Creature Comforts: Difference between revisions
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The film shows various animals in a zoo being interviewed about their living conditions. These include [[turtles]], a female [[gorilla]], a family of [[polar bears]] and a melancholic [[cougar|puma]] who complains about the lack of "space" and the "grass with pollen that gives me hay fever every day!" |
The film shows various animals in a zoo being interviewed about their living conditions. These include [[turtles]], a female [[gorilla]], a family of [[polar bears]] and a melancholic [[cougar|puma]] who complains about the lack of "space" and the "grass with pollen that gives me hay fever every day!" |
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The dialogue was created by interviewing residents of a housing development, an old folks home and a family that lived in a local shop (the polar bears). [[Clay animation]] was then created that attributed the answers to zoo animals. One of the most popular characters was the puma. He was in fact a [[Brazilian]] student who lived in a |
The dialogue was created by interviewing residents of a housing development, an old folks home and a family that lived in a local shop (the polar bears). [[Clay animation]] was then created that attributed the answers to zoo animals. One of the most popular characters was the puma. He was in fact a [[Brazilian]] student who lived in a hotel and was talking about his own situation. (Source: DVD audio commentary). |
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The film won an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film|Animated Short Film]], beating off the challenge of two other films — one of which, (''[[A Grand Day Out]]''), was also a creation of Nick Park. |
The film won an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film|Animated Short Film]], beating off the challenge of two other films — one of which, (''[[A Grand Day Out]]''), was also a creation of Nick Park. |
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Revision as of 17:39, 6 June 2007
| Creature Comforts | |
|---|---|
 Creature Comforts DVD cover | |
| Created by | Peter Lord, Nick Park, David Sproxton |
| Starring | The Great British Public |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Producer | Aardman Animations |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | November 17 1989 - 2003 – Present |
Creature Comforts was originally a 1989 animated short film made in Britain about how animals feel about living in a zoo, and later became a series of commercials for Heat Electric. In 2003 a television series in the same style was released.
The original film
The original Creature Comforts was conceived and directed by Nick Park, and produced by Aardman Animations featuring the voice acting of the Great British public. It was produced as part of a series called Lip Synch for Channel 4 and can be found online exclusively at AtomFilms.
The film shows various animals in a zoo being interviewed about their living conditions. These include turtles, a female gorilla, a family of polar bears and a melancholic puma who complains about the lack of "space" and the "grass with pollen that gives me hay fever every day!"
The dialogue was created by interviewing residents of a housing development, an old folks home and a family that lived in a local shop (the polar bears). Clay animation was then created that attributed the answers to zoo animals. One of the most popular characters was the puma. He was in fact a Brazilian student who lived in a hotel and was talking about his own situation. (Source: DVD audio commentary).
The film won an Academy Award for Animated Short Film, beating off the challenge of two other films — one of which, (A Grand Day Out), was also a creation of Nick Park.
This soon led to a series of British television commercials for the Electricity Board which were made in the same style, featuring a closing voice-over by Johnny Morris. Ironically, many members of the public mistakenly believed these commercials were advertising gas heating, the main competitor to electricity.
The series
In 2003, a series of Creature Comforts films was made for the British television network ITV by Aardman, with episodes directed by Richard Goleszowski. On ITV, the series is sponsored by British Gas. This series since aired as re-runs on Comedy Central, usually late at night. Starting in 2005 it has also aired in Australia on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, in The Netherlands on Veronica, on pay-TV channel UK.TV and on internet peer-to-peer TV Joost Aardman Animations Channel.
Another series of 10-minute episodes was aired on ITV, starting October 30, 2005. A 30-minute special in which the regular characters attempt to perform and interpret the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was first aired on 25 December 2005. The special was broadcast in Canada on the CBC on December 26 2005.
Humour pervades all aspects of the series, for example:
- A highly philosophical speech, ironically given by an amoeba.
- An alligator praising her neighbourhood, the sewer.
- Animals being scared of their own terrain (hydrophobic sharks and walruses, birds afraid of heights, etc.)
- Background details such as:
- Insects swarming into a gap in the paving stones when a slug mimics a bird call.
- Greys blinking in unison.
- A lab mouse being interviewed while another mouse with a human ear on his back walks by.
The series gently mocks the constructed performance sometimes given by members of the general public when being interviewed for television vox-pops and documentaries. This includes the attempts to present a cogent but simple conclusive answer to a general question — a sound bite — and the attempts to present a cheery spin on a complex issue while the subject attempts to hide their personal issues and problems with the issue.
Regular characters
The following characters make regular appearances throughout the first series. These animals are always portrayed by the same interviewees to maintain consistency throughout the series.
- Pickles the Guide Dog — a guide dog who seems vacant and has a high-pitched, exaggerated laugh.
- Fluffy the Hamster — A depressed hamster who has a pessimistic view on everything including: the beach, clowns etc.
- Trixie and Capt. Cuddlepuss — a dog and a cat respectively who seem like a bored, married couple who argue over cats having bad breath or Yorkshire terriers wearing lipstick.
- Gary and Nigel — Two garden slugs who seem like gardening professionals and get crawled on by ladybirds. Nigel's wife is rather overweight and is reported to be on a diet (of leaves).
- Sid and Nancy, the Shed Rats — two rats who seem to be married. Sid wishes to build another shed so he can listen to the football , however Nancy thinks he wants to view pornography.
- Ted and Stan — baby birds, possible brothers
- Victor the Geordie mouse
- Frank the tortoise
American version
In February 2006, it was announced that CBS has commissioned seven episodes of an American version of the show, to feature members of the American public. The episodes began airing on June 4, 2007 at 8pm ET [1]. Moreover, CH will simulcast the show in Canada. The American version is being co-produced by Aardman Animations and The Gotham Group, and is currently in production. Executive Producer: Kit Boss, Directors: Merlin Crossingham & Dave Osmand; Producer: Gareth Owen
Holiday themed promotional ads for the American version have been broadcast as of late December, 2006. Beneath the show logo is the message "coming soon".
A special short was aired in the UK as part of Red Nose Day 2007.
Credits
All voice acting was performed, unscripted, by The Great British Public.
1989
- Models and Sets: Michael Wright, Greg Boulton, John Parsons, Cliff Thorne
- Animal Sculptures: Debbie Smith
- Photography: David Sproxton, David Alex Riddett, Andy MacCormack, Fred Reed
- Interviewer: Julie Sedgewick
- Editor: William Ennals
- Dubbing Mixer: Aard Writz
- Assistant Producer: Alan Gardner
- Producer: Sara Mullock
- Director and Animator: Nick Park
2003
- Created by: Nick Park
- Animation: Phil Beglan, Seamus Malone, Claire Billett, Suzy Fagan, Terry Brain, Pascual Perez, Darren Burgess, Dan Ramsey, Dug Calder, Chris Sadler, Miki Cash, Andy Symanowski, Stefano Cassini, Darren Thompson, Merlin Crossingham, Rich Webber, Jo Fenton, Ian Whitlock, Jay Grace, Lee Whilton
- Computer Animation: Stefan Marjoram
- Additional Animation: Peter Peake, Dave Bennett
- Assistant Animators: Shona Andrews, Alison Evans, Maria Hopkinson-Hassell, Jack Slade, Andy Spilsted
- Character Design: Michael Salter
- Additional Character Design: Sylvia Bennion, Nigel Davies
- Senior Model Maker: Kate Anderson
- Model Makers: Arlene Arrell, Rob Horvath, Chris Brock, Neil Jones, Ciare Drewett, Virginia Mason, Amanda Darby, Dave Pedley, Chris Entwistle, Debbie Smith, Cath Ford, Lee Tetzner, Ben Greenwood, Harriett Thomas, Mick Hockney, James Young
- Art Direction: Kitty Clay
- Set Build: Cliff Thorne Scenic Construction
- Senior Prop Maker: Jane Kite
- Props and Set Makers: Justeen Bailey, Rachel Moore, Claire Baker, Bridget Phelan, Andy Brown, Manon Roberts, Duncan Miller, Kathryn Williams
- Directors of Photography: Andy Mack, Frank Passingham
- Lighting Camera: Toby Howell
- Additional Lighting Camera: Charles Copping
- Camera Assistant: Churton Season
- Gaffer: Richard Hosken, Clive Scott
- Riger: Alan "Scratch" Scrase
- Script Editor: Toby Farrow
- Interviewers: Karen Bidewell, Wendy Rickard, Mindell Bowen, Graeme Rose, Steve Cole, Katherine Towsey, Andrew Carter, Zbigniew Trzaska, Jane Devoy, Gerald Tyler, Kim Lenaghan, Rob Young
- Sound Recordists: Toby Hughes, Sean Millar, Mark Swinglehurst, Adam Tavner
- Key Transcriber: Susan Fry
- Associate Producers: Claire Jennings, Abbie Ross
- Production Manager: Gareth Owen
- Producton Coordinator: Helen Argo
- Pre-Production Coordinators: Cindy Jones, Bridget Mazzey
- Floor Manager: Richard "Beeky" Beek
- Floor Assistant: Dean Ferris
- Supervising Sound Editor: James Mather
- Assistant Sound Editor: Joseph Stracey
- Dubbing Studio: Wounded Buffalo
- Foley Artist: Paul Ackerman
- Editors: Will Ennals, Andrew Hassenruck, Dan Lincoln, Dave MacCormick
- Assistant Editor: Stuart Bruce
- Voice Breakdown: Helen Garrard, Nick Upton
- Visual Effects: Mike Shirra
- Post Production: The Pink House
- Title Music: Rory McLeod
- Incidental Music: Mcasso
- Title Sequence: Nick Mackie, Dan Lane, Nigel Davies
- Executive Producers: Nick Park, Peter Lord, David Sproxton
- Producer: Julie Lockhart
- Director: Richard Goleszowski
See also
External links
