In 1993, Cats Don't Dance originated as a proposed film collaboration between Michael Jackson and David Kirschner. It was announced as a film combining live action and animation, with Jackson attached to star and consult on the music and choreography. By 1994, Jackson had dropped out of the project. The project was reverted to Turner Feature Animation.
The film's musical numbers were written by Randy Newman. In 1996, Turner Broadcasting System was merged with Time Warner, and as a result, Cats Don't Dance was the only fully animated feature produced by Turner Feature Animation. The film's production took four-and-a-half years to be completed.[2]
Cats Don't Dance was released in the United States on March 26, 1997, by Warner Bros. The film received generally positive reviews from critics. However, it was a box-office failure, grossing $3.5 million in the United States and Canada. The film's producer David Kirschner blamed Warner Bros. for a failed marketing campaign and lack of promotional tie-ins. Cats Don't Dance won two Annie Awards, Best Animated Feature and Best Music. It was the first non-Disney animated film to win in either category.
Plot
In an alternate 1940s, in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, Daniel "Danny" T. Cat, an optimistic orange tabby cat from Kokomo, Indiana, travels to Hollywood in hopes of starting an acting career there. After meeting a young penguin named Pudge, Danny is selected by agent Farley Wink to feature in a film that is in production at Mammoth Pictures called Lil' Ark Angel, alongside Wink's secretary, a cynical Turkish Angora cat named Sawyer. Upon joining fellow animals—Tilly the hippo, Cranston the goat, Frances the fish, and T.W the tortoise—Danny is dismayed on learning how minor his role is and tries weaseling his way into more time in the spotlight. Danny unwittingly angers Darla Dimple, a popular yet spoiled child actress and star of the film; she promptly has her gigantic gorilla-like butler Max intimidate Danny against further attempts to enlarge his part.
Danny learns from the studio's mascot Woolie the elephant that human actors are normally given more important roles than animals, whereas animals themselves end up getting minor and often thankless roles to the point of having little to no leverage in show business. The next day, Danny reminds the other animals of their past aspirations by instigating a mass musical performance in an alleyway, which draws Darla's attention. Overhearing Danny's intention to make an appeal to Mammoth Pictures head L.B. Mammoth, Darla invites Danny to her mansion and grants him and the animals full use of the Li'l Ark Angel stage on the day of a press conference held by Mammoth, on the condition that Danny not reveal her involvement in this ostensibly charitable act. Danny happily accepts the offer, unaware that Darla is secretly setting the animals up for failure to prevent them from stealing her spotlight.
As the animals prepare their performance on the ark, Darla and Max create a catastrophic flood that washes through Mammoth studios, for which Mammoth blames and dismisses the animals. When the satisfied Darla arrives to thank Danny, he is admonished for his naivety and advised by Woolie to return to Kokomo.
That night, Sawyer takes to heart Danny's attempts to keep the animals' dreams alive and tries catching him at the bus stop, but narrowly misses him. However, after a comment from the bus driver and seeing Pudge wander the streets, Danny stops the bus and secretly invites Sawyer, Woolie, Tillie, Cranston, Frances and T.W. to the Lil' Ark Angel premiere. Danny battles Max and sends him flying away by deflating Darla's parade balloon, then calls the audience's attention once the screening ends, only to be mocked by Darla, but Sawyer brings the others backstage to help Danny and Pudge. After Danny convinces them not to give up on their dreams no matter what the humans have said or done, the eight animals put on a musical performance that entertains and impresses the viewers.
Meanwhile, Darla's attempts to sabotage the performance do drastically enhance it, bringing a standing ovation from the audience. A frustrated Darla admits responsibility for the flood, inadvertently exposing herself to the public and Mammoth in the process. Darla tries hiding her true colors, but Pudge pulls a lever, which causes her to fall into a trapdoor. Danny and Sawyer admit their feelings for each other and the animals achieve their dreams for larger roles while Darla is demoted to janitor.
Voice cast
Scott Bakula as Danny, an ambitious, optimistically naïve, yet well-meaning orange tabby cat from Kokomo, Indiana, who wishes to become a famous Hollywood star.
Jasmine Guy as Sawyer, a beautiful yet jaded and sarcastic Turkish Angora cat secretary who serves as Danny's love interest and then later girlfriend.
Matthew Herried as Peabo "Pudge" Pudgemyer, a little penguin and Danny's first friend who looks up to him as a big brother.
Ashley Peldon as Darla Dimple, the villainous human child star of Hollywood. She conceals her anger and sinister nature from her fans and superiors through a facade of sweetness and innocence, and is willing to do anything to maintain her star status. She is referred to as "America's sweetheart, lover of children and animals!"
Kathy Najimy as Tillie Hippo, an optimistic hippopotamus who tries to find the best in every situation.
John Rhys-Davies as Woolie the Mammoth, the aging Asian elephant who portrays the mascot for Mammoth Pictures. He originally came to Hollywood to write and perform music where he acts as a mentor to Danny upon befriending him.
Mark Dindal as Max, Darla's gargantuanvalet who obeys her every command and will not hesitate to punish anyone who crosses her, serving as the direct force that Darla physically lacks as a child.
Frank Welker as Farley Wink, a human agent for animals and Sawyer's boss.
David Johansen as Bus Driver, a man whose insults towards the animals getting fired from Mammoth Studios inspire Danny with his last plan to give the animals their long-awaited stardom.
Dee Bradley Baker as Kong, a gorilla who appears while Danny and Sawyer are going to the set of Li'l Ark Angel at Mammoth Studios.
Cats Don't Dance originated as a proposed film collaboration between Michael Jackson (pictured here in 1988) and David Kirschner (pictured here in 2024).
In March 1993, Kirschner and Michael Jackson negotiated with 20th Century Fox to establish a production company specializing in live-action and animated films. Meanwhile, Jackson would enter into the exclusive, three-year agreement in ten months, following the expiration of his first-look deal for Nation Films at Columbia Pictures.[5] Initially a hybrid live-action/CGI animated film, Jackson was intended to act, produce, and consult on the music and choreography.[6] By November 1994, it was implied that Jackson was no longer involved in the film.[7]
Gene Kelly was the choreography consultant.[8] The production staff met Kelly three of four times, socializing about approaching musicals and the conception of older musicals.[9] Painting service for the animation was finished by John Whitney's USAnimation.[10]
Concept and writing
The first script for the film was completed by June 1993, which featured animated depictions of multiple celebrities from the Golden Age of Hollywood.[6] Another script included four non-anthropomorphic stray cats living in the sets and studio backlots.[9] The final screenplay was inspired by a story from executive producer Sandy Russell Gartin.[11] The production pitched the concept in multiple variations from featuring a non-speaking animal to a universe with animals and humans.[9]
During production, management at Turner Feature Animation changed repeatedly and each member attempted to revise the film's concept drastically. One executive suggested updating the film's setting to the 1950s and include rock-and-roll music in the middle of the film.[9]
On June 10, 1996, The Patriot-News stated that René Auberjonois joined the voice cast of the film.[14] Dindal's portrayal of Max was initially a temporary scratch track. Dindal wanted Max to be voiced by a professional actor; he kept his vocals in as the film ran out of money.[9]
Although Cats Don't Dance was originally set to be released in October 1996,[22] it was theatrically released on March 26, 1997 by Warner Bros. through its Family Entertainment label. Pullet Surprise, a newly produced Looney Tunes short film featuring Foghorn Leghorn, preceded the film's theatrical release.[23] A merchandise campaign was planned but failed.[2]
With failed marketing and a few promotional tie-ins, Cats Don't Dance was a box-office failure.[2] In the U.S. and Canada, the film only grossed $3.5 million against its $32 million production budget.[1] Dindal told Animation World Magazine: "I think very objectively [Warner Bros.] looked at it and decided there wouldn't be a market for it. It wasn't something they responded to, they didn't think people would eat it up."[9]
Critical response
Despite being a box-office failure, Cats Don't Dance received generally positive reviews from critics, with some reviewers stating that the film surpassed the artistry of animated films released by Disney.[2]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 24 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "Cats Don't Dance, but they should easily entertain all-ages audiences thanks to some colorful animation, sharp humor, and a catchy soundtrack."[26]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 62 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[27] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[citation needed]
Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote: "Decked out with sharp and colorful design work, some well-drawn characters and six snappy Randy Newman tunes, this first entry from Turner Feature Animation goes down very easily but lacks a hook".[28]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars out of four. He wrote the film "is not compelling and it's not a breakthrough, but on its own terms, it works well. Whether this will appeal to kids is debatable; the story involves a time and a subject they're not much interested in. But the songs by Randy Newman are catchy, the look is bright, the spirits are high and fans of Hollywood's golden age might find it engaging".[29] John Petrakis, reviewing for the Chicago Tribune, noted Cats Don't Dance would appeal more for adults than children, but provided a good moral lesson on prejudice. He further wrote the film has "the sharp irreverence of the brilliant Who Framed Roger Rabbit. There are plenty of clever asides and witty one-liners, not to mention a few terrific supporting characters".[30]
Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times summarized in his review: "While the animated characters, bright colors and an appealing Randy Newman score may keep the children content, Cats Don't Dance is no saccharine fantasy. Its Hollywood references and dark satire constitute its real strengths".[31] Jack Mathews, reviewing for the Los Angeles Times, described the film as a "startling miscalculation". He next wrote: "It has lots of cute animals, some jaunty Randy Newman songs and solid, if uninspired, animation work. But blending parody and nostalgia about an era half a century removed from the lives of the core audience seems a foolish indulgence".[32] Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote the film was "colorful, but unimaginatively drawn".[33] Also from The Washington Post, Jane Horwitz felt children "won't get the references to old movies or stars like Bette Davis and Clark Gable. Still, the action (however confusing), the music and the characters should hold even toddlers for a while".[34]
Awards and nominations
Cats Don't Dance was nominated for eight Annie Awards, and won two for Best Animated Feature and Best Music in a Feature Production. It was the first non-Disney winner in either category.[17] Despite the mostly positive reception, Cats Don't Dance was one of several recipients for the Founders Award from the 1997Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. They cited the film for being "loud, unfunny, and completely over the heads of its intended audience".[35]
↑Frook, John Evan (March 21, 1993). "Jackson, Kirschner talk pix". Variety. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
↑Bates, James; Apodaca, Patrice (June 20, 1996). "Stalking the King of Animation". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2025. Turner Broadcasting System, which is scheduled to be swallowed by Warner Bros. parent Time Warner Inc. pending regulatory approvals, plans the comedy Cats Don't Dance.
↑Figueiredo, Rodney (September 27, 2002). "Cats Don't Dance". Animated Views. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
↑Ebert, Roger (March 28, 1997). "Cats Don't Dance". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022– via RogerEbert.com.
↑Kempley, Rita (March 1997). "'Cats Don't Dance". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
↑Horwitz, Jane (March 28, 1997). "The Family Filmgoer". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
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