Movie Type: Family-Oriented Adventure, Escape Film
Themes: Farm Life, Race Against Time, Heroic Mission
Main Cast: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks, Lynn Ferguson, Imelda Staunton
Release Year: 2000
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 85 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Aardman Animations, the British clay-animation studio that created a cult sensation (and won three Academy awards) with its short subjects featuring Wallace and Gromit, presents its first feature film, a mixture of comedy and adventure. Mrs. Tweedy (voice of Miranda Richardson) operates a chicken farm, where most of the birds have resigned themselves to a short and uneventful life of producing eggs and ending up as the main course of someone's Sunday dinner. But when Rocky (voice of Mel Gibson), a rooster from America, arrives on the farm, things begin to change. Rocky soon finds romance with a hen named Ginger (voice of Julia Sawalha) who longs for a better life and has been trying to find a way out of the farm for some time; together they devise a plan to escape to freedom. However, Rocky and Ginger soon find themselves racing against the clock when Mrs. Tweedy decides it's time to turn the entire flock into chicken pies. Nick Park, director of the Wallace and Gromit shorts, co-directed Chicken Run with Peter Lord, who produced several Aardman projects and created animation for the TV series Pee-Wee's Playhouse. The voice cast also includes Jane Horrocks, Phil Daniels, and Timothy Spall. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
This film marked the smashing feature-debut of Aardman Animations, the Oscar-winning model-animation studio from Britain that specializes in "Claymation." Co-directors Nick Park and Peter Lord have eliminated the jerky motion traditionally associated with the process through the use of high-tech models and computer-aided filming methods; the painstaking methodology results in a triumph of a family film, seamlessly blending a sly script, intelligent pacing, memorable visuals, and joyful vocal performances by stars Mel Gibson, Miranda Richardson, and Julia Sawalha. The barometer of a successful "kids picture" is whether there are enough laughs to keep adults entertained, and Chicken Run is Grade A on all counts. A box-office success, the film was also a triumph for the animation division of Dreamworks Pictures, the U.S. studio financing the project, which quickly re-upped with Aardman for another feature project. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Benjamin Whitrow - Fowler; Anthony Haygarth - Mr. Tweedy; Timothy Spall - Nick; Phil Daniels - Fetcher
Credit
Tim Farrington - Art Director, Lenny Young - Associate Producer, Patsy Pollock - Casting, Sally Taylor - Costume Designer, Fred de Bradeny - First Assistant Director, Nick Park - Director, Peter Lord - Director, Mark Solomon - Editor, Jake Eberts - Executive Producer, Jeffrey Katzenberg - Executive Producer, Michael Rose - Executive Producer, Carla Shelley - Line Producer, Harry Gregson-Williams - Composer (Music Score), John Powell - Composer (Music Score), Phil Lewis - Production Designer, Jan Sanger - Production Designer, Tristan Oliver - Cinematographer, Frank Passingham - Cinematographer, Nick Park - Producer, David Sproxton - Producer, Peter Lord - Producer, Alastair Green - Set Designer, Nick Park - Screen Story, Peter Lord - Screen Story, Karey Kirkpatrick - Screenwriter, Tom Barnes - Technical Director, Computer Film Co. - Digital Effects, Adrian Rhodes - Re-Recording Mixer, Loyd Price - Supervising Animator, Graham Headicar - Supervising Sound Editor, James Mather - Supervising Sound Editor, Dave Alex Riddett - Supervising Cinematographer, Mark Burton - Additional Dialogue, John O'Farrell - Additional Dialogue
In Chicken Run, players must help the chickens escape from Tweedy's Farm before they are all turned into pies. Throughout the game, players will take the roles of several main characters, including both Ginger and Rocky. It will require good planning, puzzle solving, and stealth to explore the whole farmyard and find the objects needed for escape.
Chicken Run is a one-player 3D escapade that aims to bring the adventure and comedy of the successful 2000 Aardman Animations film (Chicken Run) home to gamers. It features many of the settings and characters from the story and uses the original voices from the movie.
~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide
Production Credits
BLITZ GAMES Designed and Developed by: Blitz Games; Founded by: The Oliver Twins; Project Manager: Darren Wood; Team Leaders: Dave Flynn, David Manuel; Lead Programmer: Fred Williams; Programmers: Tom Drummond, David Harries, Barry Paterson, Chris Wilson; Tools Programming; James Steele, Chris Wilson; Game Designers, 3D Modelers, & Editors: Mark Beynon, Tony Cartwright, Dave Flynn, Tim King, Jonathan Walsh, Dave Whitehead; Texture Artist: Richard Jones; Character Animators: Neil Pettitt, Nick Adams, Tony Cartwright, David Manuel; Lighting: Mark Beynon, Dave Flynn, Simon Hayes, Tim King, Nadine Mathias, Jonathan Walsh, Dave Whitehead; Concept & Additional Texture Art: Simon Hayes; Additional Modeling: Chris Southall; Additional Programmers: Ian Bird, Steve Bond, Martyn Ash, Mike Higgs, Scott Lamb, Andy Sidwell, John Whigham, James Healey, Dave Swift; Compression Technology: Richard Hackett; Music and Sound Effects: Rob Lord; THANKS TO Aardman Animations: Clare Thalmann, James Hinton, Tracey Small, Loyd Price; Universal Studios: Iain Wakefield, Juliet Payne, David Wilson-Nunn; Dreamworks: Darin Grimes; Pathe: Steve O'Pray; Thanks Also to: Nigel Davies, Susie Thorburn, Roland Smythe, Alison Parker, Caroline Hart, Jackie Pinnock, Jacqui Lyons, Guy Herbert, The Emporium of Lard, A Certain High Energy Drink...and all at Blitz Games!; 1287 chicken pies were eaten by the team during the development of this game!; EIDOS INTERACTIVE Producer: Clayton Palma; Executive Producer: James Poole; VP of Marketing: Paul Baldwin; Marketing Director: Sean Amann; Product Manager: Dave DePaulis; Associate Product Manager: Brandon Suyeoka; PR Manager: Greg Rizzer; PR Specialist: Bryan Davies; Creative Services: Sutton Trout, Li Shen; Operations: Micheal Minson; Eidos Sales: Dave Cox, Gary Kinnsch, Dan Johnson, Jamie Bartolomei; QA Manager: Brian King; Lead Tester: Ralph Ortiz; Testers: Dan Franklin, Rob Swain, Fernando Robles, Andrew Tulley, Eric Werner; VOICE TALENTS Ginger: Tracy Wiles; Rocky: Marc Sild, Justin Fetcher; Mac: Lynn Ferguson; Fowler: Benjimin Whitrow; Babs: Annie Hulley; Bunty: Tracy Wiles; Nick: Marc Silk; Fetcher: Justin Fetcher; Mr. Tweedy: Tony Haygarth; Mrs. Tweedy: Miranda Richardson; Generic Chicken: Annie Hulley; Manual Written by: The Wright Stuff; Manual Design & Layout: A Creative Experience
The Tweedys run a chicken farm in Yorkshire, England, in the manner of a World War IIPOW camp. One chicken, Ginger, continually tries to get the chickens to escape from the coop using various plans and contraband obtained through two rats, Nick and Fetcher. However, Ginger is always caught by Mr. Tweedy and his dogs, and while she is kept in solitary confinement, she comes to realize their only hope of escape is to fly over the coop's fence.
Mrs. Tweedy, struggling to keep the farm financially viable on dwindling egg production, decides to convert the farm from egg production to chicken pies, and orders a giant pie-making machine. While the Tweedys await delivery, a Rhode Island Red rooster named Rocky Rhodes appears to "fly" into the coop, though harming his wing on landing. While the other chickens faun over him, Ginger convinces Rocky to help teach them how to fly. Rocky puts the chickens through seemingly-futile exercises while he tends to his injured wing. At the same time, the Tweedys provide the chickens with more food in order to make them plumper for their pies. The pie-making machine soon arrives, and as Mr. Tweedy begins construction, Ginger realizes what Mrs. Tweedy's plan is, and that they have very limited time to escape. With the machine completed, Mr. Tweedy attempts to put Ginger through the machine, but she is saved by Rocky, and they are able to disable the machine, giving themselves some more time while Mr. Tweedy tends to its repair.
The next day, Ginger finds Rocky has fled, leaving behind part of a poster that explains that he was a circus, only "flying" after being launched out of a cannon. Ginger and the other chickens lose hope of escape when Ginger recalls that Fowler, the farm's rooster, was once an honorary member of the Royal Air Force. With Fowler's knowledge, they begin working hastily to create a aeroplane, pedal-powered by the chickens themselves, in secret from Mr. Tweedy, who has become suspect of the chickens' ingenuity. The craft is soon finished at the same time that the repairs on the pie-making machine are completed. As Mr. Tweedy attempts to grab the chickens, he is knocked out by the timely arrival of Rocky, who has returned to help save the chickens.
The chickens quickly assemble their plane and attempt to take off, despite Mr. Tweedy's attempt to stop them. Mrs. Tweedy hears the commotion outside, and, armed with a cleaver, is able to grab onto a string of lights from the plane before it takes off. Ginger and Rocky attempt to knock Mrs. Tweedy off as her weight is too much for the chickens to handle. Ginger eventually tricks Mrs. Tweedy into cutting the light string with her cleaver, causing her to fall right into a vent on the pie-making machine, eventually causing the machine to burst and destroying their barn. Ginger, Rocky, and the other chickens celebrate as they fly off. At the end of the film, the chickens have found themselves a wide open pasture to live in and raise their chicks, with Ginger and Rocky becoming a couple.
Cast
Mel Gibson as Rocky, the Rhode Island Red and the main protagonist of the film. Rocky is a helper of all the British chickens. He first wears a cape that looks like an American flag and then a blue bandana with white polka dots on it and is the only character with an American personality.
Julia Sawalha as Ginger, the orange-coloured hen. Some characters call her "Babydoll" or "Dollface". She is the responsible leader of all the British chickens and has many plans for how to get out of the fence and escape the coop. Most of her attempts are spoiled when attempting to escape with her friends and she longs to be successful. She sometimes gets in trouble when she does so. She wears a cream-coloured bandana and a green knitted hat.
Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Tweedy, the sadistic owner of the farm and the primary antagonist of the film. She constantly tries to think of ways to kill the chickens, even turning them into chicken pies. Furthermore, she perpetually bullies and berates her husband.
Jane Horrocks as Babs, the tan-coloured hen and one of Ginger's friends. She is the fattest of the chickens and loves knitting most of her time. She has blue bangs and wears a pink-beaded double-necklace.
Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler, the grayish-blue-coloured rooster and member of the Royal Air Force. When he first sees Rocky, he shows discontent and calls Rocky a "yank". He mostly wears it with a white scarf and carries a baton.
Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels as Nick and Fetcher, a duo of rats. Nick wears a worker's suit and carries a lunchbox which can be referred as a suitcase. Fetcher wears knitted clothes and he is taller than Nick. Both of these rats support the chickens who plot to make an escape attempt, but only in exchange for eggs for them to eat.
Imelda Staunton as Bunty, the maroon-coloured hen and one of Ginger's friends. She tends to be sarcastic, and is curious of Fowler. During the rendition of a song called "Flip, Flop, Fly", she forces him to dance with her. She wears a blue ruffled necklace.
Lynn Ferguson as Mac, the white chicken. Mac is an assistant who carries a notepad with a pen. During the rendition of "Flip, Flop, Fly", she does the Scottish highland dance on the spoons. She wears a plaid scarf and eyeglasses and is the only character with a Scottish personality, although, Rocky doesn't understand her accent.
Tony Haygarth as Mr. Tweedy the timid husband of Mrs. Tweedy. He always obeys his wife's orders, however unreasonable or foolish they may seem.
Chicken Run tells the humorous story of a band of chickens who seek to escape from their coop before their owners, the dim-witted egg farmer, Mr Tweedy, and his greedy, overbearing wife Mrs Tweedy, turn them all into chicken pies, as she is not making enough money by selling eggs.
The film proved a success with both children and adults, and showed that Peter Lord and Nick Park had the ability to handle the technical and writing challenges posed by a feature film, and thereby serving as a test bed for the 2005 movie outing for Wallace and Gromit, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Production notes
Chicken Run was the first feature film in Europe to use the Digital Intermediate process, digitally storing and manipulating every frame of the film before recording back to film.
In early versions of the movie, Ginger had a little brother named Nobby, but the idea was dropped in order to make the film less cute.
An early storyboard idea was that the plane would breakup in the middle of its flight and that the chickens would suddenly find the ability to fly; the idea being to show that you can do things if you "believe in yourself". This was dropped because the directors thought it was a little far-fetched.
It was also suggested that Fowler would be a drunk who felt useless and neglected until Ginger convinced him that he was needed. In the final film it is a sober Fowler who is made to believe in himself and fly the plane.
During the early stages of production, the film had the working title "A Few Good Hen", a reference to the 1992 drama film A Few Good Men.
The reason all the chickens wear scarves is to hide the joint between the head and the body. The scarves hide the 'seam' which is present because the bodies of the chickens are articulated steel frames coated in silicon rubber while the heads are plasticine (this is similar to the reason why Ewoks in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi wore hoods: to hide the seam between the head and the body parts of the suit).
Reception
The film has received outstanding reviews from critics since its release and currently garners a 98% "Certified Fresh" rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
Chicken Run is a stealth-based 3-D platformer based on the movie. The game is a loose parody of the famous The Great Escape movie, which is based in WWII.
