A Wish for Wings That Work (1991) (TV)

Director:

Skip Jones

Writers:

Berkeley Breathed (written by)
Berkeley Breathed (book)

Release Date:

18 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Comedy | Short

Plot:

Opus the Penguin struggles to achieve his seemingly impossible dream to be able to fly.

Plot Keywords:

Penguin | Christmas | Cat | Satire | Based On Comic

Cast

Michael Bell	...	Opus (voice)
Joe Alaskey	...	Truffles / The Ducks (voice)
John Byner	...	Bill the Cat (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	The Chicken (voice)
Andrew Hill Newman	...	Santa (voice)
Robin Williams	...	The Kiwi (voice) (as Sudy Nim)
Alexaundria Simmons	...	Ronald-Ann (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Santa Claus (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Milquetoast the Cross-Dressing Cockroach (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Skip Jones

Writing credits
Berkeley Breathed		(written by)
Berkeley Breathed		(book)

Produced by
Berkeley Breathed	....	executive producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	production executive
Frank Marshall	....	production executive
Peggy Regan	....	producer
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Thomas Chase		(as Tom Chase)
Steve Rucker

Production Management
Paul B. Strickland	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Levit	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Vince Colavitti	....	sound re-recording mixer
Timothy A. Carpenter	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Allen Foster	....	special effects animator
Don Judge	....	special effects animator
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	special effects animator

Animation Department
Matthew Bates	....	animator
Daniel Bond	....	animator (as Dan Bond)
Eleanor Dahlen	....	animation checker
Gavin Dell	....	animator
Sean Edberg	....	key assistant animator (as Sean S. Edberg)
Allen Foster	....	overseas supervisor
Klay Hall	....	directing animator
Patricia Helmuth	....	animation checker (as Patricia A. Helmuth)
Jon L. Hooper	....	animator
Ron Hughart	....	directing animator
Ron Hughart	....	overseas supervisor
Ethan Kanfer	....	key assistant animator
Ernie Keen	....	animator
Craig Kellman	....	animator
Ellen Kirk	....	layout artist (as Ellen Drucker)
Mark Koetsier	....	directing animator
Julianna Korsborn	....	animator
Gay Lawrence	....	layout artist (as Gay Lawrence-Ventura)
Cristi Lyon	....	key assistant animator
David McCamley	....	background stylist
Linda Miller	....	directing animator
Chris Mitchell	....	key assistant animator (as Christopher Mitchell)
Gary Mouri	....	layout artist
Cynthia Overman	....	animator
Mark Pudleiner	....	directing animator
Robert C. Ramirez	....	animator (as Robert Ramirez)
Sachiko Sato	....	key assistant animator
Marty Scully	....	animator
Brian Sheesley	....	animator
Chad Stewart	....	animator
Jennifer Stillwell	....	key assistant animator
Brigitte Strother	....	color stylist (as Brigette Strother)
Joe Suggs	....	animator
Guy Vasilovich	....	layout artist
Valerio Ventura	....	layout artist (as Valerio Lawrence-Ventura)
Thad Weinlein	....	animation executive

Editorial Department
Larry C. Cowan	....	supervising editor
Sally Dixon	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Mark Axton	....	assistant coordinator
Katherine Codekas	....	production accountant
Igor Khait	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Mielke	....	production assistant
Andrew Sorcini	....	production assistant
Roxy Steven	....	production coordinator (as Roxanne Steven)
Douglas Wood	....	creative executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Amblin Television
• Universal Cartoon Studios
• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (video)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Danny Goldman & Associates  casting
• Luk Film  overseas production
• Interlock Studios  sound recording/post-production sound (as Interlok Studios)
• Animagraphics  animation camera
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Columbia Pictures  "Lost Horizon" footage courtesy of

Runtime:

22 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Amblin Television

Trivia:

Based on a children's book which featured characters from the comic strips "Bloom County" and "Outland". All were written and drawn by Berkley Breathed.

Goofs:

Continuity: The cockpit window in the Lost Horizon dream doesn't match the cockpit window that's inside Opus's cockpit.

Quotes:

Opus:I'll be flying on Christmas Morning... I'll be flying on Christmas Day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

Simply hilarious but also tender and joyous

Having never been all that enthralled with Bloom County, I watched this with some doubt-for all of about two minutes and then I was hooked. What I saw was at one and the same time funny and heart-wrenching. There are a few running gags (watch the carolers particularly) and there is a very effective use of visual imagery on the fringes. Like with Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, invariably when I watch this again, I see some little bit I've missed. Very effective use of music to set the appropriate mood throughout. And the ending is perfect! Highest Recommendation.