Rock & Rule
Tags: comedy, cult, violence, good versus evil, psychedelic, sci-fi

Plot synopsis:
The intro of the film states, "The War was over, the only survivors were street animals, dogs, cats, and rats. From them a new race of mutants evolved, that was a long time ago." The intro states that in 1983 a nuclear World War 3 had erupted between the Soviet Union and the United States of America which destroyed each other and the human race.
Mok, an aging yet legendary rock musician, is on the search for a very special voice that can unleash a powerful demon from another dimension to fulfill his wish of being immortalized as a musician/Magic Man. After traveling around the world looking for the right voice, he returns to his hometown of Ohmtown, a remote, storm-ravaged village famous for its unique power plant.
Meanwhile, at a nightclub, Omar, Angel, Dizzy and Stretch perform in a small rock band. As Angel performs a gentle love ballad to a mostly empty audience, Mok hears her sing and his special ring goes off, and he realizes that Angel has the voice he needs. He invites Angel and the band to his mansion outside of town. Omar goads Mok upon meeting him, annoying Mok enough to suggest the band tries "Edison Balls"- a modern drug, which Omar and Stretch take, incapacitating them. Dizzy sneaks away. Meanwhile, Mok takes Angel on a stroll through his garden and tries to convince her to join him. Initially unaware of Mok's true intentions, she refuses to abandon her band. Unwilling to admit defeat, Mok kidnaps her and takes his blimp to Nuke York, where his summoning, disguised as a concert, will be performed.
After Dizzy snaps his band-mates out of their stupor, the trio find out what happened to Angel and they follow the blimp in a stolen police car. Before they reach Nuke York, they are arrested by a border guard. Meanwhile, Angel attempts to escape with the unwitting help of Cinderella, a sister of Mok's goons. While sneaking through the ventilation system, Angel overhears Mok confirming his plans with his computer. At this time, the computer informs Mok that the only way to stop the demon is with "One voice, One heart, One song", but when Mok asks who can do this, the computer replies that there is "no one". Angel and Cindy escape the building and head to the dance club "Club 666", unaware that Mok's henchmen are following them.
Dizzy's aunt bails out Omar and his friends, and tells them the whereabouts of Angel and Cindy. They follow, but Omar eventually bumps into Mok, who has already recaptured Angel and uses an impersonator to fool Omar into thinking that she is with Mok. To manipulate Angel, Mok captures the band and tortures them with a giant "Edison Ball" to force her to agree with his demands. He also brainwashes them to ensure that they stay out of the way. The Nuke York concert turns out to be a disaster because of an electrical failure. Mok relocates the summoning to Ohmtown, where the power plant has enough energy. During the second concert, a power surge causes overloads all over the city. The shock also brings Omar and his friends out of their stupor.
Omar, still believing Mok's earlier deception, refuses to help Dizzy and Stretch stop the concert. They go without him in a stolen police car but crash at the concert too late. Mok forces Angel to summon the demon with her song. Zip, one of Mok's simple-minded minions, realizes that there is still evil in the world based on the summoning the demon. The demon attempts to kill a subdued Angel but suddenly Omar appears after giving a rebel yell and frees Angel from her electronic braces. The demon then attacks Omar. Just then, Zip saves Omar seemingly at the cost of his own life. Toad, Mok's tough minded minion,is completely enraged by his little brother's sudden death at the hands of Mok's demon and by his boss' psychotic laughter afterwards. Angel tries singing to force the demon back, but her voice has no effect as Mok triumphantly looks on. Omar joins in harmony with Angel, driving the demon back through the portal. After being thrown by Zip's brother, Toad, into the portal, hanging for his life, Mok realizes that "no one" did not mean that a person who could stop him did not exist, but that more than one person was needed for the counter-spell; he is then sealed with the demon. As Omar and Angel continue on with the show as Zip is revealed to be alive and Mylar, the show's MC, proclaims this as the greatest show ever.

Review: Also included are "making of" features about both "Rock and Rule" and "Devil".This movie is animated, but it's not for the very young crowd.
This movie's got it all: great music, great animation (far better than "Heavy Metal", a similar film, which was released around the same time), and a storyline that appeals to a more mature mindset.
Now, with a two disc special edition DVD being released, it is finally time for this film to get the attention it deserves.Rock & Rule most likely failed because it was released in a time when animation was still dominated by the Disney/Children's market.
The music is also great, featuring Cheap Trick, Earth Wind and fire, Iggy Pop, etc.,I suggest any fan of animation check this out once it comes out on DVD (whenever that may be, but it will be soon).
In a post-apocalyptic future, (or if you watch the Candian version, "Another time...Another place) Mok, a legendary megolaniacal rock superstar who appears to have fallen somewhat, but not totally out of flavor, kidnaps Angel, a new female rocker, to sing for him to open a portal into a darker dimension.
The story and plotting seem a bit on the archaic side, but the music is superb (escpecially from Lou Reed and Debbie Harry) and the animation is pretty good.
That's enough to make me recommend this film, but I still believe that the earlier "Heavy Metal" is a better overall experience.My Grade: B- DVD Extras: Disc 1) 77 minute version; Commentary with Directory Clive Smith; 24 and a half minute Making of; Character sketch Gallery; Restoration Comparisons Disk 2) 81 minute CBC version; "The Devil and Daniel Mouse" short; a Making of said short; "Drats" work print; Rock and Rule Title Workprint; more sketch galleries; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailer for "Electric Dragon 80000V" DVD-Rom content: the original screenplay in .PDF format.
And THIS was one of those unforgettables they showed at 2am on Showtime (which was actually quite good).Music fans will embrace this movie for the soundtrack - Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, Blondie, even Earth Wind & Fire!
it's a basic guy-saves-girl story, but one with a rolling plot, gritty animation, and (like I said before) a great soundtrack!
If you appreciate the pop/rock scene from the late 70's and into the 80's, then you already know that the melding of Blondie; Cheap Trick; Lou Reed; Iggy Pop; and Earth, Wind & Fire result in an eclectic and powerful soundtrack.
An upcoming (spring 2005) DVD release from Unearthed Films promises the best chance yet for this impressive animated work to finally be recognized and lauded by a wider audience..
You must all see this film, on pain of death!Comparing Rock & Rule to Heavy Metal is like comparing cheetos to cheesecake.
Even more incredible, the songs don't just underscore the movie, they are written in the voice of and "performed" by the animated characters!The short version of the plot summary is this: In a postapacolyptic world, an Evil Rock God Magician named Mock (a fabulous mix between Bowie, Iggy and Mick) needs the voice of this chick singer named Angel (totally Deborah Harry) in a struggling rock group (very much Cheap Trick) to raise a demon from another dimension.
Or will she stay with the band, and more importantly, with Omar, the prick lead singer with whom she shares a love/hate relationship?Rock & Rule is totally campy, acerbic and funny, and while it''s full of Sex Drugs and Rock& Roll, it''s not the film equivilent of your 15-year-old geek brother's air-brushed Livinia of Orgasmitron poster.
the original movie, as intended.I think the problem with this movie, ever there ever really was a problem, is that it isn't a kids movie, nor is it particularly well written or clever to be much of an adult's animated feature, but it works well for teenagers (as I was one when I first saw it, many years ago on the CBC late night movie).
I've seen some animated movies, and some of them were well done, but Rock & Rule outdoes those others.
The fact that they were tapped (for a while) to do the ElfQuest project says a bunch too.Rock & Rule fills several niches; for children of the 80's, it serves as a nostalgia piece; for hard rock fans, it's a chance to hear Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and everyone's favorite Blondie, Debbie Harry; for animation fans, it's a lighter version of Heavy Metal with a little Twice Upon a Time tossed in.There's enough innuendo and rough language to make it a little inappropriate for wee ones, but young teens and up should be able to handle it and not be lost by the plot.
Adults will get a kick out of the subtle humor, the soundtrack, and the romantic tension involved in the working relationship between Omar and Angel.Mok is a wonderfully hokey villain, the Schlepper Brothers are a treat, and Uncle Mikey is a real kick in the pants.The Special Edition DVD release should be out soon - be there!.
It is more than due for its restoration and re-release.The animation is often compared to sections of "Heavy Metal" of the same era, but it's an entirely different kind of film.
It's a single, cohesive story of music, power, evil, and their surprising interactions, played out in a post-apocalyptic future where the human race's self-destruction has paved the way for an entire society of anthropomorphically mutated street animals.
Nelvana would have had a hit on their hands, but at the time, Rock & Rule's audience (teenaged boys) wouldn't be caught dead watching a cartoon.
There are also the great gems of song and story synthesis, that without having to make the film a musical, are performed by Lou Reed, Debbie Harry and Cheap Trick.
"THE WAR IS OVER..."One of the coolest animated movies of all time, Rock & Rule is also one of the hardest to find.
this is a great movie for people who like classic rock, are fascinated with 80's memorabilia, and never really grew out of cartoons.
With music talent like this it's hard to believe this is a Canadian made animation, as it's way ahead of it's time.
"Rock And Rule" was my first experience of seeing a sci-fi cartoon very more interesting, the music was great even the whole movie is.
"Rock & Rule" is a lost classic of American animation featuring some of the best rock musicians of the early 80's, including Deborah Harry, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.
The music (Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, Earth, Wind & Fire and Iggy Pop) encapsulates the sounds of the time and sounds great!
Hopefully the upcoming DVD release will give them the chance the never had.With bevy of fantastical characters and "sexy" artistry the Rock-N-Rule carries off a wonderful story that captivates me at 33 years old as well as it did at 13.
Sex, drugs, rock-n-roll...mutant animal/humanoid hybrids living in a post-apocalyptic parody of the world as we know it...and a megalomaniacal fading rock star bent on taking over the world by raising a demon through song -- and then throw in Debbie Harry, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, and other legends to make it a rock musical?
Seriously, though, this is not only one of the coolest pieces of animation I've ever seen, it's one of the best rock 'n'roll movies ever!
this movie has great characters, great music played by great musicians (most of whom still record on a regular basis...cookie-cutter pop stars take note), and a story that, while corny, isn't ashamed to be up front about it's belief in the healing power of rock'n'roll.
This underrated early 80's animated movie is a fine film with a really cool soundtrack.
Thankfully a couple of years ago my regular source for anime fansubs got a hold of several copies of the movie first generation off the laser disc, and as a bonus it had the music videos recorded from a broadcast of USA network's Night Flight..
An EXCELLENT soundtrack, great voice casting, and little odds and ends (one of my faves being the cat that swipes at 'you' while panning down a building) all bind this movie together along with the unique animation.
I really enjoy the dark feel of the setting, the high quality of the animation (especially for 1983)...and who doesn't like the rock star conglomerate that is Mok, he really does have some of the coolest lines on film eg.
Also, being a VERY big fan of Cheap Trick, you find it hard to miss the fact that Omar, Dizzy and Stretch look very much like the fabled three :)Mok is also a favorite character...
I think it's also safe to say that Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop's music is probably what's keeping the movie and the soundtrack from being re-released on other media.
In an age before residuals and focus groups preventing large-scale collaborations, an independent animation studio managed to get Cheap Trick, Deborah Harry, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop to score the best rock and roll musical animated film of all time.
Rock & Rule is problematic for me, with the exception of Mok the characters are not really all that interesting, Omar especially is very bland, and the story despite having a good premise is rather predictable and doesn't have much to it, for example we are aware of Mok's plan but we don't know why.
Rock & Rule was this little gem from 1983 that you would call an underground masterpiece, combined with it's innovative animation techniques, use of early CG graphics (which STILL look good), and a brilliant soundtrack put together by some of the most legendary artists of that particular time period, it hit virtually every button necessary to become a classic.And to think this was the only cool movie Nelvana ever produced.
when I saw "Rock and Rule" on the self, I was immediately drawn to the cultish feel this movie had to it, and when I finally got around to renting it, I was blown away.I have seen a lot of VERY good animated features (Akira, Totoro and the original 101 Dalmatians) but rock and rule has to be among the best.
The film does have an impressive musical cast featuring songs by Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Earth Wind and Fire to name a few.
Weird hand drawn animation, rat and dog mutants singing 80's rock to bring forth demons in chaotic cities ruled by music and drugs, songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Earth Wind & Fire, Iggy Pop and others, the power of love conquering all...
This movie was haunting me for quite some time, I remember seeing this as a kid and then got excited when it was coming to video.A great story of a future filled with mutant animals, A young group is trying to make it as a band and we enter the protagonist who shows interest and with sinister intent great real life bands signers of the 80's were hired to record original songs for this Canadian movie.
Rock and Rule is the perfect double feature with "Heavy Metal": 80s Canadian adult animated films covering similar genres of music, using the genre's stereotypes to their benefit.
Worse yet is their sister, who looks exactly like them, but highly sexualized...they all seem out of place for a generally serious movie.Also, for a film called "Rock and Rule", there isn't that much Rock n' Roll.
Rock and rule also known as the ring of power in the UK is a 1983 Canadian animated film created by the Nelvana company.
Its around this point in the movie you might be asking yourself why everyone looks like rejects from the goofy movie, iunno, anyway there's the vocal duo of Omar, Angel backed up by the musical accompaniment of Dizzy and Stretch.Without doing a scene by scene analysis Mok invites the band to his mansion to discuss a record contract, but we quickly learn where his interests lie when he instead kidnaps angel and its up to Omar and the gang to pursue mok to Nuke York to rescue her.This film seems very confused as to who they are aiming for, it has a very child friendly Disney-esque look but with adult content such as drug abuse, some brief nudity and adult language mixed in.The villain Mok also seems seriously confused about his role, hes extremely menacing in some pretty scary ways but he has this super campy "ohhh I'm the villain" song and he goes from looking like a stereotypical 80s rock star to lookin like a F***in California raisin on extacy somewhere along the way.animation is very good with lots of fluid movements and eyecandy for the viewer, compared to other animation of the time it comes out quite well.
Its like the flipper baby result of a passionate night of love making between Heavy Metal and Disney which seem like polar opposites but in this case it actually works in this films favor.The high points of this film are definitely the musical scenes with awesome soundtrack contributions from greats like cheap trick, Debbie Harry and Lou Reed and earth wind and fire.
While not quite on the level of classics like heavy metal, I find it to be an enjoyable film worth bringing up over 30 years later.So that's my short look at Rock & Rule, if you would like to see the video version of the review it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUzRnHnFTOo. An animated classic that really rocks.
The music in the movie was also great and it features Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop. The story was pretty good.Con's: The character, Omar, was bland and boring.Overall, "Rock and Rule", is a great animated film with cool music.
Then again "Rock and Rule" seems a bit to tame compared to "Heavy Metal", but once again that could be because the more graphic scenes were cut from the version of the film I saw.
Rock & Rule was an interesting animated feature from Canadian company Nelvana.
After 25 years of reading about this Canadian animated movie from Nelvana in the now-defunct magazine ComicScene, I finally checked out Rock & Rule from the library a few weeks ago.
Maybe it was because it had some material I was overly familiar with like the girl being some power force that I recognized from The Fifth Element which I remember not being too impressed with (though I realize that that movie came out about 13 years after Rock & Rule).
I don't want to down Heavy Metal 'cause that was a great piece of work as well - 'twas better in story though weaker in animation but the soundtrack is clearly the deciding factor betwixt the two if one had to decide (and isn't life all about decisions?
;-) From the opening theme throughout the various storyline performances and interludes right to the closing duet (featuring the likes of Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Debbie Harry), this is a rock opera every bit as important as "The Wall" or "Tommy".
Rock N Rule is an awesome trip through action packed, colorful, well drawn 2D animation, backed up by the great rock & roll of Cheap Trick, Debby Harry, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. The story flows, the characters rock, and the humor keeps you in stitches.
A great movie for fans of classic rock, sci-fi fantasy and (the old) Heavy Metal Magazine.
Like 'Heavy Metal', 'Rock & Rule' has a sizzling hot soundtrack featuring artists such as Debbie Harry, Cheap Trick, Lou Reed and Earth, Wind & Fire.
This was the first time I'd seen an animated movie that was aimed towards adults.
For those who have never heard of this ugly looking animated feature, think if "Heavy Metal" (1981) was redrawn by furries on quaaludes and dubbed it like a kung-fu movie.
It's weird, has some cool animation, uses rock music as part of the story, and has a plot involving summoning demons.
An aging rocker named Mok has plans on taking over the world using an experiment to bring a demon from another dimension into our world by using a special voice, he kidnaps a beautiful singer named Angel to use her voice but her boyfriend Omar and friends must save her and the world.Magnificent, entertaining and well made animated Sci-fi musical with the music of Debroah Harry, Cheap Trick, Earth Wind and Fire, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. The animation is spectacular all the way especially the character design and a fairly decent plot, it's an underrated and impressive cult animated flick that will find a bigger audience thanks to it's DVD release and some cable showings.Also recommended: "Starchaser: Legend of Orin", "American Pop", "Heavy Traffic", " Who Framed Roger Rabbit", " Wizards", " Hey Good Lookin'", " Robin Hood (Disney)", " Fire & Ice", " Transformers The Movie", " The Black Cauldron", " Tron", "Blade Runner", " Total Recall", "The Fifth Element", " Atlantis The Lost Empire", "Titan A.E.", " Treasure Planet", " Akira", "Ghost in The Shell 1 & 2", " Metropolis ( Both 1927 and 2001 versions)", " The Dark Crystal", "The Secret of NIMH", "The Last Unicorn", "The Flight of Dragons", " Vampire Hunter D", 'Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", "Watership Down", "Pinocchio and The Emperor of the Night", "Lord of the Rings ( 1978)", " The Professional: Golgo 13", "Nausicca: Valley of the Wind"..
I was really excited to discover another Animated Canadian movie because let's face it; there isn't much besides Heavy Metal and Care Bears.
What more could you ask for in a villain?Overall, this movie is great for animation & music fans of all ages (even though it contains SOME adult stuff--but nothing TOO shocking)..
It compares favorably with a more well-known animated film from Canada, Heavy Metal.Rock and Rule played on HBO and Showtime in the U.S., never showing in theaters.