Let's talk about the straw man in the room. When most people think of the Scarecrow from Oz, they picture Ray Bolger’s floppy, soft-hearted vaudevillian from the 1939 MGM classic. Or maybe the scholarly, slightly arrogant ruler from L. Frank Baum’s original books. But then there’s the Legends of Oz Scarecrow.
He’s different. Honestly, he's a bit of a trip.
If you sat through the 2013 (or 2014, depending on where you lived) animated flick Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, you probably noticed that this isn't your grandma’s Oz. This version of the character, voiced by Dan Aykroyd, feels like he’s had about six shots of espresso and a crash course in mechanical engineering. It's a polarizing take. Some fans of the "Oz" mythos find him charmingly manic; others think he strays way too far from the source material.
The Problem with the Legends of Oz Scarecrow Design
The first thing that hits you is the look. He’s vibrant. He's tall. He looks less like a bundle of old clothes and more like a high-end plush toy designed for maximum merchandising.
In the original books, the Scarecrow was a bit more "folk horror" if we're being real. He had mismatched eyes and a jagged mouth. In Legends of Oz, he's got this sleek, structured vest and a face that’s almost too expressive. It’s a choice. This design was handled by Summertime Entertainment, and you can tell they were aiming for a "modern" aesthetic that would pop on a 3D screen. Does it work? Sorta. It works if you view the film as a standalone candy-colored adventure, but it loses that dusty, Kansas-dreamscape vibe that made the character feel grounded in the first place.
He's also weirdly athletic. In this movie, the Legends of Oz Scarecrow isn't just stumbling around on wobbly legs. He’s active. He's solving problems with a frantic energy that feels very... Dan Aykroyd.
Why the Voice Choice Matters
Voice acting can make or break an iconic character. Dan Aykroyd is a legend—Ghostbusters, SNL, the man is a titan. But hearing Elwood Blues come out of a straw man’s mouth is jarring at first. Aykroyd brings a fast-talking, hyper-intellectual energy to the role.
This fits the plot, though. By the time Dorothy returns to Oz in this story (which is loosely based on Dorothy of Oz by Roger S. Baum, L. Frank Baum's great-grandson), the Scarecrow has been running the show. He's been using that brain he worked so hard to get.
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He’s no longer the guy wondering if he has a wit; he’s the guy who thinks he’s the smartest person in every room.
That shift in personality is actually one of the more interesting parts of the film. It shows the natural progression of a character who finally got what he wanted. If you're told you're a genius for years, you’re eventually going to start acting like a bit of a know-it-all. The Legends of Oz Scarecrow is a victim of his own success in that regard. He’s become a bureaucrat, a leader, and a scientist all rolled into one burlap package.
Sorting Through the Plot Holes and Candy Rivers
The movie itself was a bit of a mess behind the scenes.
It had a massive budget—around $70 million—and it bombed. Hard. But if you look past the box office numbers, the way they handled the core trio (Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion) is fascinatingly weird. They get captured pretty early on by the Jester, who is the movie's big bad.
This leaves the Scarecrow in a precarious position. He’s supposed to be the strategist, but he’s sidelined.
When we do see him, he’s interacting with a world made of candy and porcelain. The scale is different. In most Oz stories, the Scarecrow is the heart and the logic. Here, he’s almost a frantic supporting player to the new characters like Wiser the owl and Marshal Mallow. It’s a crowded movie. Sometimes it feels like the Legends of Oz Scarecrow is fighting for screen time in his own kingdom.
- The Brain Factor: In the 1939 film, the Scarecrow gets a "diploma." In the book, he gets a head filled with pins and needles (to make him "sharp"). In Legends of Oz, his intelligence is portrayed through gadgets and rapid-fire dialogue.
- The Friendship Dynamic: There's a different vibe between the trio. Kelsey Grammer (Tin Man) and James Belushi (Lion) play off Aykroyd in a way that feels like a bickering old comedy troupe. It’s less "we’re off to see the wizard" and more "we’ve been roommates for twenty years and I’m tired of your puns."
What Real Fans Get Wrong About This Version
A lot of people dismiss this movie as a cheap knockoff. It isn't. Not exactly. It’s based on the work of Roger S. Baum, so it has a "legitimate" lineage even if it doesn't feel like the classic stories.
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The biggest misconception is that the Legends of Oz Scarecrow is "dumbed down" for kids. If anything, he’s actually more complex than the version we see in many other adaptations. He’s dealing with the burden of leadership. He's trying to protect a city that is literally being torn apart by a magical villain.
He’s stressed.
You don’t usually see a "stressed" Scarecrow. You see a confused one or a brave one, but rarely one who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. That’s a nuance that gets lost if you just look at the bright colors and the singing marshmallow man.
The Animation Style and Its Impact
The 3D animation was polarizing. Some people loved the "smoothness," while others felt it looked like a high-budget video game cutscene from 2010. For the Scarecrow, this meant his movements were very fluid. Gone was the "stuffed with straw" clumsiness. Instead, we got a character who could move with precision.
Is that a good thing? It depends on what you want from Oz.
If you want the whimsical, slightly broken world of the original books, this ain't it. But if you want a fast-paced adventure where the characters feel like modern superheroes, then the Legends of Oz Scarecrow fits the bill perfectly. He’s essentially the "tech guy" of the group.
Why We Keep Coming Back to the Straw Man
There is something universal about a guy made of straw who just wants to be smart. We all feel like we’re missing something. Whether it’s a brain, a heart, or just the courage to get through a Monday morning.
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The Legends of Oz Scarecrow represents the "after" story. What happens after you get your wish? What happens when the adventure is over and you have to actually live your life?
The movie shows us that even with a brain, things can still go sideways. You can still get captured by a crazy jester. You can still lose your way. It’s a more "human" take on the character, despite the fact that he’s voiced by a guy who famously hunts ghosts and sells crystal head vodka.
Actionable Insights for Oz Collectors and Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific version of the character, don't just stop at the movie.
- Check out the Roger S. Baum books. Dorothy of Oz is the primary source material. It gives a lot more context to why the Scarecrow is acting the way he does. The book version is a bit more grounded than the Dan Aykroyd fever dream.
- Compare the soundtracks. The music in Legends of Oz features songs by Bryan Adams. Seriously. Listening to the lyrics of the Scarecrow’s segments gives you a better handle on his internal motivation than just watching the slapstick on screen.
- Look for the tie-in merchandise. Because the movie didn't do well, the toys and collectibles are actually becoming somewhat rare in the Oz fan community. If you find a Legends of Oz Scarecrow figure at a flea market, grab it. It’s a weird piece of animation history.
- Watch for the cameos. This version of the character actually popped up in some mobile games and digital shorts around the time of the release. It’s interesting to see how they tried to build a "cinematic universe" before the movie even hit theaters.
The Legends of Oz Scarecrow is a strange artifact of 2010s animation. He's hyper, he's brilliant, and he's a little bit exhausting. But he’s also a testament to the staying power of Oz. We can reinvent these characters a thousand times, and they still work. Whether he’s a bumbling farmhand or a fast-talking scientist, the Scarecrow remains the intellectual soul of the Yellow Brick Road.
To truly understand the evolution of the character, you have to look at the failures alongside the successes. Legends of Oz might not be a masterpiece, but its version of the Scarecrow offers a unique, albeit frantic, look at what happens when a literary icon tries to go "modern."
Next time you’re scrolling through streaming services and see that bright green poster, give it a chance. Just for the weirdness of it all. You might find that the Legends of Oz Scarecrow has more of a brain than people give him credit for.
Explore the original Roger S. Baum illustrations to see how the character was envisioned before the 3D render took over. Compare those sketches to the final film design to see exactly where the animators took liberties with his "brainy" persona. This gives you a much clearer picture of the creative tug-of-war between traditional storytelling and modern studio demands.