ANIMALYMPICS - THE MOVIE

'Animalympics' is an animated musical fantasy utilising animal characters to parody the Olympic Games and its media coverage, particularly the famous up close and personal style of ABC. It came in circulation in 1980, the year that the Olympic Games were held in Moscow. The film was created to capitalize on the commercialization around those games. But it became a terrible flop, due to the boycott that several western countries decided to because of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. More than twenty years later it turns out to be that 'Animalympics' brings back warm childhood memories to several people who have seen the movie on television or video. And the craft of the makers is highly appreciated by animation addicts, who think it is a fine example of serious, adult, funny animal animation. And, off course, there is the musical score by Graham Gouldman, that equals the commercial succes and the artistic quality of the movie.

Animalympics' was the project with which American director Steven Lisberger (New York, April 24th 1952) tried to pave his way into American film industry. Lisberger had started Lisberger Studios in a Boston loft in 1971, while he was completing his graduate studies at the School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He produced Cosmic Cartoon, a piece of animation that gained him an Academy Award nomination. As a result he soon received offers to produce commercials, animated title sequences and features for American television. In 1976 he conceived the idea for Animalympics - the story of the first Olympic games for animals - while watching the 1976 Olympics in Montreal on television.With the help of a 10.000 dollar grant from the American Film Institute, he created a seven-minute film depicting animals competing in a fantasy Olympics.

It soon became apparent to Lisberger that his idea could easily be expanded to become a feature film. NBC Television realised the potential of the concept and put up half of what Lisberger described as 'a low 7 figure' budget in exchange for the rights to screen the film in two segments, to coincide with the Winter and Summer Olympics. Lisberger opened a second, larger studio in Venice, California, where he employed another fourty artists, animators and editors, a staff largely composed of young self-trained artists and film makers who formed a tightly-knit group of dedicated professionals. The in-house production facilities on the West Coast (camera equipment, editing systems and art department) allowed the entire staff to work under one roof. The result, based on a screenplay written by Lisberger with his companion Michael Fremer, consisted of over 50.000 hand-inked and painted individual cels.
'Winter Games', 30 minutes long, was aired in December 1979, 'Summer Games' was never shown, due to the boycot of the 1980 Games. By combining both parts a 90 minute feature film was made, with some material cut, to Lisbergers regret. Because no American distributor could be found the movie was only shown on cable TV, and became available on videotape as Animalympics, The special edition. Amongst 'diehard' American cartoon-fantasy-addicts a special videotape has been circulating. It included a copy of the original 'Winter games' version, taped off of broadcast television, and the re-edited version of 'Summer Games'. It became one of the most popular shows with the Furry/ morph/anthro/funny animal interest internet group. Four years later, in 1984, both 'Winter games' and 'Summer games' were shown on television in the slipstream of the then held Olympics.

Steven Lisberger eventually led the special-effects unit for Disney and co-produced and directed the film Tron in 1982. Working on 'Animalympics' Lisberger already was anxious to increase the speed at which animated films were created.. It was something that he was interested in already for a long time. In 1975, a 24 year old Steven Lisberger attended a gathering of Boston filmakers where Dr Phillip Mittelman, President and founder of MAGI, displayed computer images in hopes that it would offer up new options for filmmakers. Lisberger later started exploring all the possibilities afforded by special effects animation, computer animation, backlit animation and the combination wih live action. The result of this became Tron, a look at a world inside a computer, complete with newly-developed special effects including threedimensional computer animation. In the year 'Animalympics' saw the light Lisberger and Kushner approached Disney with Tron. After some negotiations and experiments, Disney agreed to get behind them and their idea.

'Animalympics' was directed by Steven Lisberger and produced by him and Donald Kushner, with Peggy Flook as associate producer. The art direction was done by John Norton, Roger Allers and Peter Mueller. Lisberger also wrote the screenplay, together with Michael Fremer.  Fremer also provides a lot of the voice-overs of the characters in the movie, together with Gilda Radner, Billy Crystal and Harry Shearer. The camerawork was done by Paul Nevitt. Lisberger, Allers and Norton were also responsible for the character development. The movie features more than sixty characters. For all completists, here's a list:

Henry Hummel: ZOO Network Anchor  Burnt Woody: Announcer Barbra Warblers: Sports correspondent Rugs Turkell: Sports reporter Keen Hacksaw: Sports reporter
Brenda Springer: Sports correspondent  Art Antica: Commentator figure skating  Bjorn Freeborg: Commentator skiing Jackie Fuelit: Commentator 100 meter dash
Mark Spritz: Commentator swimming and diving Cora Lee Perrier: Commentator gymnastics Bernard Drulinger: Commentator bobsleding Mele: Commentator soccer
Rene Fromage: Marathon champion Kit Mambo: Marathoner Sophia Bulgerelli: Marathoner Pepe Rubanoza: Marathoner Terry Hornsby: Marathoner Tatyana Tushenko: Gymnast
Bruce Kwakimoto: Gymnast Ludmilla Steponyatova: Gymnast Olga Cluckinsky: Skater Dorrie Turnell: Skater Boris Amphibiensky: High jumper Kip Ngogo: 100 meter dash runner
Whiz Rizzo: Soccer player Rolf Shmecker: Soccer player Marcel Pourceau: Skier Kurt Wuffner: Skier Jimmy Ribbitt: Skier Commander Lance Quiller: Captain bobsled team
Calamari Brothers Bobsled team Gui Lafluke Captain hockey team Eurasion Oxen Hockey Team North American Kodiaks Hockeyteam Dean Wilson Swimmer Ono Nono Swimmer
Primo Cabeza Cliff diver Joey Gongolong Boxing champ Janos Brushteckel Boxer Dr. Abdul Jones Basketball captain Pavel Shotski Basketball captain Meadowpie Larkin Basketball star
Ivan Disventsky Weightlifter Whilhelm Cvet Weightlifter Count Maurice Boar Deaux Fencer Duke Charolas Fencer The Contessa Fencer Coach Bear McLane Hockeycoach
Mamo Ululu Kit's track coach Toulouse LaTrac Rene's track coach Bruno Ursakov Tatyana Tushenko's coach Robert Pigwood Dorrie Turrnell's agent and manager
Bert Sparks Former mr. heavyweight Enrico Poochie Clothing designer Sol Terry Camera Jim Panzi Camera Randy Grabatelli ZOO Network director Gary Mathers ZOO Network tape editor
Woody Hutchinson ZOO sound technician Manny Fingers ZOO statistician Don Osterizer ZOO executive producer

The main characters are:
Rene Fromage, famed European goat marathoner, world running champion with a reputation for winning. Though he has never before participated in a fourteen day, 3.500 kilometer marathon, he appears confident and prepared. As he explained to sports correspondent Barbra Warblers, "in my life I have no time for women, it is al run, run, run".
Kit Mambo, exquisite African lioness marathoner, competing against Rene Fromage with a chance of beating him. Possessing speed and speed, Kit has no desire to temper her fierce competitive drive.
Bruce Kwakimoto, Asian duck gymnast. Cult hero, combines the martial arts discipline of No can do with traditional gymnastic exercises to create a new and exciting art form. His performances electrify audiences, reflecting remarkable agility and control.
Kurt Wuffner, European dachshund ski skiier, charismatic European champion. Lives the life of  a loner and makes no apologies for it. Skiing is his whole life, and he expects to take home the gold in all skiing competitions.

 
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