Hello, I do hope you are all enjoying what remains of your Summer holidays. You’ve probably seen a bucket load of films over the past couple of months, but there’s always room for more! As the latest Bank Holiday roles in, why not enjoy some more film features to close out Summer 2022. Cinema prices too high? DVD prices too dear? Well fear no more, because you can watch all four of this month’s films absolutely free as many times as you want! The theme for this month is ‘Anonymous Animation’, as such each film is an animated feature that has flown undeservedly under the radar since its release or simply hasn’t had the recognition it truly deserves.
We begin with a 90’s classic, James and the Giant Peach (1996). An adaptation of the 1961 Roald Dahl novel of the same name (which of course is also available to read in the Library), the feature film was directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton himself (both of whom collaborated together on such hits as, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline). It contains a stellar voice cast which only makes it better, including: Dame Joanna Lumley (Ab Fab: The Movie), Miriam Margolyes (Harry Potter), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise) and David Thewlis (Wonder Woman). Set in the Summer of 1958, it the story follows James Henry Trotter; a young orphan living with his two sadistic Aunties, Spiker (Lumley) and Sponge (Margolyes); and his desire to go an adventure away from home.
One day, after rescuing a spider from his vile aunties, James meets a mysterious older man who gifts him magical crocodile tongues. The tongues then grow an enormous peach, which is exploited by the Aunties as a tourist attraction. At night, James (sick of his Aunties behaviour) attempts to eat through the peach, only to find a pit with several human-sized talking insects inside. Desperate to run away, James allows one of said insects to sever the stem of the fruit causing it to roll away into the Atlantic Ocean and thus he and his new friends set out on adventure, travelling to New York (a place his parents had always wanted to visit before their untimely passing). Incurring many obstacles and having lots of fun along the way. This fantastical combination of live-action and stop-motion animation received highly positive reviews for its story and its visuals, as well as a glowing endorsement from Dahl’s widow for its faithful adaptation.
Our next animated epic was just a year later and had a sizeable influence on the cinema industry everywhere, Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke (1997). Directed the studio stalwart Hayao Miyazaki, it was responsible for putting both Studio Ghibli and Japanese animation on the map as they say. The English dub version was released in 1999 (with a script by the great Neil Gaiman himself) and features the voices of Claire Danes (Romeo + Juliet), Gillian Anderson (Johnny English Reborn) and Billy Crudup (Watchmen). In the film, set in the late Muromachi period of Japanese history (1336-1573); an Emishi (ancient ethnic group) village is attached by a hideous demon. The last Prince, Ashitaka bravely fights and kills it before it reaches the village, but is wounded himself and cursed. The curse grants him incredible abilities but also comes with a death sentence.
After the demon that attacked is revealed to be a boar god, the village’s wise woman informs the Prince where he might be able to find a possible cure for himself (the western lands that were home to the demon), additionally informing him that he can never again return to his homeland once he departs. Ashitaka embarks upon an inspiring and magical journey to the west to find The Great Forest spirit to try and cure himself. Along the way he meets a young girl called San and a whole host of wonderful creatures. A tale of nature versus civilisation, Princess Mononoke received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and is ranked 26th in The Top 50 greatest animated films lists of both Time Out and Total Film magazine (quite a feat I assure you). It sold extremely well on DVD and video and greatly increased Studio Ghibli and anime’s popularity and influence in world cinema.
The penultimate pick for this month features is much more classical type of animation, hand-drawn. Most famous for its use in Disney films of 1980’s and 90s, especially its fairy-tales. Although the fairy-tale we will look at is a bit more modern, the 49th Disney animated feature, The Princess and the Frog (2009). Directed by well-known Disney collaborating duo John Musker & Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Treasure Planet and Moana), it is of course loosely based on 2002 novel The Frog Princess (E.D. Baker) which was in turn based on the Brothers Grimm’s The Frog Prince (whose dark folktales have been used as the basis for many a Disney fairy-tale). Set in 1920’s New Orleans, it tells the story of Tiana, a hardworking waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant and Prince Naveen of Maldonia arrives in the city seeking to marry Tiana’s rich best friend Charlotte (for her family’s wealth).
At a ball in Naveen’s honour, he and his valet Lawrence are tricked into a false fortune reading by voodoo witch doctor named Facilier. As a consequence, Naveen is turned into a frog and Lawrence into Naveen (using a magic talisman), with Facilier intending for Lawrence to marry Charlotte instead and kill her father with a voodoo doll so he can gain her fortune for himself. Later, Tiana (working at the event) happens upon Naveen and after some pandering agrees to kiss him under the belief it will make him human again. It has the opposite affect instead, transforming her into a frog as well! As she is not a true princess. The two meet Louis an aspiring Jazz trumpeter while on the run (who also happens to be an Alligator) and he agrees to help them find another voodoo practitioner with the ability to transform them back. Along the way, unexpected feelings begin to grow between the two that may just be key to their survival.
Featuring the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Keith David (Platoon), Jim Cummings (a well renowned Disney voice actor for Winnie The Pooh among many other characters), Jenifer Lewis (Sister Act) and Frank Welker (voice of Fred Jones and Scooby Doo himself); this unexpected hit was Disney’s most successful film for 10 years at the time of release, and received 3 Oscar nominations. The animation, characters, music and themes were all heavily praised but the depiction of Louisiana Voodoo and its historical awareness were slightly criticized. The films popularity inspired a mini renaissance of the hand-drawn animation method and was incredibly significant for introducing the first African-American Disney princess.
From princesses to Pirates, are final animated marvel is the mostly missed swashbuckler comedy The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012). In some ways, we end where we began with this one, stop-motion animation. Produced by the incredible Aardman Animations studio (responsible for the likes of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep), it is based on the 2004 children’s novel by Gideon Defoe (the first in a five-part series). It was directed by Peter Lord (co-founder of Aardman) and features an all-star ensemble voice cast including: Hugh Grant (Love Actually, Notting Hill), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit series, Black Panther), Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter, Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture), David Tennant (How to Train Your Dragon series), Salma Hayek (Frida, Grown Ups) and Sir Lenny Henry.
In London 1837, Queen Victoria (Staunton) is informed that England now rules the entire ocean with exception of Pirates. Meanwhile at sea, The Pirate Captain (Grant) leads a close-knit band of amateur pirates looking to make a name for themselves. In order to prove his own worth to his crew, he enters ‘The Pirate of the Year’ competition (won by whoever plunders the most Gold). In between constantly failing to find much treasure they stumble upon the mysterious ship HMS Beagle and its only passenger, Charles Darwin (Tennant). They soon begin to realize that Darwin and Science in fact may yet be the key to victory, and teaming up they set out on an wild quest, engaging in several hilarious run-ins with the pirate despising Queen along the way. The Pirates! Was generally well received and was nominated for the 2013 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. A consensus on the review site Rotten Tomatoes also stated it, “represents some of the smartest, most skilfully animated fare that modern cinema has to offer.”
These four awesome animations may not be the most well-known but they are certainly all worth a watch, for the mastery it took to make them alone. The good news is, all four are available right now only on e-stream! Meaning you can watch them anywhere, anytime you like before or after you return to College in September.
Not sure how to access e-stream? Then simply click on the link below…
Bradford College Planet Estream.
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