Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 animated comedy Chicken Run, which was the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. The sequel, directed by Sam Fell and produced by Aardman Animations and Netflix Animation, follows the adventures of Ginger and her flock of chickens as they face a new threat from their old nemesis, Mrs. Tweedy.
The film is a homage to the Mission: Impossible franchise, as Ginger and her team embark on a daring and risky mission to break into a factory farm where Mrs. Tweedy is producing chicken nuggets made from real chickens. The film features many references and parodies of the iconic scenes and stunts from the spy movies, such as the wire drop, the mask reveal, and the exploding gum.
The film also has a heartwarming story about family and freedom, as Ginger and her husband Rocky have a daughter named Molly, who is curious about the world beyond their island sanctuary. Ginger has to balance her maternal instincts with her heroic aspirations, while Rocky has to overcome his fear of flying. The film also explores the themes of animal rights, environmentalism, and consumerism, as the chickens discover the horrors of factory farming and try to save their fellow birds from becoming nuggets.
The voice cast features new and returning stars
The film boasts an impressive voice cast that includes both new and returning actors. Thandiwe Newton replaces Julia Sawalha as the voice of Ginger, the brave and smart leader of the chickens. Zachary Levi replaces Mel Gibson as the voice of Rocky, the charming and cocky rooster who is Ginger’s husband. Bella Ramsey voices Molly, their adorable and adventurous daughter.
The film also brings back some of the original voice actors from the first film, such as Imelda Staunton as Bunty, Lynn Ferguson as Mac, David Bradley as Fowler, Jane Horrocks as Babs, Romesh Ranganathan as Nick, and Daniel Mays as Fetcher. Miranda Richardson reprises her role as Mrs. Tweedy, the cruel and greedy owner of the farm who now seeks revenge on Ginger and her flock.
The film also introduces some new characters, such as Reginald Smith, a shady businessman who is Mrs. Tweedy’s partner in crime, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz; Dr. Fry, a mad scientist who creates the nugget machine, voiced by Nick Mohammed; and Frizzle, a friendly chicken who helps Ginger and her team in their mission, voiced by Josie Sedgwick-Davies.
The film is a technical marvel of stop-motion animation
The film is a testament to the craftsmanship and creativity of Aardman Animations, who are known for their distinctive style of clay animation. The film uses stop-motion techniques to create realistic and expressive characters and environments that are full of detail and charm.
The film also employs some digital enhancements to create some stunning effects and sequences that would be impossible to achieve with traditional methods. For example, the film uses CGI to create realistic fire, smoke, water, and explosions that add to the excitement and tension of the action scenes.
The film also uses 3D printing technology to create thousands of interchangeable faces for the characters that allow them to convey a wide range of emotions and expressions. The film also uses motion capture technology to capture the movements of real animals that are then translated into animation for some of the supporting characters.
The film is a visual feast that showcases the artistry and innovation of Aardman Animations and Netflix Animation.
