Rupert and the Frog Song (1985)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Geoff Dunbar

Writers:

Geoff Dunbar (writer)
Linda McCartney (writer)

Genre:

Short | Music | Animation

Plot:

Rupert Bear goes on a walk in the hills near his home, where he encounters a community of frogs who join together in a musical extravaganza. |

Plot Keywords:

Frog | Bear | Owl | Waterfall | Elephant

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Windsor Davies	...	Rupert's Father / Father Frog (voice)
Paul McCartney	...	Rupert / Edward / Bill / Boy Frog (voice)
June Whitfield	...	Rupert's Mother (voice)

Also Known As:

Paul McCartney's Rupert and the Frog Song (UK) (video title)

Runtime:

USA:13 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Company:

Grand Slamm Animation

Trivia:

Was shown theatrically with Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984).

Quotes:

Boy Frog: Dad! Dad! When's the show going to start? Hey, Dad!
Father Frog: Now look, son. This only happens once every couple of hundred years.
[aggressively]
Father Frog: If you don't pipe down I will...
[Boy Frog Cowers]
Father Frog: [quietly] ... I will not bring you again.
Boy Frog: Heh.
Father Frog: [quietly] Shut Up!

Movie Connections:

Featured in There's Only One Paul McCartney (2002) (TV)

Just lovely

"Rupert and the Frog Song" is fantastic. An excellent alternative to the Disney's shorts, being enchanting, magical, sweet and a timeless classic. This was produced by the ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney (his wife back then). Paul McCartney also voices some of the characters, including Rupert. It's one of the many animated shorts I grew up with. Very nostalgic.

This short was released theatrically in 1984 as an accompaniment to Sir McCartney's feature film and soundtrack album "Give My Regards to Broad Street". The album includes one of Paul McCartney's best songs ever, "No More Lonely Nights".

Rupert Bear (the popular humanoid bear originally created in 1920) is the protagonist of this short. Enchanted by the pure beauty of nature, he goes for a trip to the hills. He relaxes in a peaceful environment and appreciates everything surrounding him. He also lives a small adventure by finding a place that is only for frogs.

He enters silently, despite being a forbidden place for other animals. The 3 signs he reads are very clear about that: «Frogs only beyond this point», «Everything except frogs must be kept on a lead» and «Guard frogs operating».

What happens next is something to live forever in our hearts and memories: a show of music and dance only by frogs. All of this at the sound of the cheerful song "We All Stand Together". We also see frogs in balloons and the King Frog and the Queen Frog rising out of the water in a moment of glory.

The only characters that give a minor dark side to this short are the Barn Owl and the two black cats. A music of suspense plays when they appear. But their roles are minor. Aside that, there's absolutely nothing dark about this.

This animated short is wonderful and very artistic. It's a rich production full of graceful details, beautiful backgrounds, well drawn characters and most everything else is perfectly drawn and painted. In other words, the artwork is excellent.

This shouldn't be missed in the collection of any lover of classic animated movies and shorts.