 "The Fellowship of the Ring" was released on 19 December 2001, "The Two Towers" was released on 18 December 2002 and "The Return of the King" was released on 17 December 2003, each to enormous commercial success and critical acclaim.Director Peter Jackson first came into contact with "The Lord of the Rings" when he saw Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated film "The Lord of the Rings".Jackson "enjoyed the film and wanted to know more."