Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Directors:

Steve Box
Nick Park

Writers:

Nick Park (characters) and
Bob Baker (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Wallace=Master, Gromit=Mind

Plot:

Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.

Plot Keywords:

Vicar | Funfair | Full Moon | Rifle | Human Becoming Animal

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 29 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Peter Sallis	...	Wallace / Hutch (voice)
Ralph Fiennes	...	Victor Quartermaine (voice)
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Lady Campanula Tottington (voice)
Peter Kay	...	PC Mackintosh (voice)
Nicholas Smith	...	Reverend Clement Hedges (voice)
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Mulch (voice)
John Thomson	...	Mr. Windfall (voice)
Mark Gatiss	...	Miss Blight (voice)
Vincent Ebrahim	...	Mr. Caliche (voice)
Geraldine McEwan	...	Miss Thripp (voice)
Edward Kelsey	...	Mr. Growbag (voice)
Dicken Ashworth	...	Mr. Mulch (voice)
Robert Horvath	...	Mr. Dibber (voice)
Pete Atkin	...	Mr. Crock (voice)
Noni Lewis	...	Mrs. Girdling (voice)
Ben Whitehead	...	Mr. Leaching (voice)
Christopher Fairbank	...	Additional Voice (voice)
James Mather	...	Additional Voice (voice)
William Vanderpuye	...	Additional Voice (voice)

Directed by
Steve Box
Nick Park

Writing credits
Nick Park		(characters)
Bob Baker		writer
Steve Box		writer
Mark Burton		writer

Produced by
Claire Jennings	....	producer
Cecil Kramer	....	executive producer
Peter Lord	....	producer
Nick Park	....	producer
Michael Rose	....	executive producer
Carla Shelley	....	producer
David Sproxton	....	producer

Original Music by
Julian Nott

Cinematography by
Tristan Oliver
Dave Alex Riddett

Film Editing by
David McCormick
Gregory Perler

Casting by
Jennifer Duffy		(as Jenny Duffy)

Production Design by
Phil Lewis

Art Direction by
Alastair Green
Sarah Hauldren
Matt Perry

Production Management
Giles Johnson	....	production manager
Michael Solinger	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Beek	....	second assistant director (as Richard 'Beeky' Beek)
Lisa Butler	....	second assistant director
David Button	....	third assistant director
Vinny Cannon	....	third assistant director
Merlin Crossingham	....	second unit director
Penny Foster	....	first assistant director
Kevin Harwood	....	additional second assistant director (as Kev Harwood)
Kate Munkenbeck	....	third assistant director
Marnie Paxton	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Natasha Allright	....	art department coordinator
Dino Athanassiou	....	additional storyboard artist
Claire Baker	....	propmaker (as Clare Baker)
Sylvia Bennion	....	storyboard artist
Andy Biddle	....	junior set dresser
Joe Bourbon	....	set dresser
Rejean Bourdages	....	senior storyboard artist
Rachel Bowen	....	set dresser
David Bowers	....	senior storyboard artist
Zennor Box	....	concept art
Andy Brown	....	senior set dresser
Sophie Brown	....	set dresser
Lorna Cashmore	....	set dresser
Jason Clarke	....	assistant draughtsperson
Kitty Clay	....	set dresser
Darren Dubicki	....	additional layout
Mel Ford	....	set dresser
Fred Gray	....	scenic artist
Mathew Healey	....	set dresser (as Matthew Healey)
James Held	....	set dresser
Mick Hockney	....	set dresser
Jane Kite	....	propmaker supervisor
Sarah Laborde	....	set dresser
Gavin Lines	....	graphic artist
Lesley Osbourne	....	set dresser
Bob Persichetti	....	storyboard artist
Bridget Phelan	....	assistant art director
Rachael Potter	....	art department production assistant
Manon Roberts	....	assistant art director
Michael Salter	....	senior storyboard artist
Adrian Sims	....	propmaker (as Adrian 'Ade Boy' Sims)
Michael Sowa	....	concept art
Robert Stevenhagen	....	senior storyboard artist (as Rob Stevenhagen)
Jo Symanowski	....	draughtsperson
Kieron Thomas	....	set dresser
David Vinicombe	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Alexander Beddow	....	adr recordist
Rodney Berling	....	conform editor (as Rod Berling)
Steve Browell	....	conform editor (as Steven Browell)
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Ed Colyer	....	sound mixer
Robert Edwards	....	adr recordist
Phillip Mark Freudenfeld	....	sound studio technician
Glen Gathard	....	assistant foley mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Danny Hambrook	....	sound designer
Graham Headicar	....	sound effects editor
Nigel Heath	....	sound mixer
Philip Jenkins	....	sound mix technician
Simon John	....	trainee sound assistant
Rob Killick	....	sound studio technician
Adam Laschinger	....	assistant sound editor
James Mather	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Owens	....	adr editor
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph Stracey	....	sound designer (as Joseph Park Stracey)
Sven Taits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor

Visual Effects by
Paul Alexiou	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Chris Armsden	....	render wrangler: MPC
Henry Badgett	....	digital compositor
Andrew Baggarley	....	data wrangler
Reuben Barkataki	....	roto/prep artist
Angela Barson	....	digital compositor: MPC
Kieran Belshaw	....	digital film recordist
Lizzie Bentley	....	digital compositor
Matthew Bristowe	....	digital lab producer: MPC
Andrew Bunday	....	render wrangler
Nick Cannon	....	head of technology: MPC
Jordi Cardus	....	technical director: MPC
Hayley Collins	....	roto/prep artist: MPC
Alfonso Cottier	....	roto/prep artist: MPC
Paul Driver	....	visual effects coordinator
Paddy Eason	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Elson	....	head of production: MPC
Michael Elson	....	visual effects executive producer
Richard Etchells	....	online film editor: MPC
Joe Eveleigh	....	CG lighting artist
William Foxwell	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post
Julien Goldsbrough	....	compositor
Lisa Gonzalez	....	matchmove artist: MPC
Vincent Goodsell	....	digital compositor
Scott Goulding	....	digital lab operator
Lewis Guarniere	....	data wrangler: MPC
Roberto Hadrac	....	CG support
Linda Hamblyn	....	motion control operator
Qian Han	....	roto/prep artist: MPC
Michael Harrison	....	digital compositor
Tim Hey	....	digital compositor: MPC
Marcus Hindborg	....	digital artist: MPC
Martin Hobbs	....	head of production: MPC
Matt Holland	....	compositor
Katja Hollmann	....	digital lab supervisor: Lipsync Post
Rudi Holzapfel	....	visual effects
Max Horton	....	colorist: MPC
Pete Howlett	....	digital compositor
Zoe Izzard	....	data operator
Zoe Izzard	....	digital film recordist
Gemma James	....	data operative
Ryan Knowles	....	data operator
Ryan Knowles	....	digital film recordist
Arek Komorowski	....	digital artist
Kirsty Lamb	....	digital compositor
Stuart Lashley	....	compositing supervisor
Philippa Leathers	....	digital film recordist
Tim Ledbury	....	CG modeler: MPC
Katy Lemon	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post
Luke Letkey	....	digital compositor
Bryan Litson	....	match move technician: MPC
David Lloyd	....	systems support: MPC
Begoña Lopez	....	digital lab producer: MPC
Charlotte Loughnane	....	visual effects producer
Alasdair MacCuish	....	scanning producer: Lipsync Post
Angela Magrath	....	digital artist
Alasdair McNeill	....	roto/prep artist
Victoria Mowlam	....	visual effects coordinator
Matthew Muntean	....	CG support
Peter Muyzers	....	computer graphics supervisor: MPC
Peter Muyzers	....	consultant CG supervisor
Stuart Nelhams	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Martin Parsons	....	technical assistant
Patrick Phillips	....	visual effects
Teresa Pino	....	render wrangler
Tristan Porter	....	roto/prep artist: MPC
Michael Ridgwell	....	digital artist
Aled Robinson	....	visual effects editor: MPC
Rajat Roy	....	digital compositor
Jamshed Soori	....	rendering artist
Penn Stevens	....	render wrangler: MPC
John Strauss	....	software engineer
Giuseppe Tagliavini	....	roto/prep supervisor: MPC
Ben Toogood	....	CG lighting artist
Ben Toogood	....	technical director: MPC
Thomas Urbye	....	online film editor: MPC
Giuliano Dionisio Vigano'	....	digital compositor
Dan Warder	....	data operator
Roland Watson	....	digital resources manager: MPC
Jason Wen	....	visual effects animator
Robert A. Willis	....	digital film recordist
Chris Wilson	....	render wrangler: MPC
Pat Wintersgill	....	online film editor: MPC
Oliver Winwood	....	data wrangler: MPC
Simon Wistow	....	research & development software engineer: MPC
Melody Woodford	....	matchmove supervisor
Luan Davis	....	roto/prep artist: MPC (uncredited)
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)
Julian Gnass	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Elysia Greening	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Scott Taylor	....	roto artist: MPC (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gunnar Heidar	....	assistant camera
Guy Holme	....	practical electrician
Laura Howie	....	assistant camera
Adam Lincoln	....	assistant camera
John Quarrell	....	assistant camera
Luke Smith	....	still photographer
Richard Whiteford	....	supervising camera assistant

Animation Department
Sara Barbas	....	assistant animator
Will Becher	....	animator
Philip Beglan	....	key animator
Claire Billet	....	key animator
Terry Brain	....	animator
Darren Burgess	....	animator
Dug Calder	....	key animator
Stefano Cassini	....	animator
Merlin Crossingham	....	key animator
Teresa Drilling	....	key animator
Alison Evans	....	animator
Suzy Fagan	....	key animator
Jo Fenton	....	animator
Dicken Franklin	....	assistant animator
Jay Grace	....	key animator
Wendy Griffiths	....	assistant animator
Maria Hopkinson-Hassell	....	assistant animator
Jerold Howard	....	animator
Fabrice Joubert	....	animator
Virpi Kettu	....	assistant animator
Tandy Langton	....	assistant animator
Jason Lynch	....	assistant animator
Seamus Malone	....	key animator
Caroline Maure	....	assistant animator
Karen Molin	....	assistant animator
Edward Patterson	....	assistant animator
Pascual Perez	....	animator (as Pascual Perez Porcar)
Loyd Price	....	supervising animator
Dan Ramsey	....	animator (as Dan Ramsay)
Chris Sadler	....	key animator (as Christopher Sadler)
Justin Smith	....	trainee assistant animator
Andy Spilsted	....	assistant animator (as Andy Spilstead)
Andy Symanowski	....	key animator
Darren Thomson	....	key animator
Jean-Philippe Vine	....	assistant animator
Ian Whitlock	....	key animator
Lee Wilton	....	animator
Naomi Zahl	....	assistant animator

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting

Editorial Department
Peter Hunt	....	color timer
Paul Neal	....	editor: high definition
Timothy Peeler	....	digital film colorist (as Tim Peeler)
Andrew Ward	....	first assistant editor
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Lorne Balfe	....	composer: additional music
Becky Bentham	....	score coordinator
Simon Changer	....	music editor
Michael Connell	....	music editor
James Dooley	....	composer: additional music
Gavin Greenaway	....	conductor
Rupert Gregson-Williams	....	composer: additional music
Roland Heap	....	music preparation
Robert Houston	....	assistant scoring engineer
Jake Jackson	....	assistant music engineer
Alastair King	....	composer: additional music
Jenny O'Grady	....	choir master
Nic Raine	....	orchestrator
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer
Tony Stanton	....	music preparation
Ian Wood	....	assistant scoring engineer
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader
Hans Zimmer	....	music score producer
Halli Cauthery	....	composer: additional material (uncredited)
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Bradley Miles	....	choir arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Mike Cooper	....	development executive
Kelly Messias	....	assistant: Ralph Fiennes
Marnie Paxton	....	script supervisor
Steve Pegram	....	head of feature production
Jamie Rogers	....	continuity supervisor
Alan Scrase	....	senior rigger
Emily Simpson	....	story assistant
Dave Thomas	....	runner
David Nigel Thomas	....	runner
Charley Walters	....	production communication
Andrew Zack	....	executive assistant: Hans Zimmer

Thanks
Andrew Birch	....	special thanks (as Andy Birch)
Marcus Brigstocke	....	thanks
Tony Burgess	....	thanks
Nick Fletcher	....	special thanks
Wayne Hellinger	....	special thanks
Guy Jenkin	....	thanks
Jeffrey Katzenberg	....	thanks
Graham Linehan	....	thanks
Simon Moore	....	thanks
Paul Neal	....	thanks
Sunny Park	....	special thanks
Paul Parmer	....	special thanks
Giles Pilbrow	....	thanks
Georgia Pritchett	....	thanks
Colin Rose	....	thanks
David Ian Salter	....	special thanks (as David Salter)
Olly Smith	....	thanks
Mike Thorne	....	thanks
Makiko Wakita	....	special thanks
Andy White	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Aardman Animations
• DreamWorks Animation
• DreamWorks SKG (as DreamWorks Animation)

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• DreamWorks Distribution (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Kadokawa Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Solar Films (2005) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Home Video (2006) (Brazil) (video)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2006) (Japan) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cine Image Film Opticals (digital main and end titles)
• Jeff Cliff Models (specialist props, vehicles and multiple armatures) (as Jeff Cliff Model Effects)
• John Wright Modelmaking (specialist props, vehicles and multiple armatures)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded at (as Abbey Road Studios, London)
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at (as Air Studios Lyndhurst Hall, London)
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound recording (as De Lane Lea Studios, London)
• Fuji Photo Film  motion picture film supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Hothouse Music  music coordination
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  musician contractor
• Lip Sync Post  digital film scanning
• Technicolor  prints
• The Machine Room  negative cleaning
• The Sound Company Ltd.  voice recording studio
• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by

Also Known As:

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Starring Wallace & Gromit (UK) (working title)
The Wallace & Gromit Movie (UK) (working title)
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (UK) (poster title)
Wallace and Gromit: The Great Vegetable Plot (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | UK:U | Australia:PG | Hong Kong:I | Singapore:PG | Ireland:G | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:G | Brazil:Livre | France:U | Germany:6 | Taiwan:GP | Portugal:M/4 | Sweden:Btl | Peru:PT | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-3 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | South Korea:All | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:PG | USA:G | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Aardman Animations

Trivia:

The code for Gromit's High-Security greenhouse is "8425", which can spell "Halt" on a telephone. Note: later on the "8" is not punched.

Goofs:

Continuity: The pictures of Anti-Pesto's clients change frequently.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wallace: Oh ho ho, cracking job, Gromit!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs King Kong (1933)

Soundtrack:

Bright Eyes

A Grand movie, and a Very Close Shave to perfection, Curse of the Were-Rabbit is totally entertaining from start to finish

Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in some of the best cartoons ever crafted. The excellent mix of visual humor and claymation makes "A Grand Day Out," "The Wrong Trousers," and also "A Close Shave" some of the best animated footage ever put on television. Winning several Oscars and also countless other awards, Nick Park became quite the popular man in the U.K., yet his impact on the United States has not been big. After the third Wallace and Gromit short, there was all this speculation about a full-length Wallace and Gromit movie, yet for years nothing had happened. Then in 2000 instead of a full-length Wallace and Gromit film, we get another brilliant claymation film from Nick Park, which was Chicken Run, which almost got nominated for best picture in the Academy Awards. Perhaps it was the success of this film that ultimately drove Park to finally work on a Wallace and Gromit project.

5 years later (these kinds of films do take long you know) and a lot of anticipation, Wallace and Gromit finally hits the big screen. Despite the rather weak trailers and marketing campaign, this movie delivers in so many ways. This film will be a delight for both kids and parents. With tons of adult humor hidden beneath the brilliant animation, Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit is one of the few films that perfectly manages to equally appeal to both kids and adults. This rather difficult technique is one that only Pixar has already perfected and DreamWorks has had a lot of trouble doing lately. Despite the DreamWorks logo slapped onto the poster, this film is mainly from the very creative staff of Aardman Animations.

Wallace and Gromit are first seen running a business that protects the townspeople's crops from being ruined by rabbits, which apparently had been running around wild and in great numbers lately. Their business has gotten them plenty of respect from the others living in the town because a gigantic vegetable contest was rapidly approaching and the crops needed protection. Complications arise when Wallace attempts to manipulate the rabbits into not liking vegetables and then a great eating machine is unleashed on the area. It is up to Wallace and Gromit to find the gigantic animal and stop it from eating away through gardens and also their approval from the townspeople. To add to that, Wallace wants to impress Lady Tottington, which also captured the attention of a snobby suitor by the name of Victor. Simple plot yes, but there is more than meets the eye, be prepared for a few fun surprises along the way, kind of like in the other Wallace and Gromit cartoons.

In animated films with little dialogue, it is the animation that has to set the pacing and the mood of the film. Despite requiring 5 years to produce only 85 minutes of footage, the payoff is fantastic. There is a massive amount of detail that requires more than one viewing to truly notice. Even more incredible than the detailed and nearly flawless animation is the truly unspeakable amount of visual humor put into the film. Whether it is a creatively placed shot or normal labels put into the funniest position possible, or it is the oh-so-adorable rabbits that is constantly shown in the film, most Curse of the Were-Rabbit's humor comes strictly from just watching the movie itself and catching all the references before it is too late. Just picture the movie Madagascar, except funnier much fewer pop culture references, and better animation.

Casting was great, even though in a film with not much dialogue, it was not that important. Peter Sallis yet again does a wonderful job as Wallace, even though in this movie there was no stand-out quote that can be used anytime (The Wrong Trousers: "It's the wrong trousers Gromit, and they've gone wrong!"). Ralph Fiennes does a superb job as the lead villain Victor and also Helena Bonham Carter (known as the crazy female lead in the cult hit "Fight Club") lends her lovely voice as she plays Wallace's love interest. Even though nothing could top the final chase in "The Wrong Trousers," Curse of the Ware-Rabbit did have plenty of action scenes, including one fantastically done chase scene between Gromit and Victor's evil dog. Last but not least, the rabbits really steal the show at some moments. Whether it is their cute expressions, their funny movements, or their howling, the rabbits in the film even take some of the glory from the main stars. The funniest rabbit in the movie is the "cursed" rabbit himself, to the very end of the movie he had the audience rolling in laughter.

Bottom Line: Despite not being as memorable as "The Wrong Trousers", this film is just as good and entertaining as Chicken Run. Unlike almost every movie to come out this year, the movie does not drag at all, clocking in at a short 85 minutes yet containing so much joy and fun, it will leave everyone watching it asking for more. There is very little wrong with the film; it was a pure delight to watch. This film is a total contrast of the decent yet vulgar, uncut, raw movies that have made a surprising amount of money earlier this year (40-Year-Old Virgin, Wedding Crashers, and Sin City) and for families and those who want harmless entertainment; that is a good thing. Highly recommend, this is the top animated movie to come out this year and among the best we have seen this decade. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit: totally harmless fun from second 1 to second 5,100.