The Butter Battle Book (TV 1989)

A tale of two hostile neighboring countries, one country is occupied by the Yooks, while the other is occupied by the Zooks. Both countries don't agree with each others ideology. Due to ... See full summary »

Director:

Ralph Bakshi

Writers:

Dr. Seuss (book), Dr. Seuss (written for television by)

Stars:

Charles Durning, Chris Latta, Miriam Flynn

Cast

Cast overview:
Charles Durning	...	Grandfather (voice)
Chris Latta	...	(voice) (as Christopher Collins)
Miriam Flynn	...	(voice)
Clive Revill	...	(voice)
Joseph Cousins	...	(voice)

Storyline

A tale of two hostile neighboring countries, one country is occupied by the Yooks, while the other is occupied by the Zooks. Both countries don't agree with each others ideology. Due to this issue they ended up building a wall in between the border of the two opposing cultures. The main reason they hate each other is because both cultures have a different way of buttering their bread. The Yooks eat their bread butter side up while the Zooks eat their bread butter side down. The story is told by the perspective of a Yook border patrol guard who tries to outwit a Zook name Van Itch with the latest Yooks weapon. However every time the border guard presents his weapon, Van Itch would have a weapon that is able to counter attack the Yook's weapon. This leads to an arms race with results leading to a mutual assured destruction.

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Plot Keywords:

based on children's book | food in title | arms race | allegory

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Seuss' The Butter Battle Book

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bakshi Animation, Turner Network Television (TNT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Seuss has credited this 1989 TV special as the most faithful adaptation of his work.

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Connections

Edited into In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994)

User Reviews

Anti-War Propaganda

I did not care for this at all. I wish Dr. Seuss would've stayed away from all political/social commentaries because it gets old very fast. This cartoon has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and is also about as funny.It's still Dr. Seuss so there is some whimsy, so in the end I gave it 5 out of 10.