oz. This period sees technological advancements and urban expansion, contrasting with the traditional magical setting of the past.

Location

Emerald City, Land of Oz, Munchkin Village, Forest near Emerald City

The Emerald City has evolved into a modern metropolis, expanding its territory and risking its magic. The Land of Oz remains a place of enchantment, with the Munchkin villages and surrounding forests serving as crucial locations for the story's events. These places are known for their magical history and vibrant communities of magical beings and land inhabitants.

  • 🏙️ Modernized
  • 🌲 Forest
  • 🏰 Magical City

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:56

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2 major themes

The Steam Engines of Oz Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Steam Engines of Oz (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love and Redemption

    Central to the story is the theme of love, especially in relation to the Tin Man's quest to find his heart and his love Nimmie Amee. The narrative emphasizes the importance of compassion, understanding, and redemption, showing how these values can heal a fractured community and individual.

  • Progress and Obsession

    The story explores the theme of technological progress through the Great Steam Engines of Oz and the Tin Man’s obsession with industrialization to save his loved one. It also examines the darker side of progress—how obsession with technological advancements can lead to loss of magic and humanity.

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:56

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Character & theme questions

The Steam Engines of Oz Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Steam Engines of Oz (2018): 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

How has the Emerald City changed since the original Wizard of Oz?

The Emerald City has evolved into a modern metropolis, expanding its territory and putting its magical heritage at risk. This represents a major shift from the mystical city seen in the original story, now blending industrial advancement with the traditional magic of the Land of Oz.

  • emerald city
  • oz
  • modernization
  • magic city
Q2

When does The Steam Engines of Oz take place?

The story is set exactly one hundred years after the classic events in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, making it a direct sequel set in a modernized version of Oz.

  • oz timeline
  • sequel
  • hundred years
  • wizard of oz
Q3

Who is Victoria Wright in The Steam Engines of Oz?

Victoria Wright is a resourceful young mechanic who becomes Oz's last hope. She is determined, brave, and compassionate, wielding her mechanical expertise to challenge authority and restore balance between progress and magic in the Land of Oz.

  • victoria wright
  • protagonist
  • mechanic
  • oz
Q4

What happened to the Tin Man in this movie?

The Tin Man, once a heroic ruler of the Emerald City, has become obsessed with rebuilding his past love Nimmie Amee through mechanical means. He grapples with guilt and regret, symbolizing the tragic struggle between progress and emotional connection.

  • tin man
  • nimmi amee
  • obsession
  • heart
Q5

What are the Great Steam Engines of Oz?

The Great Steam Engines represent the story's exploration of technological progress and industrialization in Oz. They are central to the Tin Man's quest to save his loved one, but also embody the darker side of progress, how obsession with technology can lead to loss of magic and humanity.

  • steam engines
  • technology
  • progress
  • industrialization
Q6

Who is Locasta in The Steam Engines of Oz?

Locasta is the Good Witch of the North, serving as a guide and protector throughout the story. She warns characters about the dangers of unchecked expansion and supports Victoria's quest to save Oz's magic, acting as a mentor figure.

  • locasta
  • good witch
  • north
  • guide
Q7

What is the main theme of The Steam Engines of Oz?

The film explores the conflict between progress and magic, showing how technological obsession can threaten ancient wonder. It also examines love and redemption, particularly through the Tin Man's tragic quest to reclaim lost love and find genuine emotional connection.

  • progress
  • magic
  • theme
  • obsession
  • balance
Q8

What other locations appear in The Steam Engines of Oz?

Beyond the Emerald City, the story features the Munchkin Village with its magical history and vibrant communities of magical beings, plus the Forest near Emerald City. These locations maintain the traditional enchantment of Oz, contrasting with the city's modern development.

  • munchkin village
  • forest
  • locations
  • land of oz
Q9

Who helps Victoria on her journey in Oz?

Victoria is supported by Gromit, a brave and resourceful Munchkin technician loyal to her cause, and Phadrig Diggs, the brother of Oscar Diggs who represents familial loyalty and friendship. Together they assist Victoria in rescuing characters and navigating dangerous situations.

  • gromit
  • phadrig diggs
  • companions
  • team
Q10

What is the tone of The Steam Engines of Oz?

The film has a hopeful but bittersweet tone. While driven by Victoria's quest to restore balance, it carries melancholic weight from the Tin Man's tragic backstory of lost love. The ending resolves with peace achieved but requires the Tin Man to finally accept his loss.

  • tone
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
  • hopeful
  • melancholic

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Steam Engines of Oz, by Mood & Story

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

Steampunk Redemption Quests like The Steam Engines of Oz

Adventures in clockwork worlds where broken heroes must heal a fractured land. For viewers who enjoyed The Steam Engines of Oz, this section features movies with similar steampunk settings and themes of redemption. Discover other films where heroes embark on hopeful journeys to heal a world and help a fallen figure find peace, blending fantasy adventure with emotional depth.

  • steampunk
  • redemptive
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • adventurous
  • nostalgic
  • Tone: hopeful, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady adventure
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically begin with a world out of balance, often due to the actions or despair of a former hero. A new protagonist, sometimes an outsider or a craftsman, arrives and embarks on a journey to confront this fallen figure. The climax involves reconciling with a painful past—lost love, obsession, or failure—leading to a bittersweet victory where peace is restored, but often at the cost of letting go.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their unique combination of a steampunk or mechanically infused fantasy setting and a core narrative focused on redemption and healing. They share a 'hopeful' tone layered with 'melancholic' notes, a 'steady' adventure pace, and a 'bittersweet' conclusion where technological and emotional repair go hand in hand.

Bittersweet Found Family Journeys like The Steam Engines of Oz

Where lonely travelers find their place while mending a broken world. If you liked the group dynamic in The Steam Engines of Oz, explore these movies about found families on epic journeys. These films feature characters who form deep bonds while working together to restore balance, culminating in endings that are hopeful yet touched with sadness for what was lost.

  • found family
  • bittersweet
  • hopeful
  • journey
  • nostalgic
  • redemptive
  • Tone: hopeful, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady character driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central quest that forces a diverse group of characters—some familiar, some new—to rely on each other. Through shared challenges and confrontations, they evolve from companions into a supportive family unit. The journey concludes with a victory that solidifies their bonds, but the ending feels bittersweet as characters must often accept personal losses or say farewells to achieve peace.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on the 'found family' trope within a journey-based plot. They share a 'medium' emotional weight, a 'steady' pacing that allows for character bonding, and a defining 'bittersweet' ending feel where the joy of success is tempered by the poignancy of change and acceptance.

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Movies Like The Steam Engines of Oz

Similar movies to The Steam Engines of 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

The Steam Engines of Oz (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Steam Engines of 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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