This one might sound like a sequel, but here we have an original animated feature for once. Well, about as ‘original’ as it can get when it comes to the Oz property, which has seen a resurgence in popularity recently—but with last year’s clunker Oz the Great and Powerful, we’re not quite sure this is a good thing. The resurgence will reach its apex, we’re sure, when Broadway behemoth Wicked finally gets made into a big budget movie. Curiously enough, Glee-ful actress Lea Michele is rumored to be attached to the film version of Wicked as Elphaba, even though the picture is still far from going into production. And here in Legends of Oz, Lea gives voice to Dorothy, doing her best to sounds warm, approachable and amazed at the same time.

Sadly, though, the film completely lacks the imagination or visual appeal to stand out as even passably relevant in this post-Frozen world; with a plot that feels like it was derived out of a strategy meeting amongst bored and unimaginative studio heads, here we have a random new culprit who takes control of Oz, by the name of the Jester. A cheap-ish rip-off of Batman’s The Riddler, the Jester is at least voiced by the great Martin Short, and other standout voice talents do well with their roles: especially Bernadette Peters as Glinda and Dan Ackroyd as The Scarecrow. The best (read: only good) character credit would have to go to Megan Hilty as the China Princess though—this young actress is famous for her role as Ivy in Smash as well as having lent her vocal talents to various projects.

One of the main aspects of Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return that should have been a great selling point is the animation, which is ultimately very underwhelming, especially when it comes to the humans, Dorothy included. Let’s wait for the real deal with Wicked, and give Rachel Berry another chance to Defy Gravity.