MirrorMask (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Dave McKean

Writers (WGA):

Neil Gaiman (story) &
Dave McKean (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

An extraordinary dream quest to rescue a world out of balance.

Plot:

In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Fantasy World | Queen | Dream | Box Office

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Stephanie Leonidas	...	Helena / Anti-Helena
Jason Barry	...	Valentine
Rob Brydon	...	Morris Campbell / Prime Minister
Gina McKee	...	Joanne Campbell / Queen of Light / Queen of Shadows
Dora Bryan	...	Aunt Nan
Stephen Fry	...	Librarian
Andy Hamilton	...	Small Hairy
Simon Harvey	...	Sphinx
Lenny Henry	...	Cops 1-4
Robert Llewellyn	...	Gryphon
Eryl Maynard	...	Mrs. Bagwell
Eve Pearce	...	Future Fruit Lady
Nik Robson	...	Pingo / Bing (as Nik Robinson)
Victoria Williams	...	Nurse
Rick Allen	...	Man In a Box
Gina D'Angelo	...	Heir of Insanity Woman
Simon Schofield	...	Heir of Insanity Man
Silvia Fratelli	...	Mimbre
Lina Johansson	...	Mimbre
Emma Noris	...	Mimbre (as Emma Norin)
Peachi Pangea	...	Pyrotechnic Artist
Mark Tate	...	Stilt Walker
Richard Thompson	...	Tat - The Strongman / Gorilla
Robin Thompson	...	Magician
Iain Ballamy	...	Circus band - band leader and soprano sax
Chris Batchelor	...	Circus band - trumpet
Stian Carstensen	...	Circus band - button accordian
Martin France	...	Circus band - drum kit
Stuart Hall	...	Circus band - violin and banjo
Dave Powell	...	Circus band - sousaphone
Trifon Trifanov	...	Circus band - alto sax
Peter Borroughs	...	Red Troll
Rusty Goffe	...	Yellow Gnome
Kerry Jay	...	Music Box Dancer
Fiona Reynard	...	Receptionist
Nick Dainton	...	Politician / Monkeybirds
Nick Jackson	...	Male Giant / Mr. Shoe-Thing / Monkeybirds
Mark Perry	...	Politician / Monkeybirds
Kate Robbins	...	Female Giant / Mrs. Shoe-Thing / Chicken
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stuart St. Paul	...	Ticket Buyer (uncredited)

Directed by
Dave McKean

Writing credits (WGA)
Neil Gaiman		(story) &
Dave McKean		(story)
Neil Gaiman		(teleplay)

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	executive producer
Lisa Henson	....	executive producer
Simon Moorhead	....	producer
Michael Polis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Iain Ballamy

Cinematography by
Tony Shearn		(as Antony Shearn)

Film Editing by
Nicolas Gaster

Casting by
Louis Hammond

Production Design by
Dave McKean

Art Direction by
Zöe Trodden		(supervising art director)

Costume Design by
Robert Lever

Makeup Department
Michelle Davison-Bell	....	hair designer
Michelle Davison-Bell	....	makeup designer
Sam Smart	....	hair stylist
Sam Smart	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Tessa Beazley	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Janine Bevan	....	third assistant director
Oli Blanc	....	second assistant director
Jo Lea	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Guy Bernard	....	construction manager
Paul Frost	....	production buyer
Justin Hayzelden	....	stand-by props
Greg Mason	....	painter
Ashley Murray-Fowler	....	carpenter
Gwen Murray	....	art department trainee: FT2
Gary Nutkins	....	trainee carpenter
Stuart Walpole	....	stand-by props
Kate Wicks	....	production buyer
Jason Wood	....	property master
James Wright	....	carpenter

Sound Department
John Crossland	....	boom operator
Pete Freshney	....	boom operator
Dan Green	....	adr recordist
David Hunt	....	sound effects editor
Hugh Johnson	....	sound designer
Hugh Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melissa Lake	....	foley artist
Gareth Llewellyn	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Paul Miller	....	boom operator
Stefan Mørk	....	dialogue editor
James Perry	....	adr recordist
Ian Sands	....	production sound mixer
Larry Sider	....	supervising sound editor
Barnaby Smyth	....	foley supervisor (as Barnaby Smith)
Barnaby Smyth	....	sound designer (as Barnaby Smith)
Joakim Sundström	....	supervising sound editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
David Turner	....	sound technical coordinator
Alan Cridford	....	location music mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jamie Niman	....	character animator

Visual Effects by
Kevin Baguley	....	digital coordinator
Dave Barnard	....	post production technical supervisor
Pete Coogan	....	managing director: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jocelyn Deborne	....	systems administrator
Daniel Gerhardt	....	animator
Daniel Gerhardt	....	digital effects artist
Pawel Grochola	....	animator
Pawel Grochola	....	digital effects artist
Arjun Gupte	....	animator
Arjun Gupte	....	digital effects artist
Peter Guyan	....	systems engineer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Alexis Hall	....	lead animator
Alexis Hall	....	lead digital effects artist
Trevor Harvey	....	animator
Trevor Harvey	....	digital effects artist
Richard Hince	....	head of motion capture: Artem Digital
Sean Hince	....	motion capture supervisor
Eliot Hobdell	....	render wrangler
Katja Hollmann	....	digital lab supervisor: Lipsync Post
Christian Jelen	....	animator
Christian Jelen	....	digital effects artist
Jordan Kirk	....	animator
Jordan Kirk	....	digital effects artist
Ellie Koorlander	....	animator
Ellie Koorlander	....	digital effects artist
Sian Lawson	....	biomechanist
Paul Lee	....	animator
Paul Lee	....	digital effects artist
Katy Lemon	....	scanning and recording: Lip Sync Post
Dave McKean	....	compositor
Dave McKean	....	texture artist
Max McMullin	....	CGI producer
Max McMullin	....	CGI supervisor
Matt Middleton	....	digital effects artist
Matt Middleton	....	lead animator (as Matthew Middleton)
Matt Middleton	....	lead digital effects artist (as Matthew Middleton)
Jamie Niman	....	animator
Jamie Niman	....	digital effects artist
Mike J. Nixon	....	lead animator (as Michael Nixon)
Mike J. Nixon	....	lead digital effects artist (as Michael Nixon)
Evelina Persson	....	animator
Evelina Persson	....	digital effects artist
Mark J.G. Smith	....	render wrangler
Martin Stacey	....	animator
Martin Stacey	....	digital effects artist
Ross Stansfield	....	animator
Ross Stansfield	....	digital effects artist
Toby Taplin	....	lead animator
Toby Taplin	....	lead digital effects artist
Dave Walker	....	animator
Dave Walker	....	digital effects artist
Keith Mottram	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post production: Lip Sync Post (uncredited)

Stunts
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Bell	....	electrician
Steve Blythe	....	electrician
Steve Blythe	....	generator operator
Roy Elson	....	rigger
Avelino Fernandez	....	electrician (as Avalino Fernandez)
Kate Filby	....	second assistant camera: re-shoots
Mike Gianotti	....	electrician
Colin Ginger	....	crane operator
Michael Green	....	first assistant camera
Gwilym Hoosen-Owen	....	electrician (as Gwilyn Hoosen-Owen)
Vanessa Kellas	....	still photographer
Jody Knight	....	grip
Nathan Mann	....	first assistant camera
Jem Morton	....	key grip
Pete Murray	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Nutkins	....	second second assistant camera
Sigge Rosen Rawlings	....	video assistant operator (as Siggi Rosen-Rawlings)
Mark Spencer	....	still photographer
Bill Vanderkris	....	grip
Aaron Walters	....	best boy
Gavin Walters	....	gaffer
Colleen Webley	....	second assistant camera
Dave Wells	....	daily grip trainee
Tony Shearn	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Brown	....	costume assistant
Yvonne Duckett	....	costume assistant
Debbie O'Brien	....	costume assistant (as Debbie O'Brian)
Nathalie Pateman	....	costume assistant
Jane Spicer	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Ruth Coulson	....	first assistant editor
Keith Mottram	....	post-production conforming editor: HDTV

Music Department
Iain Ballamy	....	music arranger
Iain Ballamy	....	music mixer
Iain Ballamy	....	music producer
Igor Outkine	....	musician
Ashley Slater	....	music mixer
Ashley Slater	....	music producer
Ashley Slater	....	music programmer
Ashley Slater	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Mickey Atkins	....	driver: minibus
John Hogben	....	location driver
Bill Lilburn	....	location driver
Fred Russell	....	location driver
Micky Webb	....	location driver (as Mickey Webb)

Other crew
Tim Adnitt	....	copyist
Jane Ballamy	....	coordinator: circus performers
Brittan Brown	....	post-production accounting services
Valentina Coccia	....	production coordinator
Victor Gallucci	....	stand-in
Nicole Goldman	....	unit publicist
Louise Green	....	assistant accountant
Kathy Hughes	....	script supervisor
Kevin Kelly	....	assistant: Lisa Henson
Nikki Lucas	....	juggling double: Stephanie Leonidas
Anton Mackman	....	juggling double: Rob Brydon
Andy Matthews	....	stand-in
John O'Quigley	....	operator: filmstream s-2 storage
Bill Riddlaw	....	unit nurse
John Sargent	....	financial controller
Lara Sargent	....	first assistant accountant
Michael Scanlon	....	floor runner
Heather Taylor	....	script supervisor
Martin Vance	....	unit nurse
Martin Warnes	....	unit nurse
Mark Williams	....	copyist
Daniel Grant	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jim Henson Productions
• Destination Films
• Jim Henson Company, The
• Samuel Goldwyn Films

Distributors

• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Blitz (2008) (Croatia) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Jim Henson Pictures
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Artem Digital Ltd. (motion capture)
• Hourglass Productions (digital animation and effects)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (additional rendering)
• Lip Sync Post
• ReelEye Company (lens supplied by) (as Reel Eye Company)

Other Companies

• Artem Digital Ltd.  motion capture by
• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  cameras and lenses supplied by
• ARRI Media  grip equipment
• Big Box Studios  additional sound recording (as Big Box Studios, London)
• Digital Film Lab  film scanning and recording
• Lip Sync Post  film scanning and recording
• Mayflower Studios  sound re-recorded at (as The Mayflower Studios)
• Midnight Transfer  tape transfer
• On Sight  high definition equipment
• Sherman Laboratories  mask created and supplied by
• Soho Images  film laboratory
• Take 2 Film Services  grip equipment
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound post-production
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound re-recording (as Videosonics, London)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:PG | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Ireland:12A | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:(Banned) | Italy:T | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Germany:12 | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Black Island Studios, Alliance Road, Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Jim Henson Productions

Trivia:

During the circus montage at the beginning of the film, there is a brief shot of a hand balancing and twirling a set of four crystal balls. This art is called Contact Juggling, created by performance artist Michael Moschen and originally debuted in the Jim Henson film Labyrinth (1986), which in part inspired this film.

Quotes:

Helena: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Valentine: Absolutely. If we put little wheels on the bottoms of our shoes, we could just roll around everywhere...

Movie Connections:

References Labyrinth (1986)

Soundtrack:

Close to You

Eye Candy, Cake, Cookies and Pastries

This is a visually mesmerizing film that takes movie fantasy into new territory. Think Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz performed by Cirque de Soleil. MirrorMask takes a comic-book approach to Good vs. Evil, with 15-year-old Helena as the protagonist who must find the MirrorMask and save the Light Kingdom.

But the story isn't nearly as important as the fantastic creatures and hallucinatory imagery that parade non-stop through Helena's fantastic journey. Director and writer (and frequent collaborators) Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman leap into the movie business with extraordinary confidence and derring-do. They are both legendary successes and have a devoted fan base from comic books (the Sandman series, for one), novels, short stories, posters, CD art, and much more.

It quickly becomes clear that MirrorMask is the creation of talented and imaginative artists completely unfettered by the bounds of traditional film-making. As a result, it is a bold departure from anything you have ever seen on the screen before. The story is simple enough and the visuals so wondrous that most children should find the movie enjoyable (unless they've become action-oriented adrenaline addicts). Yet the writing is sufficiently deep to satisfy the most thoughtful of adults.

I spoke to both McKean and Gaiman at one of the Sundance screenings and found them both polite, thoughtful and interesting. I told them that MirrorMask was the kind of movie I wanted to see again immediately. It is lovely enough to warrant a second look. And there's enough meat on the bones to go back and catch what you might have missed. The last movie I felt that way about was Memento, one of my all-time favorites.