Animalympics (1980)

The animal kingdom stages its own olympic games.

Director:

Steven Lisberger

Writers:

Steven Lisberger (character development and story), Roger Allers (character development and story),

Stars:

Gilda Radner, Billy Crystal, Harry Shearer

Cast

Cast overview:
Gilda Radner	...	Barbra Warblers / Brenda Springer / Cora Lee Perrier / Tatyana Tushenko / Dorrie Turnell / The Contessa (voice)
Billy Crystal	...	Rugs Turkell / Joey Gongolong / Art Antica (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Keen Hacksaw / Mayor of Animal Olympic Island / Burnt Woody / Mark Spritz (voice)
Michael Fremer	...	Henry Hummel / René Fromage / Kit Mambo / Bolt Jenkins / Kurt Wuffner / Dean Wilson / Mele / Count Maurice Boar-Deaux / Jackie Fuelit / Bear McLane / Gui Lafluke / Bjorn Freeborg / Mamo Ululu (voice)

Storyline

Animalympics is all about the Animal Olympics Contest where all the animals around the world gather to take part in everything from skiing in North America to the very long marathon race in humid conditions. With lively music provided by Graham Gouldman, the film is very different to other cartoons, being more of a drama-comedy than cartoon. With a turtle hosting the proceedings and a killer whale competing against a sting ray in the swimming competition.

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Plot Keywords:

olympics | skiing | swimming | turtle | track and field | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1980 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Animalympics - As Feras das Olimpíadas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lisberger Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Conceived in 1976 to parody the hype surrounding the Olympic Games. Creator Steven Lisberger made a 7-minute short for the film with a $10,000 dollar grant from the American Film Institute. He decided the idea could be expanded, so he got backing from NBC to produce the film, and, obtaining a 7-figure budget, moved his studio from his Boston loft to California. Lisberger and NBC produced two 30-minute parts: "Animalympics: Winter Games" and "Animalympics: Summer Games." Only "Winter Games" aired in 1979, but "Summer Games" never aired, due to the United States boycotting the Olympics when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The next year, both parts were edited together with new footage. The resulting feature film, known simply as "Animalympics," aired only on HBO, where it enjoyed a cult following for years to follow.

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Goofs

When Kit starts to move to catch up to Rene during the Marathon, Barbara Wabbler states she's "currently in a disappointing fifth position", yet she passes four runners before catching up to Rene (leader), which would have put her in sixth position, not fifth.

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Quotes

René Fromage: [voiceover] I am in training, *always*. In my life, there is no time for women.
[cut to a picture of Fromage; gradually pull back to show he is being *chased* by an amorous cow. Voiceover continues]
René Fromage: It is all, "run-run-run." Because of this, I am "chaste".

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Connections

Edited into The Making of 'Tron' (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Underwater Fantasy"
Written, Performed and Produced by Graham Gouldman

User Reviews

A rare and comical cartoon!

Animalympics, one of the very few movies directed by Steven Lisberger. Featuring the voices of Billy Crystal and the late Gilda Radner, adding their classic touch to several characters in the film.

Story is about animals all over the world gathering for an Olympic event. With striking similarities to events and people from the Olympics in the 70's.

The whole film begins and ends like a televised Olympic event. With several music-video like scenes here and there. The animation is good, done in that classic 70's style American animation. The cartoon animation style is comparable to Ralph Bakshee and Don Bluth movies.