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The End of Evangelion
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHideaki Anno
Kazuya Tsurumaki
Written byHideaki Anno
Produced byMitsuhisa Ishikawa
StarringMegumi Ogata
Megumi Hayashibara
Yūko Miyamura
Kotono Mitsuishi
CinematographyHisao Shirai
Edited bySachiko Miki
Music byShiro Sagisu
Production
companies
Distributed byKadokawa Shoten
Toei Company
Manga Entertainment (United Kingdom)
Release date
  • 19 July 1997 (1997-07-19)
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office¥1.45 billion[1]

The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air(エア)/まごころを、君に, Shin Seiki Evangerion Gekijō-ban: Ea/Magokoro o, Kimi ni) is a 1997 Japanese animated science fiction film written and directed by Hideaki Anno and animated by Production I.G. Fan theories posit that the film is an alternative finale for the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion however this is not confirmed.

The film is divided into two episodes: Episode 25': Air | Love is Destructive and Episode 26': My Purest Heart for You, Sincerely Yours and ONE MORE FINAL: I need you.

The End of Evangelion initially received mixed reviews, despite obtaining the Animage Anime Grand Prix in 1997 (among other awards). A 2014 Time Out New York poll of filmmakers saw The End of Evangelion voted one of the 100 best animated films of all time.[2]

Plot

Teenager Shinji Ikari is the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01, one of several giant cyborgs designed to fight hostile supernatural entities called Angels. Distraught over the death of his friend Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji visits fellow pilot Asuka Langley Soryu in a hospital and masturbates to her comatose body.

The shadowy committee SEELE has discovered that commander Gendo Ikari intends to use NERV, the paramilitary organization that deploys the Evangelion units, for his own plans. SEELE dispatches the Japanese Strategic Self-Defense Force (JSSDF) to seize control of NERV, killing most of the staff. NERV major Misato Katsuragi orders Asuka moved to the cockpit of Evangelion Unit 02 and placed at the bottom of a lake, then rescues Shinji from JSSDF troops. Determined to have Shinji defend NERV, Misato brings Shinji to Unit 01's bay doors, but is mortally wounded in the process. Misato implores Shinji to pilot Unit 01, kisses him, and forces him into the elevator. Shinji discovers that Unit 01 is immobilized in JSSDF bakelite.

After concluding that NERV's defeat is inevitable, Gendo retrieves the Evangelion pilot Rei Ayanami. He plans to use her to initiate Third Impact, a cataclysm which will kill everyone on Earth, and reunite with his deceased wife Yui. Attempting to stop him, NERV scientist Ritsuko Akagi sends a computer command to destroy NERV. However, Casper, a computer core modeled on Ritsuko's mother, overrides her command and Gendo kills her.

Inside Evangelion Unit 02, Asuka overcomes her trauma and re-activates the unit. She destroys the JSSDF forces, but SEELE's new mass-produced Evangelion units dismember her and Unit 02, leaving her for dead. Breaking free of the bakelite, Unit 01 ascends above NERV headquarters. From the cockpit, Shinji witnesses the mass-produced units carrying the mutilated remains of Unit 02 and screams.

Gendo attempts to merge with Rei, who has the soul of Lilith, an angel hidden beneath NERV headquarters, to begin Third Impact. Having merged with another angel, Adam, Gendo will become a god if he merges with Lilith; however, Rei rejects Gendo, absorbs Adam and reunites with Lilith, and her body grows to gargantuan size. The mass-produced Evangelion units pull Unit 01 into the sky and crucify it, beginning the ritual to initiate Third Impact.

After several dreamlike contemplations, including a fight with Asuka, Shinji decides that he is alone and everyone in the world should die. In response, Rei/Lilith dissolves humanity back into primordial soup, reforming the souls of humanity into a single consciousness. Initially accepting this new state, Shinji feels that there is no happiness in the real world. However, he rejects it when he realizes that life is about experiencing joy, as well as pain. Rei/Lilith dies and Asuka and Shinji rematerialize in an apocalyptic landscape. Shinji begins to strangle Asuka, but when she caresses his face, he stops and breaks down in tears.

Cast

Character[3] Japanese English
Shinji Ikari Megumi Ogata Spike Spencer
Rei Ayanami Megumi Hayashibara Amanda Winn-Lee
Asuka Langley Soryu Yūko Miyamura Tiffany Grant
Kaworu Nagisa Akira Ishida Aaron Krohn
Misato Katsuragi Kotono Mitsuishi Allison Keith
Gendo Ikari Fumihiko Tachiki Tristan MacAvery
Kozo Fuyutsuki Motomu Kiyokawa Michael Ross
Ritsuko Akagi Yuriko Yamaguchi Sue Ulu
Makoto Hyuga Miki Nagasawa Keith Burgess
Shigeru Aoba Takehito Koyasu Jason C. Lee
Maya Ibuki Miki Nagasawa Amy Seeley
Keel Lorentz Mugihito Tom Booker
Yui Ikari Megumi Hayashibara Amanda Winn-Lee
Ryoji Kaji Kōichi Yamadera Aaron Krohn
Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu Maria Kawamura Kimberly Yates

Production

The ambiguous ending of original Evangelion TV series left several viewers and critics confused and unsatisfied.[4] The final two episodes were possibly the most controversial segments of an already controversial series[5] and were received as flawed and incomplete by many.[6] Director Hideaki Anno received death threats from some fans dissatisfied with the ending.[7] However, Anno and assistant director Kazuya Tsurumaki defended the artistic integrity of the finale.[8][9]

Gainax launched the project to create a film ending for the series in 1997, first releasing Death & Rebirth as a condensed character-based recap and re-edit of the TV series (Death) and the first half of the new ending (Rebirth, which was originally intended to be the full ending, but could not be finished due to budget and time constraints). The project was completed later in the year and released as The End of Evangelion.

Music

See also: Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion § The End of Evangelion

Regular series composer Shirō Sagisu scored The End of Evangelion. The film prominently features selections of Johann Sebastian Bach's music throughout the movie. Episode 25' has the Japanese title Air, being named after the Air on the G String which is played during the episode. Among the other pieces included are Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major (I. Prélude), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (transcribed for piano and later played again with string instruments in the end credits), and Pachelbel's Canon.

Among the other insert songs are "Komm, süsser Tod" (Come, Sweet Death), an upbeat song (which appears in the film at the beginning of Instrumentality), "THANATOS -If I Can't Be Yours", which is played in both the end credits and the credits to episode 25' (the song is based around "THANATOS", a background music piece used in the series). Another song, "Everything You've Ever Dreamed", was recorded for the film by the same vocalist (Arianne) as "Komm, süsser Tod", but was not used and was later included on the Refrain of Evangelion soundtrack.

Interpretation

In the final scene of The End of Evangelion, Shinji and Asuka have separated themselves from the collective human existence. Shinji begins strangling Asuka, but when she caresses his face, he stops and breaks down in tears. Asuka then utters the film's last line, "気持ち悪い," which has been variously translated into English as "I feel sick" or "disgusting".[10] The meaning of the scene is obscure[11] and has been controversial.[12]

Release

The End of Evangelion was first released in Japanese theaters on July 19, 1997. Between its release and October 1997, the film grossed 1.45 billion yen.[13] The film was later distributed on Laserdisc in Japan. It also included the first release of the video versions of Episodes 21–24. The film was split up into two 40-minute episodes with brief intros (similar to episode 22), edited credits (for each episode instead of credits for both between the two), redone eyecatcher-textboards (showing "Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode..." instead of "The End of Evangelion Episode...") and a next-episode-preview section in Episode 25'. The episodic version of the film was on the last two discs of the Laserdisc release of the series (Genesis 0:13 and 0:14 respectively), each containing 2 episodes (the original TV episodes and the new End of Evangelion episodes respectively), although the film was also released in its original cinematic form on VHS, Laserdisc, and later DVD. The script was serialized in 4 issues of Dragon Magazine from August 1997 to January 1998. The movie was released on Blu-ray along with Death and Rebirth and the TV series in a box set on August 26, 2015. [14]

In 2006, The End of Evangelion was shown theatrically as part of the Tokyo International Film Festival in Akihabara.[15]

Red Cross Book

The Red Cross Book (as it is unofficially known, for the large red St George's Cross on its cover) was an A-4-sized pamphlet sold in Japanese theaters during the release of The End of Evangelion.[16][17][18] The book was written by Gainax and various production staff of the Evangelion TV series and films, with an interview with Tsurumaki, a listing of voice actors and brief essays written by them on their respective characters, short biographical sketches, commentary on the TV series and production of the films, a "Notes" section covering the setting of the films, and a glossary of terms used in the series, manga, and the two films. The Red Cross Book was left out in the Manga Entertainment release due to copyright issues.[19] However, it was translated by fans of the series.[20][21]

Distribution

In North America, ADV Films, the license holder and distributor for the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, declined to license The End of Evangelion and the associated films, with Manga Entertainment "reportedly [paying] around 2 million dollars" for the rights.[22] Rei Ayanami's English voice actress Amanda Winn Lee wrote the film's script for its English subtitled and dubbed adaptations, and produced and directed the dub.[23] The cast consisted of mostly voice actors reprising their roles from ADV's English adaptation of the TV series, with several supporting roles recast because the original actors were unavailable. To accommodate voice actors living in different parts of the country, the dub was recorded in three locations: Los Angeles, Houston and New York City.[24]

In discussing the film's English dub, Mike Crandol of Anime News Network determined that "the remarkably strong performances of the main cast overshadow the weaker voice work present", though he criticized the script for being "slightly hammy" in parts. Crandol praised the final exchange between Spike Spencer (Shinji) and Allison Keith's (Misato) characters as "one of the most beautiful vocal performances to ever grace an anime".[25]

The End of Evangelion: Renewal

A new version of The End of Evangelion was released on June 25, 2003 in Japan by Starchild and King Records as part of the Renewal of Evangelion box set (which compiled "new digitally remastered versions of the 26 TV show episodes, 4 remade-for-Laserdisc episodes, and 3 theatrical features" as well as "a bonus disc with never-before-seen material").[26]

This version of the film joins the "recap" film Evangelion: Death with End and omits the Rebirth segment from the first film. Also, on the aforementioned bonus disc is a previously unreleased deleted scene shot in live-action with voice actors Megumi Hayashibara, Yūko Miyamura, and Kotono Mitsuishi portraying their characters, 10 years after the events of Evangelion. In this continuity, Shinji does not exist and Asuka has a sexual relationship with Toji Suzuhara. The sequence concludes with a male voice (implied to be Shinji's) saying, "This isn't it, I am not here," proving it is a false reality seen through his eyes.[27] Manga Entertainment announced in 2006 that it was "ironing out the contracts" to release the Renewal versions of Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion the next year,[28] though their rights to the film have since expired.[29]

Reception

End of Evangelion won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize for 1997 and the Japan Academy Prize for "Biggest Public Sensation of the Year"[30] and was given the "Special Audience Choice Award" by the 1997 Animation Kobe.[31] EX.org ranked the film in 1999 as the fifth best 'All-Time Show' (with the TV series at #2).[32]

In Japan, between its release and October 1997, The End of Evangelion grossed 1.45 billion yen.[33] Manga artist Nobuhiro Watsuki wrote:

Newtype USA reviewed the film as a "saga of bamboozlement". It also criticized the film's "more biblical overtones, teen melo-drama and bad parenting" and that "for some frustrated viewers, these DVDs might bring on the '4th impact' hurling these DVDs against the wall."[35] Manga Entertainment CEO Marvin Gleicher criticized the Newtype review as "biased and disrespectful" and a "facile and vapid" product of "ignorance and lack of research".[36]

Many reviews focused on the audio-visual production; Sight and Sound editorialized that "narrative coherence seems a lesser concern to the film-makers than the launching of a sustained audio-visual assault. The kaleidoscopic imagery momentarily topples into live action for the baffling climax...",[37] an assessment echoed by critic Mark Schilling.[38] Mike Crandol of Anime News Network gave the film an overall passing grade and described it as "a visual marvel". He described the DVD release as "a mixed bag", expressing displeasure over the "unremarkable" video presentation and overall lack of extra material.[25] David Uzumeri of ComicsAlliance summarized the film as "a dark, brutal, psychedelic orgy of sex and violence that culminated in the mass extinction of humanity set to an optimistic J-pop song with lyrics about suicide." Uzumeri also stated that the "themes of [Neon Genesis Evangelion] criticizing the audience for being spineless and lost in a fantasy world were cranked up to eleven, as the protagonist Shinji basically watches everybody die around him due to his refusal to make any effort whatsoever to engage with other people."[39]

Legacy

In a 2008 article for Slant Magazine, writer Michael Peterson wrote that "it was not until the End of Evangelion film that Anno's visual strengths as a director really stood out". He observed that "Anno, like David Lynch, possesses a skill at framing his shots, and using the attendant color, to create visual compositions that stand out not only as beautiful in the story's context, but also as individual images, a painterly quality that he then applies back to the work. When Anno frames an image, the power of that specific image becomes a tool that he can later refer back to for an instantaneous emotional and intellectual response."[40]

Carlos Ross of Them Anime Reviews compared the tone of the film to The Blair Witch Project in that it deconstructed the series while "cashing in" on it. He was especially critical of the film's entire second half by saying:

Schilling reviewed the film as more than a deconstruction, but an attempt at unification of mediums:

"Despite the large cast of characters, decades-spanning story, and a profusion of twenty-first-century jargon, much of it borrowed from early Christian sources, the film is essentially a Power Rangers episode writ large: i.e., super-teens piloting big, powerful machines and saving the world from monsters. We've seen it all before. What we haven't seen, however, is the way the film zaps back and forth through time, slams through narrative shifts and flashes explanatory text, in billboard-sized Chinese characters, at mind-bending speed. It's a hyper-charged phantasmagoria that defies easy comprehension, while exerting a hypnotic fascination. Watching, one becomes part of the film's multimedia data stream.
Shinseiki Evangelion is looking forward, toward an integration of all popular media - television, manga, movies, and video games - into new forms in which distinctions between real and virtual, viewer and viewed, man and machine, become blurred and finally cease to matter. O Brave New World, that has such animation in it."[42]

Chris Beveridge of Mania.com described the film as "work[ing] on so many levels", but cautions that it is not meant to be watched without having seen the rest of the series.[43]

The End of Evangelion is frequently ranked among the greatest anime films. Patrick Macias of TokyoScope ranked it one of his 10 greatest films,[44] and the best anime movie of the 1990s;[45] CUT film magazine ranked it third on its list of the top 30 best anime films.[46]

In 2014, Time Out New York ranked the film at #65 on its list of the top 100 animated movies as voted for by filmmakers.[2] Critic Keith Uhlich described the film as an "immensely satisfying" conclusion to the TV series, the climax as "an end-times free-for-all that mixes Christian symbology, Jewish mysticism, sexual paranoia and teenage angst into a searing apocalyptic stew," filled with "sights and sounds you'll never forget," and Shinji's line, "I'm so fucked up," as the most memorable quote.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Evangelion: 1.0 is Now Top Grossing Eva Movie". Anime News Network. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Rothkopf, Joshua (15 April 2014). "The 100 best animated movies: Full list". Time Out. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ^ Anime News Network. "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (movie)". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  4. ^ "The kaleidoscopic imagery momentarily topples into live action for the baffling climax, which alternates Disneyesque bromides ("Truth lies in your heart") with metaphysical blather ("So long as the earth, sun and moon exist, everything will be alright.")." Sight and Sound (2003)
  5. ^ "The stunning originality of these final episodes cannot be overstated … the series deals with these elements in breathtakingly creative ways to create a unique and memorable vision of inner and outer collapse, and, perhaps, renewal. It should be noted that many viewers were outraged by the two final episodes. Expecting a more conventional end-of-the-world scenario, fans were baffled and indignant that, instead of outward explosions and satisfying combat, the cataclysmic struggle occurred wholly in the character's mind." "In these last two episodes the machines have literally stopped, and both characters and viewers are left with no recourse but to confront their/our own flawed humanity in all its desperation and insecurities without the technological armor of the typical sf text." pg 427 and pg 428 respectively of Napier 2002
  6. ^ "The End of Evangelion: Commentary". EvaOtaku.com. 20 February 1998.
  7. ^ "Anno Hideaki allegedly created the two episodes contained here in response to death threats from fans dissatisfied with the original conclusion to his anime sci-fi saga." Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion, M.L., Sight and Sound, vol 13, issue 4, April 2003; pg 59
  8. ^ "Lately due to the ending of episodes #25 and #26, some people started watching Evangelion. They were not anime fans. In fact many of them are females and they tell me that they really enjoyed episode #25, objectively. Most anime fans are furious. I understand their anger. I can't help laughing when hard-core anime fans say that we did a very lousy job, with intentional negligence. No we didn't. No staff members did a lousy job. In fact, every member at Gainax gave more energy than anybody can imagine. I feel sad that those fans couldn't see our efforts. Personally I think the original TV ending we showed ended up beautifully." Hideaki Anno, Protoculture Addicts 43
  9. ^ "My opinion was, 'Why don't we show them the entire process including our breakdown." You know — make it a work that shows everything including our inability to create a satisfactory product. I figured that, "In 10 years or so, if we look back on something that we made while we were drunk out of our minds, we wouldn't feel bad even if the quality wasn't so good.'
    Q: Really?" "KT – So, no matter what the final form, I feel it was great just being able to make it to the end of the TV series. " Tsurumaki interview, RCB
  10. ^ "Current Info" - (a personal FAQ page by Tiffany Grant)
  11. ^ "Understanding Evangelion". Anime News Network. Retrieved 29 August 2011. By opening their hearts to one another Shinji and Asuka at last have a chance at happiness. Unfortunately the brutality of this scene obscures its tender meaning, and the Evangelion saga ends on a dour note despite reprising the positive message from its television conclusion.
  12. ^ "Review - The End of Evangelion". Anime News Network. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  13. ^ December 1997 NewType, p.90
  14. ^ "Evangelion Gets New Japanese Blu-Ray, DVD Boxes". Anime News Network. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Exclusive Screening Report: Shin Seiki Evangelion Movies Death (True)2 / Air / Magokoro Wo, Kimi Ni (The End Of Evangelion) At animecs T!FF In Akihabara 2006"
  16. ^ Moure, Dani (21 March 2001). "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Special Edition Movies Box Set". Mania. Retrieved 1 January 2011. ...the data here is translated from the "Red Cross Book", a source of oodles of information made for sale as the programme book for the movie in Japanese cinemas. It's extremely comprehensive and it's a good way of presenting the data
  17. ^ "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth DVD". Animefringe. August 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  18. ^ "AICN Anime Report". Ain't it Cool News. 28 November 2001. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  19. ^ "Manga Entertainment Press Panel: Metreon Festival of Anime"". Archived from the original on February 2, 2002. Retrieved September 14, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Answerman: Late To Work". Anime News Network. 23 July 2002. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  21. ^ "The Top 25 Must-Visit Anime Websites". Animefringe.
  22. ^ "October 8-14 Anime News". Anime News Service. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  23. ^ The End of Evangelion (DVD). Los Angeles, California: Manga Entertainment. 2002.
  24. ^ Lee, Amanda Winn; Lee, Jason C. (2002). Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth DVD commentary (DVD). Manga Entertainment.
  25. ^ a b Crandol, Mike (24 September 2002). "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  26. ^ "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Renewal of Evangelion DVD-BOX". Mania. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  27. ^ The first half (roughly) of End of Evangelion live-action sequence on YouTube
  28. ^ "SDCC: Manga Entertainment Announces A New Co-Pro; Talks "Karas," "Eva" And "GitS"". Toon Zone. 22 July 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  29. ^ Sargento Soma - ANNCast. Anime News Network (November 6, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-12-28.
  30. ^ "MY EMPIRE OF DIRT: The End of Evangelion". J-pop.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 1999. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Animation Kobe 1997: An Attendee's Report". Archived from the original on July 12, 2000. Retrieved February 14, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "1998 Animage Grand Prix Results". EX media. 16 May 1999. Archived from the original on 3 October 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  33. ^ December 1997 Newtype, p.90[title missing]
  34. ^ Act 147, Rurouni Kenshin volume 17, ISBN 1-59116-876-7
  35. ^ Newtype USA issue 1 pg 157[title missing]
  36. ^ "Manga Criticizes Newtype". Anime News Network. 8 November 2002. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  37. ^ Light and Sound 2003
  38. ^ "[EoE] throws so much visual and narrative data at its audience, including titles zapping by at almost subliminal speed, that total comprehension is all but impossible. The experience is similar to watching a kid play a Final Fantasy video game at warp speed or flipping through a Shonen Jump comic in a blur". Contemporary Japanese Film review, Mark Schilling, ISBN 0-8348-0415-8, pg 334
  39. ^ "Alan Moore x Hideaki Anno: Their Failed Assassinations of Their Genres". Comicsalliance.com. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ "The Economy of Visual Language: Neon Genesis Evangelion". Slantmagazine.com. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  41. ^ Ross, Carlos. "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion". THEM Anime Reviews. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  42. ^ Contemporary Japanese Film 1999
  43. ^ Beveridge, Chris (30 September 2002). "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion". Mania.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  44. ^ Top Tens - Archive of Lists (2003) - Senses of Cinema. Archive.sensesofcinema.com. Retrieved on December 28, 2010.
  45. ^ "TokyoScope's Patrick Macias found them magnificent bastards, actually, judging The End of Evangelion the most important anime film of the past decade and a considerably more progressive work than that year's other cel-phenom, Princess Mononoke." https://web.archive.org/web/20060822225929/http://www.pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl.shtml
  46. ^ "An Eternal Thought in the Mind of Godzilla". Patrick Macias. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2009. The new issue of Japanese film magazine CUT is about to street....Anyways, here is CUT's list of the 30 Greatest Anime Films of all-time, forever, always, never changing, no arguments. And for the record, I agree with about 5 of them....3. End of Evangelion
Wikiquote has quotations related to The End of Evangelion.
This page is about the film. For the game based on the film, see Chicken Run (video game).

Chicken Run
UK theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay byKarey Kirkpatrick
Story by
  • Peter Lord
  • Nick Park
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byMark Solomon
Music by
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 23 June 2000 (2000-06-23) (US)
  • 30 June 2000 (2000-06-30) (UK)
Running time
84 minutes
Country
  • United Kingdom[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$45 million[2]
Box office$225 million[2]

Chicken Run is a 2000 British stop-motion comedy-drama film produced by the British studio Aardman Animations. As the studio's first feature-length film, it was directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park.[3] It was co-financed by DreamWorks Pictures and Pathé, with the former distributing the film worldwide except for Europe, where it was handled by Pathé.[4] The plot centres on a band of chickens who see a smooth-talking Rhode Island Red named Rocky as their only hope to escape from certain death when the owners of their farm decide to move from selling eggs to selling chicken pot pies. The film features the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Timothy Spall, Phil Daniels, Tony Haygarth, and Miranda Richardson. Chicken Run received positive reviews from critics, and grossed over $224 million, becoming the highest-grossing stop motion animated film ever.[5]

Plot

Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy run a failing chicken farm in Yorkshire; the chickens are caged in the style of a prison camp with a high fence and barbed wire, and two dogs patrol the grounds. Chickens that fail to produce enough eggs are slaughtered for food. Frustrated at the "minuscule profits" generated by the farm, Mrs. Tweedy comes up with the idea of converting their farm into the automated production of chicken pot pies.

One chicken, Ginger, has long had visions of escaping with the help of her hen friends Babs, Bunty, and Mac, and two black-marketer rats, Nick and Fetcher, who help to acquire "contraband" from the Tweedys to aid Ginger's plans. However, she is always caught and put into solitary confinement. While thinking of a new plan, Ginger witnesses a Rhode Island Red cockerel fly over the fence and crash into one of the coops, spraining his wing. Ginger and the other chickens help to hide him from the Tweedys and care for his wing, learning that his name is Rocky. Ginger is particularly interested in Rocky's ability to fly and begs him to help train her and the other chickens to do the same. Rocky is coy, but proceeds to try to help train the chickens, unable to fully demonstrate due to his broken wing. Meanwhile, Mr. Tweedy begins assembling their pie-making production line, and the chicken's food ration is doubled to fatten them.

Amid the training, Rocky holds a large party to help relieve the stress; it is revealed his wing is healed, and Ginger insists he show them how to fly the next day. However, Mr. Tweedy completes the production line and immediately grabs Ginger for a test run. Rocky is able to save Ginger and helps to damage the machine, giving the chickens only a short time to plan to escape while Mr. Tweedy repairs it. When morning arrives, Ginger finds Rocky has fled, leaving behind a part of a poster that shows him to be a stunt cockerel, shot out of a cannon from a nearby circus and unable to fly by himself. Ginger and the other chickens are depressed. Fowler the cockerel tries to cheer the hens up by telling tales from his days as a Royal Air Force mascot, leading Ginger to the idea of creating a flying machine, called the Old Crate, to flee the Tweedys. All the chickens, with help from the rats, secretly assemble the required parts for the plane from their coops while racing against Mr. Tweedy's repairs. While travelling the countryside, Rocky sees a billboard for Mrs. Tweedy's Chicken Pies and is inspired to go back to help.

With the machine now fixed, Mrs. Tweedy insists that Mr. Tweedy gather all the chickens, but the chickens are ready to escape. They knock Mr. Tweedy out and tie him up long enough to complete assembly of their plane. Just before they take off, Rocky returns and joins them. Whilst taking off, Mrs. Tweedy chases them down and catches onto a Christmas light strand snagged in the wheels. Mrs. Tweedy climbs the strand, intent on chopping Ginger's head off, while Ginger races to sever the strand. Ginger manages to trick Mrs. Tweedy into cutting the strand with her hatchet, sending her straight into the safety valve of the pie machine and plugging it, causing the machine to build pressure in its gravy line and explodes, destroying the machine and the barn. The chickens continue their flight to freedom, eventually establishing their own sanctuary far away from the farm.

Later, the chickens have found a quiet island where they can enjoy their freedom and raise their chicks, while Ginger and Rocky have developed a romantic relationship. Nick and Fetcher decide to start their own chicken farm for eggs but disagree on whether to have the chicken or the egg first.

In a scene during the credits, Nick and Fetcher continue to argue about the theory but are interrupted by Rocky telling them to be a little quieter. They apologize, but silently insult him and criticize him for his supposed "big shot" personality, proclaiming themselves to be the movie's stars.

Cast

  • Julia Sawalha as Ginger, who is determined to save her fellow chickens from their impending doom on the Tweedys' farm. She is usually the one that comes up with the ideas and is generally more intelligent than the other chickens.
  • Mel Gibson as Rocky the Rhode Island Red (or Rhodes for short), an American cockerel who crash-lands into the farm after getting distracted by Ginger, spinning on a weathervane, and bouncing off some telephone wires.
  • Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Tweedy, an evil, wicked, cruel, selfish, greedy, sadistic, and cantankerous egg farmer who decides to convert her farm into a chicken pot pie factory solely for monetary reasons.
  • Tony Haygarth as Mr. Tweedy, Mrs. Tweedy's oafish henpecked husband. Despite his oafishness, he is more suspicious than his wife of the chickens' escape plans, and he correctly identifies Ginger as their leader.
  • Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler, a feisty elderly cockerel who regularly prattles about his Royal Air Force experiences.
  • Timothy Spall as Nick, a smart, portly rat who smuggles contraband into the compound.
  • Phil Daniels as Fetcher, Nick's slim, slow-witted partner.
  • Jane Horrocks as Babs, a stout hen with a dim-witted innocence and a love of knitting.
  • Imelda Staunton as Bunty, the champion egg-layer and group cynic who is the most sceptical of Ginger's escape plans.
  • Lynn Ferguson as Mac, Ginger's brainy Scottish assistant.

Production

Chicken Run was Aardman Animations's first feature-length production, which would be executive produced by Jake Eberts. Nick Park and Peter Lord, who runs Aardman, directed the film,[6] while Karey Kirkpatrick scripted the film with additional input from Mark Burton and John O'Farrell. Chicken Run was first conceived in 1995 by Aardman co-founder Peter Lord and Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park. Pathe agreed to finance Chicken Run in 1996 putting their finances into Script Development and Model Design. DreamWorks officially came on board in 1997.[4][7] DreamWorks beat out studios like Disney, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. and largely won due to the perseverance of DreamWorks co-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg; as a company they were eager to make their presence felt in the animation market in an attempt to compete with Disney's dominance of the field.[4] Katzenberg explained that he had "been chasing these guys for five or six years, ever since I first saw Creature Comforts."[4] DreamWorks secured their first animated feature with the film, and they handled distribution in all territories except Europe, which Pathé handled.[4] The two studios co-financed the film.[4] DreamWorks also retains rights to worldwide merchandising.[4] During the production of the film, 30 sets were used with 80 animators working along with 180 people working overall. Despite this, one minute of film was completed with each week of filming.[7]

Reception

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 97% approval rating with an average rating of 8.1/10 based on 170 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular."[8] The film also holds a score of 88 based on 34 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim."[9]

Box office

On opening weekend, the film grossed $17,506,162 for a $7,027 average from 2,491 theatres. Overall, the film placed second behind Me, Myself and Irene.[10] In its second weekend, the film held well as it slipped only 25% to $13,192,897 for a $4,627 average from expanding to 2,851 theatres and finishing in fourth place.[11] The film's widest release was 2,953 theatres, after grossing $106,834,564 domestically with an additional $118,000,000 overseas for a worldwide total of $224,834,564. Produced on a $45 million budget, the film was a huge box office hit. To date, it is the highest grossing stop motion animated movie.

Home media

Chicken Run was released on VHS and DVD on November 21, 2000.[12]

Accolades

Group Category (Recipient) Result
Annie Awards[13] Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Theatrical Feature Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production (Nick Park and Peter Lord) Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production (Karey Kirkpatrick) Nominated
BAFTA Awards[14] Best British Film Nominated
Best Visual Effects Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics[15] Best Animated Feature Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics[16] Won
Empire Awards Best British Director (Nick Park and Peter Lord) Nominated
Best British Film Nominated
Best Debut (Nick Park and Peter Lord) Nominated
European Film Awards[17] Best Film Nominated
Florida Film Critics[18] Best Animated Feature Won
Genesis Awards[19] Best Feature Film Won
Golden Globe Awards[20] Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Nominated
Golden Tomato Awards 2000[21] Best Films Won
Kansas City Film Critics[22] Best Animated Feature Won
Las Vegas Film Critics[23] Best Family Film Won
Los Angeles Film Critics[24] Best Animated Feature Won
National Board of Review[25] Won
New York Film Critics[26] Won
Phoenix Film Critics[27] Won
Best Family Film Won
Best Original Score (John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams) Nominated
Satellite Awards[28][29] Best Motion Picture - Animated or Mixed Media Won
Best Sound Nominated
Southeastern Film Critics[30] Best Film Nominated

Soundtrack

John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams composed and produced the music for the film, which was released on 20 June 2000 under the RCA Victor label.[31][32][33]

All music is composed by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams, except as noted

No.TitleLength
1."Opening Escape"3:39
2."Main Titles"3:24
3."The Evil Mr. Tweedy"4:22
4."Rats!"1:09
5."Chickens Are Not Organized"1:01
6."We Need a Miracle"2:03
7."Rocky and the Circus"3:51
8."Flight Training"3:39
9."A Really Big Truck Arrives"5:56
10."Cocktails and Flighty Thoughts"1:58
11."Babs' Big Break"1:40
12."Flip, Flop and Fly" (composed by Charles Calhoun and Lou Willie Turner, and performed by Ellis Hall)2:09
13."Up on the Roof"3:08
14."Into the Pie Machine"3:10
15."Rocky, a Fake All Along"3:28
16."Building the Crate"3:32
17."The Wanderer" (composed by Ernest Peter Maresca, and performed by Dion)2:47
18."The Chickens Are Revolting"2:45
19."Lift Off"3:41
20."Escape to Paradise"4:59
Total length:62:21

Video game

Main article: Chicken Run (video game)

Chicken Run is a stealth-based 3-D platformer based on the movie. The game is a loose parody of the film The Great Escape, which is set during World War II.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In July 2014, the film's North American distribution rights were purchased by DreamWorks Animation.[34]

References

  1. ^ "Chicken Run (2000)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Chicken Run". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Todd (12 June 2000). "Review: 'Chicken Run'". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Cox, Dan (3 December 1997). "D'Works' feat of clay". Variety. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  5. ^ "The Longer View: British animation". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  6. ^ Rex Weiner (10 April 1997). "Aardman on 'Run'". Variety. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  7. ^ a b Spall, Timothy (2000). Fowl Play: The Making of Chicken Run. Picture Production. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help)
  8. ^ "Chicken Run - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Chicken Run Movie Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  10. ^ Income weekend - 23-25 June 2000, Box Office Mojo
  11. ^ Income weekend - 30 June – 2 July 2000, Box Office Mojo
  12. ^ DeMott, Rick (22 November 2000). "Chicken Run Flies Into Stores". Animation World Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  13. ^ "28th Annual Annie". Annie Awards. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Bigger Better Baftas". Empire Online. 31 January 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  15. ^ Armstrong, Mark (19 December 2000). "Broadcast Critics Eat Crowe". E! Online UK. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  16. ^ Reifsteck, Greg (8 January 2001). "Dallas crix pick 'Traffic'". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Billy aims to conquer Europe". BBC News. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Traffic is Florida favourite". BBC News. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  19. ^ "FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, February 27, 2001". E! Online UK. 27 February 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  20. ^ DeMott, Rick (21 December 2000). "Chicken Run Lays A Golden Globe Nom". Animated World Network. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  21. ^ Reifsteck, Greg (18 December 2000). "The 2nd Annual Golden Tomato Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  22. ^ "KCFCC Award Winners – 2000-09". Kansas City Film Critics Circle. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  23. ^ Scherzer, Barbara (26 December 2000). "Las Vegas critics fete 'Erin,' 'Gladiator'". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  24. ^ King, Susan. "'Crouching Tiger' Wins Top Prize from L.A. Critics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 September 2014. 17 December 2000
  25. ^ King, Susan (7 December 2000). "'Quills' Named Best Film by National Board of Review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Traffic wows New York critics". BBC News. 14 December 2000. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  27. ^ "Flashes From the week of January 18, 2001". Phoenix New Times. 18 January 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  28. ^ Reifsteck, Greg (18 December 2000). "'Gladiator,' 'Traffic' lead Golden Sat noms". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  29. ^ Minotta, Mauricio (31 July 2011). "'Traffic,' 'Betty' Are Golden". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  30. ^ "2000 SEFCA Best Films of the Year". Southeastern Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on 13 June 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  31. ^ "Chicken Run [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - John Powell | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  32. ^ "Amazon.com: Chicken Run: Music". Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  33. ^ "Chicken Run Soundtrack (2000)". Soundtrack.Net. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  34. ^ Chney, Alexandra (29 July 2014). "DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed". Variety. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
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