Certified Animal Action Overview

No Animals Were Harmed™ carefully oversaw every moment of animal action in this movie, ensuring that each horse and the dog performer worked comfortably, calmly, and exactly at their own pace. Before every scene, the animals were gently prepared, groomed, exercised, and always handled by the riders, trainers, and grooms who knew them best. On controlled stages and open fields alike, the horses performed simple, familiar behaviors such as standing with their riders, walking to their marks, or cantering short distances. The dog who played Toto were just as easygoing. The dog was walked in, treated kindly by the actress, and guided through short, friendly actions before returning to the trainer to rest. Even scenes featuring caged animals were entirely created by CGI, keeping the focus on storytelling while ensuring real animals were treated with consistent care and comfort the entire time.

Detailed Animal Action Report

In the scene when the actress walks out on a stage and talks to the crowd, and we see ten soldiers on horseback in the background, prior to shooting the horses were unloaded, groomed, ridden for exercise. They were then led to the set by their dressed riders and accompanied by grooms. The scene was filmed on a stage where the elements were controlled. On action, the horses were all standing stationary with their dressed riders.

In the same scene where the Wicked Witch arrives in the courtyard and the soldiers mount their horses, prior to shooting, the horses were all unloaded, groomed, and offered fresh hay and water until called to set. On action, the actor commanded his soldiers to mount their horses. They all mounted. After the crowd ran past them, the actor commanded all of the soldiers to get out their weapons and leave, which is when they all cantered off set.

In the scene where the soldiers gallop through the field towards the forest, the horses were brought to their marks in the open field by their riders. On action, they galloped in unison. The riders exaggerated their arm movements to make it look like they were going faster. As soon as the horses started to slow at the second mark, the front rider lifted one arm to signal to the other riders to stop. After they stopped filming, the horses were taken back to the stables for a break and were untacked and given hay and water.

In the scene when the lead soldier rides into the forest and dismounts, the actor rode the horse for a bit before shooting the scene. The actor and horse were well acquainted with each other by this time of filming. On action, the actor rode the horse from point A to point B on a stage. Production placed dirt and woodchips on a rubber matting to make sure the horse had traction.

In the scene where the actress sneaks into the basement and sees various animals in their cages, those animals were all created by CGI.

In the scene were the actress mounts a horse in stable and rides it out of the barn, production first got a shot of the actress on the horseback before getting the shot of the horse wrangler dressed as the actress riding out of the barn. Again, the scene was filmed on stage. One of the horse’s grooms led the horse to its mark where the actress mounted him. They filmed a closeup of the actress on horseback. Then they switched out the actress for the stunt double. Before shooting, the stunt double mounted the horse. On action, the stunt double rode the horse out of the stable at a canter. Another wrangler stood nearly thirty feet away, off-camera, to help stop the horse at its mark.

In the scene where we see Dorothy and Toto walk down the yellow brick road, prior to shooting the dog was walked to his mark by the trainer. The trainer gave the lead to actress playing Dorothy. The actress gave the dog a couple treats and took off the lead. The actress also placed some food in her wicker basket to maintain the dog’s attention. On action, the actress walked with the dog to their second mark.

In the scene where the two actresses fight in a courtyard and four guards on horseback arrive, eventually breaking them up, prior to filming, the actors and costumed riders were called to set and placed on their marks. On action, they rode to their marks, as the actors in the foreground played out scene in front of them.

In the scene where Dorothy, Toto, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow walk towards the palace, the scene was filmed on stage in front of a blue screen. Prior to shooting the scene, the dog was brought to the actress playing Dorothy. The actress held the lead attached to the dog. On action the three actors and the dog walked from point A to point B.

In the scene where we see an angry mob of people at Emerald City, including Dorothy and Toto, just before filming the scene (again, on stage, in front of blue screen), trainers brought the dog to the actress playing Dorothy who held the dog by a lead. On action, the actors walked from A to B while leading a mob of extras. After filming the scene, the dog was brought back to trainer’s van.

In the scene where Dorothy and friends enter the wizard’s palace with Toto walking alongside them, like before, trainers brought the dog to actress playing Dorothy who immediately gave the dog treats. On action, the actors entered the set, stopped at their mark and delivered their lines. Once filming completed, the dog was given treats and water.