Directed by F. R. Crawley, Thomas Glynn, and Larry Roemer from a teleplay by Romeo Muller, who later wrote Dorothy in the Land of Oz, the special was the first produced by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass of Rankin/Bass Productions (soon-to-be renamed Videocraft International).
[2] Crawley Films had previously produced the 1961 animated series Tales of the Wizard of Oz and brought similar artistic character renditions to the subsequent special.
Dorothy receives a letter from the Scarecrow, called Socrates in the special, as in the series, telling her that everyone is happy with the gifts the Wizard gave them and that they miss her very much.
She goes to find her magic Silver Shoes and is instantly taken back to Oz again by another Kansas twister, this time not by house, but an apple tree.
She has also stolen the medal that belonged to the Cowardly Lion, called Dandy, and turned it into a daisy, and is planning to get Dorothy's silver shoes again.
The Wizard, who in this continuity is not an Omaha huckster but an Ozite born and bred and the elected ruler of Oz, tells them to destroy her again and he will give them what they want.
Glinda appears to tell Dorothy the reason that her friends didn't turn to stone, because they had brains, a heart, and courage.