Detailed item info | Movie description | Facing imminent death while laying eggs at Tweedy's English farm, a group of chickens, led by the determined Ginger (Julia Sawahla, BBC-TV's ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS), plan to escape their prisonlike coop. The situation goes from bad to worse when the sinister Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) decides to stop selling eggs and use the hens as the main ingredient in chicken pot pies. However, some hope literally falls from the sky in the form of Rocky (Mel Gibson), an American rooster who promises to teach the chickens how to fly. As the hens begin their struggle to get airborne, the monstrous pie-making machine arrives, giving the chickens precious little time to make their great escape.
Aardman Studios' first full-length feature film is a stunning showcase of stop-motion animation. Utilizing the unique Plasticine designs of the acclaimed WALLACE & GROMIT and CREATURE COMFORT shorts, CHICKEN RUN features vibrant visuals and colorful characters that are immediately endearing. (The naive and constantly knitting Babs, voiced by Jane Horrocks, is particularly hilarious.) With its clever writing, witty film references, and pitch-perfect combination of comedy, drama, and romance, CHICKEN RUN is one of those rare movies that genuinely appeals to viewers of every age.
| | Credits | | Producer: | Aardman Animations |
| | Details | | Sound: | Stereo Sound, Surround Sound |
| | Notes | Theatrical release: June 21, 2000 (N.Y./L.A.); June 23, 2000 (national).
The Plasticine characters in CHICKEN RUN were often moved 24 times for every second of exposed film. At the height of the movie's production, up to 40 stop-motion animators worked around the clock to capture just 10 seconds of footage per day.
Phil Daniels was the star of the cult film QUADROPHENIA (1979) and also contributed vocals to the 1994 British hit single "Parklife" by Blur.
Paul Clinton of cnn.com, Jan Stuart and Gene Seymour of Newsday, Desson Howe of the Washington Post, A.O. Scott of the New York Times, Jeff Strickler of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, the Austin Chronicle, and Time magazine named CHICKEN RUN one of the 10 best films of 2000.
The National Board of Review, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Broadcast Film Critics Association named CHICKEN RUN Best Animated Feature of 2000.
The Las Vegas Film Critics Society named CHICKEN RUN Best Family Film of 2000.
CHICKEN RUN was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture--Musical or Comedy.
CHICKEN RUN was the feature-film winner at the 15th Annual Genesis Awards: "The only major media and arts award concerning animal issues, the Genesis Award is presented by The Ark Trust, Inc. to honor outstanding individuals in the major media and artistic community who have communicated animal-rights and animal-welfare issues with courage, artistry and integrity."
| | Editorial reviews | "...Poultry has never been so stuffed with personality....A little slapstick, a little action, rich characters and a whopping serving of wit. All baked to near-perfection." -- 3.5 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.2D - Susan Wloszczyna (06/21/2000)
"...Aardman's laid a golden egg which offers plenty of poultry powered thrills..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Total Film - p.83 - Dan Jolin (07/01/2000)
"...[CHICKEN RUN] will hypnotize the young...[And] is packed with the kind of detail that adults will like, too....It's immensely satisfying, a divinely relaxed and confident film."
New York Times - pp.E1-E6 - Elvis Mitchell (06/21/2000)
"...Devilishly clever Claymation..."
Rolling Stone - p.133 - Peter Travers (06/08/2000)
"...Pleasures abound, particularly the dizzying pie-machine sequence." -- 3 out of 5 stars -- A Satisfying Rental
Premiere - p.98 - Christopher Kelly (12/01/2000)
"...CHICKEN RUN is a spectacular piece of stop-motion, clay-figure animation....A world of visual miracles..."
Rolling Stone - p.146 - Peter Travers (07/06/2000)
"...The humor in CHICKEN RUN is genial and playful, able to treat the wildest concepts with total seriousness....The film never loses its priceless stamp of individuality..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (06/21/2000)
"...A magical new animated film that looks and sound like no other....Not only funny and wicked, clever and visually inventive, but kind and sweet. Tender and touching..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (06/23/2000)
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