Moshi Monsters: The Movie

Last updated

Moshi Monsters: The Movie
Moshi Monsters- The Movie.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWip Vernooij
Written bySteve Cleverley
Jocelyn Stevenson
Based on Moshi Monsters
Produced byJocelyn Stevenson
Giles Healy
Starring
Edited byMark Edwards
Music bySanj Sen
Production
companies
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • 20 December 2013 (2013-12-20)(United Kingdom)
Running time
81 minutes [2]
CountryUnited Kingdom [3]
LanguageEnglish
Budget£1.5 million [4] [ better source needed ]
Box office$2.9 million [5]

Moshi Monsters: The Movie is a 2013 British animated adventure film directed by Wip Vernooij and co-directed by Morgan Francis, based on the massive multiplayer online game Moshi Monsters . The film features the voices of Emma Tate, Tom Clarke Hill, Phillipa Alexander, and Keith Wickham. The film was released to UK and Irish cinemas on 20 December 2013 and grossed $2.9 million. The film’s plot follows Monsters Katsuma and Poppet, who star in a documentary about their home and are tasked with retrieving a giant golden egg named the Great Moshling Egg from Dr. Strangeglove and his glumpified sidekick Fishlips.

Contents

Although the film did not receive a theatrical release in North America, it was broadcast on Starz in May 2019, and was available on Hulu and Sling TV. Its North American release was cancelled. [6] [7]

Plot

In Monstro City, a peaceful island in the ocean, Monsters Poppet, Katsuma, and Mr. Snoodle are at home. Katsuma starts talking to Poppet and Snoodle about starring in Roary Scrawl's documentary about Monstro City. The trio goes into town to meet him. In Monstro City, a strange-looking Flumpy escapes with a Moshling named Fifi through the sewers. Poppet, Katsuma, and Mr. Snoodle enter the diner, where Roary Scrawl introduces them to fellow Monsters Zommer, Furi, Luvli, and Diavlo. He says he wants them all to star in his movie, which angers fame-hungry Katsuma. The news reports the missing Moshling epidemic and says that arch-criminals Dr. Strangeglove and Sweet Tooth are still on the loose. The news cuts to Buster Bumblechops talking about a mysterious Great Moshling Egg, which is now on display at his museum. Poppet thinks the egg is an addition to the movie, so they go to visit Buster. Dr. Strangeglove is seen spying in the sewers with the strange Flumpy, who turns out to be his sidekick Fishlips. Fifi is then put in the Glumping machine. Dr. Strangeglove and Fishlips steal the egg. Later, the six Moshi Monsters, Blinki, and Roary arrive at the museum. Buster wants to show them the egg only to find it's not there. They find out that the egg was replaced by a Glump. In its place is a holographic kit left by Dr. Strangeglove, ordering them to find three items by midnight - microwaveable Oobla Doobla, a Blue Jeeper's tears, and Frosted Rainbow Rox, which together will make the component to hatch the egg.

The monsters decide to go on a quest to retrieve the three artifacts, get the egg and defeat Dr. Strangeglove. The first stop the group goes to is Gombala Gombala Jungle. The Oobla Doobla is in the Wooly Blue Hoodoo Village. Poppet and Zommer go separate ways, but Katsuma and the others end up getting captured. Poppet and Zommer soon find them shortly after. The Wooly Blue Hoodoos challenge them to a game of limbo. Poppet fails, but Zommer wins by using his body parts. The monsters end up getting the first artifact.

During the path, the monsters fall into a trap and an underground candy cave and get stuck in hard candy. Sweet Tooth is revealed to be the one who tricked them. While they were distracted Diavlo melts the candy and gets everyone into the carts and they all flee from Sweet Tooth. Diavlo and Luvli escape but they get captured by Dr. Strangeglove, who then kidnaps Zommer. Later, Katsuma, Poppet, Mr. Snoodle, and Furi get to Jollywood. They soon meet Bobbi SingSong. Poppet spies a Blue Jeeper, who likes music and is a rare species, and tries to catch it. Katsuma falls in an accident, causing the Blue Jeeper to laugh-cry, and Poppet catches the tears by using the bottle. Now that Poppet and Katsuma have two artifacts, they try to get help searching for the last piece, but Furi wanders off (before he is captured) and Katsuma, Poppet and Mr. Snoodle get teleported to Mount Sillimanjaro after being distracted during Bobbi Singsong's kerfuffle.

Poppet and Katsuma begin to climb up Mount Sillimanjaro, but they then both have an argument and Katsuma shouts, causing an avalanche to begin. Before the trio becomes buried in snow, Katsuma pulls Poppet and Mr. Snoodle into a cave, causing the snow to cover the entrance up. Katsuma tearfully says it was all his fault because he had ruined everything and caused awful things to happen, and begins to cry. Poppet cheers him up by singing the song "We Can Do It" and they manage to find the Frosted Rainbow Rox. Katsuma, Poppet and Mr. Snoodle go to a wooden hut where Dr. Strangeglove stands in front of them. Soon, they fight over the egg, and Strangeglove escapes but Mr. Snoodle attacks him. Dr. Strangeglove asks Mr. Snoodle if he remembers that deep down, he is friendly. But before Mr. Snoodle can reply, Dr. Strangeglove later says that he lied and pushes Mr. Snoodle out of the hut and to his death. Poppet mourns over him and her and Katsuma get captured by Strangeglove.

In Strangeglove's ship, the Monsters are now locked in a cage about to be killed while Dr. Strangeglove and Fishlips take the ingredients to the egg. Suddenly, Poppet hears a noise and it is revealed that Mr. Snoodle survived the fall. He explains through his trumpeting that he survived by whistling. He landed safely in a balloon and flew back down to the Moshis. Due to Katsuma not knowing how to whistle, he instead only ends up blowing raspberries, but Mr. Snoodle manages to do it successfully. They all free the Moshlings and attack the Glumps, defeating Dr. Strangeglove in the process.

When they return to Monstro City, the Moshi Monsters bring the Great Moshling Egg back to the museum, just before it hatches. The creature is revealed to be a Mrs. Snoodle, and Katsuma finally whistles for the first time ever. Deep in the jungle, there are more rare eggs waiting to be hatched in the temple at the beginning of the movie. During the first part of the credits, Mr. Snoodle and Mrs. Snoodle do a dance called the Snoodle Doodle, and then pictures showing the aftermath of the film are shown on the left side of the screen while an instrumental of ‘’We Can Do It’’ plays.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Mind Candy and Cornwall-based animation studio Spider Eye Productions. [1] [8] It was financed and produced entirely in the UK. [9]

Reception

The film received mainly mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 10 critics, with an average rating of 4.8/10. [2]

Helen O'Hara of Empire magazine wrote: "For the very young, the surreal, sweet-toothed pleasures will be captivating. For the older audience member, it may be the longest 81 minutes they've ever spent." [10] Tim Robey of The Telegraph gave it 3 out of 5 and wrote: "The film was lulling and sweetly harmless; the franchise's 80 million global subscribers can't all be wrong." [11] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that "even fans of the online game Moshi Monsters may find the film version an incredibly annoying and baffling bore." [12] Mark Kermode gave the film 1 out of 5 stars, believing it may entertain very young children, but "will leave adults bored, stupefied, revolted and appalled, but mostly bored". [13]

Guy Lodge of Variety wrote: "Moshi Monsters: The Movie welcomes new converts with an effective combination of seizure-inducing color and insidiously catchy songs." He called the voicework "adequate" and called the songs a welcome distraction. [14]

Home media

Moshi Monsters: The Movie was released on DVD on Monday 14 April 2014 in the UK. [15] It came with either a Jackson or Mrs Snoodle trading card and a Mrs Snoodle code for online and the Moshi Village app. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badgers (animation)</span> Animated internet meme

"Badgers", also known informally as "Badger Badger Badger" or "The Badger Song", is an animated meme by British animator Jonti Picking, also known as Mr Weebl. It consists of 12 animated cartoon badgers doing callisthenics, a mushroom in front of a tree, and a snake in the desert. The cartoon is accompanied by a bass line, above which a voiceover sings the names of what is shown on screen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Jones (actor)</span> American actor, contortionist and mime

Doug Jones is an American actor, contortionist, and mime artist. He is best known for portraying non-human creatures, usually via heavy make-up and visual effects. He has most notably collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, appearing in the films Mimic (1997), Hellboy (2004), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), Crimson Peak (2015), and The Shape of Water (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Adler</span> American voice actor and director

Charles Michael Adler is an American voice actor and voice director. He is known for his roles as Buster Bunny on Tiny Toon Adventures, the Bigheads on Rocko's Modern Life, Ickis on Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Doctor Doom, Wrecker, Sabertooth and others in The Super Hero Squad Show, MODOK in various Marvel media, Cobra Commander in GI Joe: Resolute and Renegades, Starscream in the Transformers films, Mr. Whiskers in Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, Cow, Chicken and the Red Guy in Cow and Chicken, Professor Monkey-for-a-Head in Earthworm Jim, I.R. Baboon in I Am Weasel, T-Bone in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron and Tex Hex in Bravestarr.

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids is a supernatural children's book series. The books in the series are co-authored by Marcia T. Jones and Debbie Dadey. John Steven Gurney is the original illustrator of the series and designer of the characters. During the early 2000s, some of the books were reissued with cover illustrations by Nathan Hale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Drummond</span> Canadian voice actor (born 1969)

Brian Drummond is a Canadian voice actor. He formerly served on the board of directors for the New Westminster-based Urban Academy along with his wife, Laura Drummond, also a voice artist. Usually working in Vancouver, he is often cast in antagonistic or authoritative voice roles.

<i>Frankenstein Unbound</i> 1990 film by Roger Corman

Frankenstein Unbound is a 1990 science fiction horror film based on Brian Aldiss' 1973 novel of the same name, starring John Hurt, Raul Julia, Bridget Fonda, Jason Patric, and Nick Brimble. The film is co-written and directed by Roger Corman, returning to the director's chair after a hiatus of almost fifteen years. This is his final film as a director before his death in 2024. He was paid $1 million to direct.

<i>The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini</i> 1966 film by Don Weis

Ghost in the Invisible Bikini is a 1966 American fantasy comedy film. It is the seventh and last of American International Pictures' beach party films. The film features the cast cavorting in and around a haunted house and the adjacent swimming pool.

<i>Pajama Party</i> (film) 1964 beach party film directed by Don Weis

Pajama Party is a 1964 beach party film starring Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. This is the fourth in a series of seven beach films produced by American International Pictures. The other films in this series are Beach Party (1963), Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), Ski Party (1965) and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).

<i>Gerbert</i> (TV series) American childrens religious television series

Gerbert is an American Christian-themed children's television series produced by Brad Smith and created by Andy Holmes.

<i>Hollywood Boulevard</i> (1976 film) 1976 film by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante

Hollywood Boulevard is a 1976 American satirical exploitation film directed by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante, and starring Candice Rialson, Paul Bartel, and Mary Woronov. It follows an aspiring actress who has just arrived in Los Angeles, only to be hired by a reckless B movie film studio where she bears witness to a series of gruesome and fatal on-set accidents. The film blends elements of the comedy, thriller, and slasher film genres.

<i>Underfist: Halloween Bash</i> 2008 television program directed by Shaun Cashman

Underfist: Halloween Bash is an American animated spin-off special of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. It originally aired on Cartoon Network on October 12, 2008. The special was going to be the setup for a new series spin-off of Grim & Evil, but Maxwell Atoms's contract with Cartoon Network expired before he moved to Disney Channel for the TV series Fish Hooks, and the special was ultimately the finale of the Grim & Evil franchise.

<i>Wubbzys Big Movie!</i> 2008 American TV series or program

Wubbzy's Big Movie! is a 2008 American animated comedy anthology film based on the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! television series. It premiered on the Starz Kids & Family channel on August 29, 2008. The film was produced by Starz Media and Bolder Media in association with Film Roman and distributed by Starz Distribution.

<i>Spook Busters</i> 1946 film by William Beaudine

Spook Busters is a 1946 American comedy horror film, directed by William Beaudine and starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the fourth film in the series of forty eight.

<i>Moshi Monsters</i> 2008 childrens video game

Moshi Monsters was a British children's web browser massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) aimed at children aged 6–12, with over 80 million registered users in 150 territories worldwide. Users could choose from one of six virtual pet monsters they could create, name and nurture. Once their pet had been customized, players could navigate their way around Monstro City, take daily puzzle challenges to earn 'Rox', play games, personalize their room and communicate with other users in a safe environment.

<i>Monsters vs. Aliens</i> (franchise) DreamWorks Animation media franchise

Monsters vs. Aliens is a media franchise made by DreamWorks Animation. The franchise began with the 2009 film Monsters vs. Aliens and has since grown to include two short films, a television special, a television series, and a tie-in video game.

<i>Tales of Halloween</i> 2015 American film

Tales of Halloween is a 2015 American comedy horror anthology film consisting of ten interlocking segments, each revolving around the holiday indicated by the title. Segments were directed by Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Lucky McKee, Andrew Kasch, Paul Solet, John Skipp, Adam Gierasch, Jace Anderson, Mike Mendez, Ryan Schifrin, and Dave Parker.

<i>Xuxinha e Guto contra os Monstros do Espaço</i> 2005 film by Moacyr Góes and Clewerson Saremba

Xuxinha e Guto contra os Monstros do Espaço is a 2005 Brazilian animated adventure film written by Flávio de Souza and directed by Moacyr Góes and Clewerson Saremba, produced by Diler Trindade and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Starring Xuxa Meneghel and Pedro Malta with the participation of the voice actors Flávia Saddy, Bernardo Coutinho, Guilherme Briggs, Gustavo Pereira, Milton Gonçalves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabio Coala</span> Brazilian comics artist

Fabio Coala is a Brazilian comics artist. After five years of working as a firefighter, he created the website Mentirinhas in which he publishes, starting in 2010, webcomics with different characters. One of the main characters is "O Monstro", a toy monster that helps children with problems by becoming a real monster for them. The first Monster's printed graphic novel was released in 2013 after a successful crowdfunding campaign and, in the following year, the book won the Troféu HQ Mix in the category "Best Independent Publication". A Coala's comic strip called "Perfeição" ("Perfection") was also adapted in 2014 as a short animated movie by Jacob Frey and Markus Kranzler. The movie, called The Present, has won 77 awards from several film festivals and has garnered critical acclaim.

<i>Lego DC: Shazam!: Magic and Monsters</i> 2020 animated superhero film

Lego DC Shazam!: Magic and Monsters is a 2020 American animated superhero comedy film based on the DC Comics and Lego brands. The film is produced by DC Entertainment, The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the tenth and final Lego DC Comics film and was released on digital on April 28, and on Blu-ray and DVD on June 16, 2020. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the humor and action.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wolfe, Jennifer (20 August 2013). "Mind Candy Confirms First Ever Moshi Monsters Movie". Animation World Network. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Moshi Monsters: The Movie (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 10 October 2021. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  3. "Moshi Monsters The Movie (2013)". BFI. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023.
  4. "Moshi Monsters: The Movie (2013)". IMDb. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  5. "Moshi Monsters: The Movie". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  6. Grant Hermanns (28 April 2020). "Starz Unveils May 2020 Calendar Including Mother's Day Collection". ComingSoon.net.
  7. "Watch Moshi Monsters: The Movie Streaming Online | Hulu (Free Trial)". www.hulu.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  8. "Moshi Monster The Movie". Spider-Eye.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. Rhodri Marsden (17 April 2014). "Moshi Monster creator: The man behind a British success story". The Independent .
  10. Helen O'Hara (16 December 2013). "Moshi Monsters: The Movie". Empire .
  11. Tim Robey (19 December 2013). "Moshi Monsters: The Movie, review" . The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. Peter Bradshaw (19 December 2013). "Moshi Monsters: The Movie – review". The Guardian .
  13. Mark Kermode (22 December 2013). "Moshi Monsters: The Movie – review". The Guardian .
  14. Lodge, Guy (17 December 2013). "Film Review: 'Moshi Monsters: The Movie'". Variety .
  15. "DVD Review: MOSHI MONSTERS - THE MOVIE". STARBURST Magazine.
  16. "Moshi Monsters with Trading Card and Moshling Code". Amazon UK. 14 April 2014.