The Bizarre Story Behind Hoodwinked!

Summary

Hoodwinked, a 2005 animated film, is remembered for its unique storytelling and poor animation quality. The movie, created by the Edwards brothers' Blue Yonder Films, was funded by entrepreneur Maurice Kanbar and produced on a shoestring budget of $8 million. Despite its financial constraints, it was animated in the Philippines and India, aiming to mimic stop-motion style. The film found distribution through the Weinstein Company, which helped secure a star-studded voice cast. Hoodwinked was a box office success, grossing over $100 million, but its legacy is often overshadowed by its animation, which detracts from its inventive narrative and humor.

Takeaways

• 🎬 'Hoodwinked' is a unique animated film known for its innovative storytelling, which diverges from traditional animated movies.
• 😅 The film's animation style is criticized as being subpar, which has negatively impacted its legacy and contributed to it being somewhat forgotten.
• 👥 The Edwards brothers, Corey and Todd, are the creative minds behind 'Hoodwinked', having established their own production company, Blue Yonder Films.
• 💼 The film was financed by Maurice Kanbar, a businessman and inventor, who was particularly interested in the animation medium and wanted to invest in a fairy tale with a twist.
• 📝 The story of 'Hoodwinked' was crafted to be nonlinear, told from four different character perspectives, inspired by films like 'Memento', 'Rashomon', and 'Pulp Fiction'.
• 💰 The film was produced on a shoestring budget of approximately $8 million, which is significantly lower than the budgets of other animated films released in the same period.
• 🌏 Animation was outsourced to the Philippines and India due to budget constraints, which affected the quality and style of the animation.
• 👀 The film's quirky animation style was a deliberate choice to mimic stop-motion animation, drawing inspiration from classic Rankin/Bass cartoons.
• 🌟 Despite initial distribution challenges, 'Hoodwinked' found a distributor at the Cannes Film Festival and was picked up by the Weinstein Company, which helped secure a star-studded voice cast.
• 💵 The film was a commercial success, grossing over $100 million worldwide against an $8 million budget, and became a bestseller on DVD.

Q & A

What is the main criticism against the animation style of 'Hoodwinked'?

The main criticism against the animation style of 'Hoodwinked' is that it is of poor quality and appears rough, which has affected the film's legacy and caused it to be somewhat forgotten compared to other animated movies from the same period.

Who are the brothers behind the creation of 'Hoodwinked'?

The brothers behind the creation of 'Hoodwinked' are Corey and Todd Edwards, who established their own production company, Blue Yonder Films, and moved to LA in 1999.

What was the inspiration behind the unique storytelling approach in 'Hoodwinked'?

The storytelling in 'Hoodwinked' was inspired by non-linear narratives similar to those in 'Memento', 'Rashomon', and 'Pulp Fiction', with the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood' being told through the perspectives of four different characters.

How did Maurice Kanbar become involved with the production of 'Hoodwinked'?

Maurice Kanbar, an entrepreneur and inventor known for his successful vodka company Sky Vodka, became involved with 'Hoodwinked' after being impressed by the Edwards brothers' animated movie 'Wobots' and decided to finance an animated film with them.

What was the budget for 'Hoodwinked' and how did it compare to other animated films of the time?

The budget for 'Hoodwinked' was just under $8 million, which was significantly smaller compared to other animated films of the time such as 'Robots' ($80 million), 'Madagascar' ($75 million), and 'Chicken Little' ($150 million).

Why did the characters in 'Hoodwinked' have a jerky and sudden movement style?

The characters in 'Hoodwinked' were designed to have a jerky and sudden movement style to imitate the look of stop-motion animation, taking inspiration from classic Rankin/Bass cartoons.

How did the Weinstein Company become the distributor for 'Hoodwinked'?

The Weinstein Company became the distributor for 'Hoodwinked' after the film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it caught the attention of Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who were looking for films to distribute after leaving Disney.

What was the initial reaction and box office performance of 'Hoodwinked'?

The initial reaction to 'Hoodwinked' was mixed, with a 46% critic score and a 56% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it had a strong box office performance, grossing over $100 million worldwide against an $8 million budget.

How did the involvement of the Weinstein Company impact 'Hoodwinked'?

The involvement of the Weinstein Company helped 'Hoodwinked' secure a distribution deal, attract big-name voice actors, and achieve box office success. However, it also left an unfortunate stain on the film's legacy due to the controversies surrounding Harvey Weinstein.

What was the original release plan for 'Hoodwinked' and how did it change?

The original release plan for 'Hoodwinked' was to release it on Christmas Day in 2005, but it was moved to January 13th, 2006, to avoid competition with other holiday season films. It had a limited release in Los Angeles on December 16th, 2005, for Oscar consideration.