The pixel-happy production company Blue Sky follows its successful feature ICE AGE with more animated antics in ROBOTS. Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor) is a talented inventor who hopes to make his fortune by moving to Robot City and working among the nuts and bolts of the robotics industry. Rodney fantasizes about building robots for his boyhood hero and master inventor Big Weld (Mel Brooks), but when he meets him, Rodney's dream threatens to turn rusty. Big Weld reveals that his company is now being run by the evil Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), a merciless moneymaker who wants to rid the world of the antiquated robots that clutter up the streets of Robot City. This leaves Rodney's aspirations needing a major oil change, and with little chance of finding work, he feels about as useful as a broken spare part. So he takes to the streets, where he finds some unlikely salvation in a group of robots lead by Fender (Robin Williams). Fender urges Rodney to help save them from the scrap heap, while Ratchet and his company create threatening new policies on robot reconstruction. The ensuing action leads to a breathtaking set of adventures in the futuristic city.
A fun, dizzying delight, ROBOTS benefits from the many voices of Robin Williams, who is the perfect comic foil to Ewan McGregor's central character. The special effects are masterfully handled, and the rendering of Robot City is a true sight to behold. A film that should find a broad audience among adults and children alike, ROBOTS is fast-paced animated entertainment at its finest.
Theatrical Release: March 11, 2005
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case - Checkpoint, Sensormatic
Widescreen - 1.85; Full Frame -1.33
Audio:
Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround -French, Spanish
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Disc 1: ROBOTS
Additional Release Material:
Additional Audio Material - Robots Soundtrack Spot
Audio Commentary: 1. Director Chris Wedge and William Joyce
2. Technical Director's Commentary/Animator's Commentary
Behind the Scenes - Inside Look at the Making of ICE AGE 2
Deleted Scenes (4) - Discontinued Parts with Optional Commentary by Chris Wedge
Bonus Shorts - 1. YOU CAN SHINE NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF
2. AUNT FANNY'S TOUR OF BOOTY
Featurette -1. "The Blue Man Group"
Trailers - GARFIELD, WINN DIXIE, FAT ALBERT, ICE AGE 2, BRATZ, FERNGULLY Special Edition, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE TV Spot
Interactive Features:
Interactive Game - 1. Xbox Exclusive Multi-Player Racing Game
2. Set-Top Games
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biographies - 1. Character Bios
2. Character Interview/Profile
Galleries - 1. Character Designs
2. Character 3-D turnaround
DVD-ROM:
Link
Disc 2: Digital Copy
Distributor Notes: Fasten your seat bolts and gear up for a hilarious, heartwarming comedy that's "Fun for the whole family!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood)
With the help of his misfit mechanical friends, a small town robot named Rodney embarks on the adventure of a lifetime as he heads for the big city to pursue his dreams-and ultimately proves that anyone can shine no matter what they're made of.
Featuring an all-star voice cast and a groundbreaking visual style that pushes the boundaries of animated filmmaking. Robots is a dazzling, fun-filled feast for the eyes and a riveting good time for all ages!
Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Voice
Amanda Bynes: Actress, BIG FAT LIAR (2002)
Voice
Drew Carey:
Voice
Ewan McGregor: Scottish, TRAINSPOTTING, THE ISLAND, BIG FISH
Voice
Greg Kinnear: American Actor/Host
Voice
Halle Berry: Oscar winning actress, MONSTER'S BALL
Voice
Jennifer Coolidge:
Voice
Jim Broadbent: British actor
Voice
Mel Brooks: American Director/Writer/Producer/Comedian
Voice
Robin Williams: American actor/comedian
Voice
Terry Bradshaw: Football Player - Pittsburgh Steelers
Executive Producer
Christopher Meledandri:
Review 1:
"[T]he movie bops along with a happy, jumping, kinetic vitality."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.41-42 03/18/2005
Review 2:
"ROBOT's visuals are its finest asset. The world populated exclusively by robots is an intriguing blend of the retro and the futuristic that often is dazzling..."
Source: USA Today
p.3E 03/11/2005
Review 3:
"There are great individual jokes and sequences, like a tour through Robot City's demented transport system that's straight out of Chuck Jones..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.76-78 05/01/2005