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Young World
Friendly monsters, cheerful ogres
Ziya Us Salam
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Shrek, Monster Inc. and Jimmy Neutron- Boy Genius have taken animated movies into the glittering lights of the Oscars. With monsters, ogres and boy geniuses that you would love these films are set to add spice to your life.
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Jimmy Neutron... boy genius on a rescue mission.
A man is tortured by dipping him in milk.
Birds explode so that you and I can fry an egg.
Disney characters walk out of comic books and on to the roads. There are the three little pigs, the three bears, three blind mice and a big bad wolf. All in a world which is "real'' without being so.
A child decides to send a satellite into orbit before breakfast. No teddy bears or Tommy, the pet dog for him. He prefers his robot. A bright and cheerful monster "scares'' you only if you "care''. Otherwise, he is fun to be with and not quite ugly.
Surprised? Watch "Shrek'', an animation film in the running for an Oscar, which was released late last year across India. Or just wait a while and catch "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' on the big screen. Or just cuddle up to "Monster, Inc'' over the week-end. Cuddle up to a monster? You must be kidding! Not really. For, the "Monster'' need not be repugnant or reprehensible. He may just doll up and raise a good laugh or two. After all, you don't get nominated for an Oscar if you are an average monster on an average dark street. You have to be special. Or, may be a "Boy Genius''. All three animated movies are in the race for the Oscars.
Shrek... Princess Fiona finds she is not easily scared.
Incidentally, "Monsters, Inc'' is also in the fray for best Music Score, Music Song and Sound Editing. Just making sure that the "Monsters'' get you, one would say. Ogre of "Shrek'' has been nominated for best adapted screenplay.
People in the know of things are not ready to hedge their bets on the fastest horse. A Columbia Tristar official was so impressed with a private viewing of "Monsters, Inc'' in Mumbai that he rushed in double quick time to Delhi to see the film a second time. The film is yet to hit theatres across the country. "We must have more such films,'' he gushed. "They are so much better than the average pot-boiler churned out by Bollywood dream merchants,'' he added.
"Such films work only if adults are receptive to animation films. In the West they are okay because cartoons preceded television. Here it is not the case. It is a case of getting the audience used to paying for animation films, just like a section pays for watching art films. Still, there is a market for animation films in metropolises.''
Incidentally, India may just be saying "hello" to animation films. This past year, we had "Pandavas'' that was not exactly lapped up at the box office but courted controversy during the National Awards nomination. Soon, we will get to see Tabu in the title role in "Bhagmati'', a film announced a couple of years ago and poised for completion.
Now back to the world of "Monsters'' and "Boy Genius''. Well, "Monsters Inc.'' is the largest scare factory in the monster world, but scaring children is not as easy a job as it seems: children are toxic and direct contact with them can be catastrophic. When Boo, a child visitor from the human world, finds the Monster world, everything goes topsy-turvy, and top "Scarer" — James Sullivan — a monster called Sulley, and his assistant, a one-eyed monster, prove they may not be as tough as they look. The film is said to have a cheerful, high-energy level. It presents an opportunity for endless laughs and a few moments of fear. All because the "Monster'' is not dark or ugly.
Much like Ogre in "Shrek'' — Chris Farley was the original choice for the voice of Ogre before Mike Myers came on the scene. Here too Ogre does not frighten you. He gently teases you, makes you close your eyes in mock scare. And makes you laugh along. And even like him.
The film marks the return of Eddie Murphy to the world of bipeds and quadrapeds. He gave the voice over for Donkey in "Shrek", which is all about Farquaad's desire to marry Princess Fiona after the mirror gives him three choices — Cinderella, Snow White or Fiona. Well, Fiona it has to be.
Monster's Inc... Sulley and his assistant are not as tough as they look.
The third film in the fray, "Boy Genius'' is an animated comedy about a boy who makes Tom Swift look leaden-footed, a boy who devises devices to shrink his teachers and undertakes a mission to rescue his parents — and the other children in town — from evil aliens who kidnap all the adults on Earth.
Now which of these "beyond lifelike'' yet so "real'' film will wear an Oscar? Well, irrespective of the eventual winner, all three stand out in a crowd of cardboard characters so often found populating animation films. Their small talk raises a big laugh. Their foray adds spice to our life.
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