Robin Robin

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Robin Robin
Robin Robin.jpg
Poster
Directed byDan Ojari
Mikey Please
Written byDan Ojari
Mikey Please
Sam Morrison
Produced byHelen Argo
Danny Gallagher
StarringBronte Carmichael
Richard E. Grant
Gillian Anderson
Adeel Akhtar
CinematographyDave Alex Riddett
Edited byChris Morrell
Music byBen Please
Beth Porter
Production
company
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • 24 November 2021 (2021-11-24)
Running time
32 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish

Robin Robin is a 2021 stop-motion animated musical short film produced by Aardman Animations, created and directed by Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, and written by Ojari, Please, and Sam Morrison.

Contents

Premise

When a robin grows up raised by a family of mice, [1] her differences become more apparent every time they try to sneak into a Who-Man's house. Now, she sets off on a daring heist to steal a shiny star and to prove to her family, and a malicious cat, that she can be a really good mouse.

Cast

Production

Development

In November 2019, Aardman Animations and Netflix announced they would co-produce the half-hour stop-motion animated musical special Robin Robin, directed by Dan Ojari and Mikey Please from a script written by Ojari, Please, and Sam Morrison and Sarah Cox producing the special. [2] [3]

Casting

In December 2020, Bronte Carmichael, Richard E Grant, Gillian Anderson, and Adeel Akhtar were cast in the special. [3]

Filming

In November 2019, it was announced that filming would start in 2020 and is the first Aardman project to use needle felting instead of plasticine. [2]

Music

In December 2020, The Bookshop Band was revealed as the composers with directors Dan Ojari and Mikey Please doing the lyrics for the songs. [3] The orchestra was composed by the Bristol Ensemble.

Release

On 22 November 2019, the special was expected to be released in 2020. The special premiered on 27 November 2021 in Asia, and on the 24th in North America. On 17 June 2021, the official trailer was released confirming the release date. [4] The short was part of the world touring screening The Animation Showcase 2021.

Reception

It was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 94th Academy Awards. [5] [6] [7] It was also nominated for Animation at the British Academy Children's Awards 2022. [8]

Future

In a interview with Variety, Micky quoted “We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”

Ojari explains. “We would come in some days and be like: What about this idea? And we had a sort of slate on the wall with 10 different ideas in different stages of development.” Of those, three moved forward: a comicbook, “Deadrock,” yet to be published, a TV series pilot, called “Alan the Infinite,” whose trailer can be seen here, and “Robin Robin.” “It started out just as an idea of a bird raised by some mice — a Christmas thing with a few ingredients — and then we just worked it up, mostly in one evening, into a one pager. It was like a treatment at that point”. [9]

Merchandise

In March 2021, Aardman Animation made a licensing deal with both MacMillan Children's Books and Aurora World for tie-in books and plush toys, respectively.

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References

  1. Arthouse Advisory: This year’s Oscar-nominated animated films are creative and compelling, but also are for adult eyes - TheBurg
  2. 1 2 Alberge, Dalya (22 November 2019). "A grand way out: Wallace & Gromit makers ditch BBC for Netflix film". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Milligan, Mercedes (3 December 2020). "Gillian Anderson, Richard E. Grant Lead 'Robin Robin' Cast". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  4. @NetflixUK (3 December 2020). "Things you need to know about Robin Robin: – It's a stop-motion, musical, festive special from @aardman (!) – @GillianA and @RichardEGrant lend their voices (!!)– It arrives on Netflix in 2021" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  5. Cohn, Gabe (8 February 2022). "2022 Oscars Nominees List". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  6. 2022|Oscars.org
  7. 'The Windshield Wiper' Wins Best Animated Short Film | 94th Oscars
  8. "BAFTA's Children & Young People Awards 2022 - Winners". British Academy of Film and Television Arts . 27 November 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. Barraclough, Leo (21 January 2024). "Aardman Working on More Stories Set in the World of 'Robin Robin,' Netflix's Oscar Nominated Musical Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 February 2024.