Oh, sure. Walt Disney Feature Animation came on strong last week at SIGGRAPH 2005. But you have to remember that Disney wasn’t the only animation studio in attendance at this year’s CG computer graphics conference.
In fact, were you to wander around the exhibition hall at the L.A. Convention Center, you’d have seen that Pixar Animation Studios was there too. As was Sony Picture Imageworks and DreamWorks Animation.
Truth be told, DreamWorks Animation actually had a bigger presence at this year’s SIGGRAPH than Walt Disney Feature Animation. During this five day conference, DreamWorks presented four courses, two panels and seven sketches. Which was more presentations than any other major animation studio mounted at this year’s event.
Of course, given “Madagascar” ‘s strong performance this summer (To date, that CG release has earned more than $430 million worldwide), DreamWorks Animation must have felt like it finally had something to crow about. Which is why artists and technical directors from that studio happily hosted seminars with titles like “Bringing a New Visual Style to the Screen.”
And — were you to drop by the DreamWorks Animation booth last week — you’d have seen dozens of eager animation students handing over resumes & reels … All with the hope that they’d eventually make the cut and then be invited to come work for the Glendale-based company.
Mind you, it wasn’t just “Madagascar” ‘s strong performance over the past few months or so that made it that much easier for DreamWorks Animation HR staff to recruit new talent. The word is out that DW has a number of new projects in its development pipeline that sound like they’d be a hell of a lot of fun to work on.
“What sorts of projects?,” you ask. Well, here. Let me give you a brief run-down on DreamWork Animation’s next four or five years worth of films.
Given that Jeff Lange just wrote about “Wallace & Gromit — The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” for JHM, I don’t really feel the need to write about that upcoming DreamWorks release … Other than to say that, while I was out in LA last week, I too got to see the first 15 minutes of this Nick Parks / Steve Box picture. Which was hilarious. Which is why I’ll be making a point to drop by my local cinema on October 7th to see what happens during the next 75 minutes of the film.
No, the films I’d like to talk about today are the feature length cartoons that DreamWorks Animation is prepping for release for 2006 and beyond.
First up — in May 2006 — is “Over the Hedge.” This CG feature is actually sort of a prequel to Michael Fry & T. Lewis’ popular comic strip. In that this film reveals how R.J. (a scheming raccoon voiced by Bruce Willis) and Verne (a tentative turtle voiced by Gary Shandling) actually became friends.
Fans of the “Over the Hedge” comic strip don’t need to be reminded that Fry & Lewis obviously aren’t fans of suburbia. And this DreamWorks Animation release — which is being directed by Tim Johnson (“Antz“) and Karey Kirkpatrick (screenwriter of Disney’s “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy“) — also delights in twitting people who drive SUVs and strictly adher to their neighborhood association covenants (I.E. Your grass on your lawn must always be no taller than one inch high, etc.).
Last week, I got to see a few work-in-progress sequences from “Over the Hedge” as well as some storyboards. And — based on that material — DreamWorks Animation looks like it may have another winner on its hands. One scene in particular (In which R.J. was leading his forest friends around the sub-division, demonstrating all the dining possibilities therein) had Willis seeming to channel his old “Moonlighting” character, David Addison. As Bruce barreled through page after page of rapid-fire dialogue, pointing out what a “movable feast” the suburbs really are.
Mind you, Willis has got some great support on this picture. By that I mean: Shandling’s no slouch as Verne, the timid turtle. And Steve Carell — who will soon be popping up at a theater near you as the star of “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” — virtually steals the show as Hammy, the attention-deficit squirrel.
Add to this trio William Shatner & Avril Lavigne as a father / daughter team of possums, “SCTV” vets Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara as a put-upon pair of parental porcupines, Nick Nolte as a grumpy old bear, “The West Wing” Alison Janney as the snooty head of the neighborhood association and Thomas Haden Church as a crazed exterminator … And that’s a pretty strong vocal cast.
Luckily, the film’s visuals seem to be just as strong as its voice cast. I got to see one scene where R.J. cons Hammy into pretending that he’s rabid so that the raccoon can then go score some girl scout … excuse me … trail guide girl cookies as well as a chase sequence (As R.J. and Verne race from backyard to backyard as they’re being chased by a toy-obsessed rottweiler) that shows that Johnson & Kirkpatrick have just crammed “Over the Hedge” full of gags.
Add to that that this DreamWorks Animation release is being produced by an old Disney vet, Bonnie Arnold (Best known for producing “Toy Story” and “Tarzan“) … And I can’t help but think that “Over the Hedge” will be well worth checking out when it hits theaters on May 19, 2006.
Next up is “Flushed Away.” AKA The big experiment. To explain: This is an Aardman Animation film, done in the style of Wallace & Gromit and “Chicken Run.” Only this animated feature isn’t being done with clay figures. But — rather — it’s being produced in CG.
Based on conversations that I’ve had with a few folks in the industry, there’s supposedly some trepidation at DreamWorks’ executive level about whether or not audiences will actually embrace an Aardman computer animated film. But — based on the little bits & pieces I got to see last week — Katzenberg & Co. can start breathing easier now. Even though it’s done in CG, “Flushed Away” still has that handmade feel, that same quirky quality that all the great Aardman productions have.
So what’s “Flushed Away” supposed to be about? Well, the picture starts out by depicting the high living ways of Roddy, an upper-class rat. Roddy (voiced by Hugh Jackman) is lucky enough to share his Kensington pad with a rich English family. And — when they’re away on holiday — the rat has the run of the place.
And Roddy … He loves his upper-class lifestyle. Eating only the best cheese (Which he orders straight off the internet) and being waited on hand and foot by his two hamster butlers, Gilbert (voiced by Simon Callow) and Sullivan (Geoffrey Palmer).
Unfortunately — while Roddy’s human family is away — there’s a plumbing disaster in the apartment. And up out of the garbage disposal comes Syd, a sewer rat (voiced by Shane Richie). Dazzled by his new surrounding, Syd thinks that he’d died and gone to heaven. Whereas Roddy … Well, he just wishes that Syd would drop dead.
Which is why the upper-crust rodent tries to trick the lowly sewer rat into leaving the apartment ASAP by offering him a soak in “the jacuzzi.” AKA the toilet. Ah, but Syd is a lot smarter than he looks. And — at the last minute — he gets the drop of Roddy. Which is why it’s the upper class rat that gets “Flushed Away” deep down into the bowels of the London sewer system.
It’s at this point that this picture’s story truly gets into gear. For — once Roddy finds himself deep underground — he learns that there’s actually a miniature version of London under the city. A vast metropolis that’s been assembled out of the bits & pieces that that all the people above have thrown away.
And the first “person” that Roddy encounters once he lands in the underworld is Rita, the street-smart captain of the “Jammy Dodger,” a undersized tugboat that’s built out of an old bathtub.
Roddy just wants to escape the world that he finds in the sewers and get back to his posh pad in Kensington. Whereas Rita … She longs to take the “Jammy Dodger” off on a tour of the great drains of the world. See what the sewers of Paris, Rome and Venice look like.
Of course, in order to do that, Rita is going to need money … Which is why this pretty lady rodent (voiced by Kate Winslet) has been doing business with some pretty nefarious characters: Whitey (voiced by Bill Nighy), a rat who’s escaped from a product testing facility after recieving one too many shampoos and Spike (voiced by Andy Serkis), a rat who’d really like to be villainous … Only — because he still lives at home with his mum — Spike can’t quite pull off the whole henchman thing.
Mind you, Whitey and Spike both work for Toad, the James Bond-like super-villain of the Underworld. Voiced by Sir Ian McKellen, Toad has never quite gotten over the fact that he was once Prince Charles’ favorite pet. Only to eventually be flushed down the toilet by the staff at Buckingham Palace because he was … Well … a toad.
But Toad is now planning on getting his revenge on the world. He’s hatched a diabolical plan that hinges on the United Kingdom being in the World Cup soccer finals, thousands of evil tadpoles and a synchronized bathroom break …
To say much more would give away far too much of the plot of what looks to be a pretty charming picture. To date, I’ve only been able to see several character camera tests, some storyboards and a few work-in-progress scenes. But — that said — “Flushed Away” still has that trademark Aardman look & feel. And even though it’s in CG, this film has the same quirky quality, the same sort of clever staging that made “Chicken Run” and those Wallace & Gromit shorts so much fun to watch. Which is why it will probably be worth your while to go see “Flushed Away” when it finally flows into theaters on November 3, 2006.
And then — on May 18, 2007 — here comes the big one. The animated sequel that everyone (including DreamWorks stockholders) has been waiting for, “Shrek III.”
This DreamWorks Animation film pretty much picks up where “Shrek II” left off. With Prince Harold (voiced by John Cleese) now turned into a frog. Which basically makes him ineligable to rule the Kingdom of Far Far Away. So who does this duty fall to now? You guessed it. Princess Fiona and her husband, Shrek.
As you might imagine, the big green ogre just hates the idea of having to deal with affairs of state, sitting on the throne, having to deal with the papparazzi,etc. Shrek just wants to go back to his home in the swamp. Where he and his bride can finally be alone again.
But — before the ogre and his wife can be allowed to return home — Queen Lillian (voiced by Julie Andrews) insists that a rightful heir to the throne must be found. And — as it turns out — Fiona does have one relative who might fit the bill: Her obnoxious little cousin, Artie. But he’s off at school somewhere …
That’s all Shrek needs to hear. The very next morning, the ogre heads off — with Donkey & Puss in Boots by his side — in search of Artie. Shrek intends to go to that school, collect Fiona’s cousin, bring Artie back to Far Far Away, place the boy on the throne … Then just head back to the swamps of home ASAP.
Of course, what Shrek hadn’t counted on is that Artie turns out to be this spoiled, self-centered little brat who’s always pulling pranks on the storybook trio. So it’s up to Shrek, Donkey and Puss — as they make their way back to Far Far Away — to teach this boy what it’s like to be a decent person. More importantly, what it takes to be a king.
Mind you, as this quartet is making their way back to the castle, Fiona has her hands full back in Far Far Away. It seems that Prince Charming — AKA her jilted fiancee — has decided to launch a hostile takeover of Far Far Away. So — after assembling an army of storybook bad guys — Prince Charming takes over the castle.
But what P.C. hadn’t counted on was that Fiona would dare to fight back. With the help of her mother, the Princess gets the word out to all of Far Far Away’s other princesses (I.E. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Snow White, etc.) that Fiona needs their help. And together … Well, let’s just say this band of princesses become an awesome fighting force …
Again, to say much more would give away too much of the plot (and the fun) of “Shrek III.” But let me at least clue you in on what the button for this picture will be …
After evil has been defeated, good has trimphed and the rightful heir is on the throne … Shrek turns to Fiona and says that he’s going to miss Artie. That — on the trip back to Far Far Away — the ogre learned that he’s actually pretty good with kids. Which was a skill that Shrek had previously thought he lacked.
Hearing her husband say this, Fiona smiles and says: “That’s great news. That you’re comfortable with kids and all.”
Puzzled, Shrek turns to his bride. “Why would you say that?,” the ogre asks.
“Because I’m pregnant,” answers Fiona.
The camera zooms in on Shrek’s dumbfounded face just before the credits rolls … And to learn what happens next … Well, movie-goers will just have to wait ’til May of 2010. When “Shrek IV” (which is currently being scripted by Tim Sullivan) is expected to roll into theaters.
Beyond that … Only thing that’s really worth noting is that DreamWorks has persuaded the entire original cast to return & do voice work for “Shrek III.” We’re talking Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, the aforementioned Cleese & Ms. Andrews as Queen Lillian as well as Rupert Everett. With Ms. Diaz’s main squeeze — former ‘NSYNC member Justin Timberlake — providing Artie’s vocals.
After “Shrek III” cleans up at the box office all summer long, next up from DreamWorks Animation is “Bee Movie.” Written & directed by Jerry Seinfeld, this project promises to have a uniquely New York feel and flair. According to the studio’s own info sheet on the film, “Bee Movie” …
… is the comedic tale of Barry Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a graduate bee straight out of college who is disillusioned at having only one career choice: honey.
On a rare trip outside the hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans are mass consumers of honey and decides to sue the human race for stealing bee’s honey.
I know, I know. That premise seems kind of slender right now. But let’s remember that Jerry is a big cartoon & comics buff (Remember that Superman statue was so prominently displayed in his apartment in the “Seinfeld” TV series. Not to mention those American Express ads where Jerry appeared side by side with an animated version of the Man of Steel). So maybe this multi-millionaire comic really does have what it takes to deliver a great animated feature.
And then there’s “Kung Fu Panda.” A name that even I will admit is right up there with “jumbo shrimp” and “military intelligence.” And yet there’s something that I find to be very appealing about the premise of this picture …
“Kung Fu Panda” is a CG-animated comedy about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, Po (Voiced by Jack Black), who must somehow become a Kung Fu Master in order to save the Valley of Peace from a villainous snow leopard, Tai Lung. Set in the legendary world of ancient China, this is the story of Po, our unlikely hero, who enters the rigid world of Kung Fu and turning it upside down. Po ultimately becomes a Kung Fu hero by learning that if he believes in himself, he can do anything.
I know, I know. This away far from “Kung Fu Panda” ‘s release date, it’s kind of hard to predict whether this picture will be a winner or a loser. But I gotta tell you … I’m really liking the design of the film’s lead character. More to the point, I think that it could be kind of fun to hear Jack Black’s voice coming out of that panda’s mouth.
Beyond that … Based on how well “Madagascar” has been doing (This DreamWorks Animation release is now just $50 million away from equalling the first “Shrek” ‘s box office take), there’s been a lot of talk lately about possibly producing a sequel to this film. One that would (of course) more prominently feature those psychotic penguins.
But that — my friends — is a brief glimpse at the next four or five years worth of DreamWorks Animation releases. Which I think you’ll agree sounds like a surprisingly strong assortment of animated films.
So what do you folks think? Which of thse upcoming DreamWorks Animation releases are you really looking forward to seeing?