The Lord of the Rings (1978) Movie script (Copy) Complete script and has 190 pages First Draft September 21th, 1976 Directed by Ralph Bakshi Screenplay by Chris Conkling and Peter S. Beagle Based on The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings is a 1978 animated fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi from a screenplay by Chris Conkling and Peter S. Beagle, based on the novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the film follows a group of fantasy races—Hobbits, Men, an Elf, a Dwarf and a wizard—who form a fellowship to destroy a magical ring made by the Dark Lord Sauron. Bakshi encountered Tolkien's writing early in his career. He had made several attempts to produce The Lord of the Rings as an animated film before producer Saul Zaentz and distributor United Artists provided funding. The film is notable for its extensive use of rotoscoping, a technique in which scenes are first shot in live-action, then traced onto animation cels. It uses a hybrid of traditional cel animation and rotoscoped live-action footage. Will be packaged and shipped with great care.