Happy Tree Friends 3D

Happy Tree Friends 3D (marketed on home media as Happy Tree Friends: The Movie) is a 2014 3D adult animated action comedy horror film directed by Zack Keller and Ed Skudder and written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Kenn Navarro. Based on the webseries Happy Tree Friends, the film serves as a prequel to the show. It stars an ensemble cast of Jay Baruchel, Tara Strong, Jonah Hill, Rosario Dawson, Paul Rudd, Dee Bradley Baker, Kate Micucci, Troy Baker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ben Schwartz, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, Danny McBride, and Rogen. The film was produced by Rogen and Goldberg through their Point Grey Pictures banner and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Development of the film began in 2011 when it was announced that Mondo Media, the company that produced Happy Tree Friends at the time, was planning a feature-length film based on the series. New Line Cinema won production rights on January 10, 2012.
Happy Tree Friends 3D was released on April 25, 2014 to generally positive reviews, with praise for its black comedy, death sequences, and faithfulness to the series, but some criticism for its use of 3D and story. It grossed $632.6 million on a $76 million budget, making it a box office success. The success of the film led to a film series.
== Synopsis==
"The world of our happy tree friends has always been peaceful throughout its lifetime, hasn't it? Well, that's where you're wrong, because when aliens from another planet invade the city, they cause the deaths of those all around! So these friends need to get along and stop them."
-Warner Bros. Pictures
==Plot ==
As a group of woodland animals, known as the "tree friends", begin setting up their hometown to celebrate its centennial, an alien race find the friends' planet, who now consider an invasion.
==Characters==
===Major characters===
*Cuddles
* Giggles
*Toothy
*Lumpy
*Petunia
*Handy
*Nutty
*Sniffles
* Pop
*Cub
*Flaky
*Disco Bear
*Russell
*Lifty
*Shifty
*Flippy
*The Mole
*Mime (does not speak)
*Splendid
*The Leader
*The Commander
*Buddhist Monkey
*Alien Tribe
===Minor characters===
*Cro-Marmot (does not speak)
*Lammy
*Mr. Pickels
*Truffles
*Tricksy
*Unicornius
*Rudy
*Fall Out Boy
==Voice cast==
*Jay Baruchel as Cuddles
*Tara Strong as Giggles
*Jonah Hill as Toothy
*Seth Rogen as Lumpy
*Rosario Dawson as Petunia
*Paul Rudd as Handy
*Dee Bradley Baker as Nutty and Cub
* Kate Micucci as Sniffles
* Troy Baker as Pop
* Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Flaky
* Bill Hader as Disco Bear
*Michael Cera as Russell
*Danny McBride as Flippy
*Ben Schwartz as Lifty and Shifty
*Charlyne Yi as Lammy
*Henry Cavill as Splendid
*Al Pacino as The Leader
*Sam Rockwell as The Commander
*Jackie Chan as Buddhist Monkey
*Alfred Molina (uncredited) as the Mole
*Additional voices:
**Johnny Meyerson
**Devon Walker
Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose caricature was influenced for this film's version of Flippy, cameos as an Alien soldier; Carl Weathers and Shane Black appear briefly as Sneaky and Mouse Ka-Boom, referred here as simply Boom; Fall Out Boy cameo in the background at the beginning, and are killed by an Alien soldier when he goes to investigate the town, and appear again, teaming up with the Leader not knowing his true colors and are killed by the SWAT team when they visit The Leader's new lair he has built and kill him.
==Production==
===Development===
In November 2011, Kenn Navarro began developing a script for a feature film based on Happy Tree Friends. He said that the film was considered to be going for a 3D path, as that would fit the franchise better. In December, Warren Graff and Ken Pontac confirmed that a film was in development, and was being considered to be sold to other film distributors in hopes of getting the film released.
On January 10, 2012, it was confirmed that New Line Cinema had fully greenlit the film and won producing rights, confirming it would be a 3D feature film, with a scheduled release of April 4, 2014. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were also attached to the film as producers through their Point Grey Pictures banner.
===Writing===
According to Navarro, the idea of Happy Tree Friends 3D being a "surprise prequel" came late into development. While writing the script for the film, he thought about the film explaining how all these characters now receive their untimely fates thanks to a fleet of extraterrestrials dropping the Cursed Idol into their world. The film was originally planned to take place during the series but was changed as part of a suggestion by Rogen. Rogen also added Splendid being killed by The Leader, as well as everyone except for Pop, Cub, and Buddhist Monkey.
===Casting ===
Rogen had already confirmed he would be lending his voice in the film when it was announced he would serve as producer. Tara Strong and Jonah Hill were confirmed to be cast in lead roles in February 2, 2012. The next week, it was announced that Troy Baker, Kate Micucci, and Bill Hader were attached as Pop, Sniffles, and Disco Bear respectively. In June, Paul Rudd and Mary Elizabeth Winstead joined the cast as Handy and Flaky. The next month, Jay Baruchel revealed he would voice a lead role in the film, and Al Pacino announced he would play the main villain, The Leader.
===Animation===
Home Plate Entertainment provided the animation for the film, while Weta Digital provided the 3D effects. According to co-director Zack Keller, he said: "The biggest challenge when creating a 3D-stylized 2D-animated film is providing the VFX of it, as that would require a large amount of time and money. [...] However, I'm just glad we got the effects in, and not do it in some cheap way."
===Music ===
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Soundtrack
In September 2013, it was confirmed that Brian Tyler would compose the score and songs for the film. K.Flay contributed an original song titled, "Our Fates are Sealed". Jelly Roll also contributed his own original song titled "Bad News Travels Fast". A censored version was used for 2016's Ratchet and Clank.
==Release==
Warner Bros. Pictures scheduled the film to be released on April 4, 2014, until it was removed from the schedule. It was later pushed back to April 25, 2014. The film was released in RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX, with 2D formats also being available.
===Marketing===
The film was promoted through a website called ResistanceisFutile.com. It contained various pictures of the Cursed Idol, the Alien's ships, and many clues for the film's plot.
=== Home media===
Happy Tree Friends 3D was released on digital on June 17, 2014 and then on DVD and Blu-Ray (both the 2D and 3D versions) on July 22, 2014. On March 5, 2019, as part of the show's 20th anniversary, an Ultra HD Blu-Ray format was released.
==Reception==
===Box office===
In the United States and Canada, the film released alongside Brick Mansions and The Other Woman, grossing $300 million and $332 million overseas.
===Critical reception===
On review aggerator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 78% based on reviews by 121 critics, with an average rating of 6.75/10. The website's critical consenus reads, "Filled with bloodthirsty chills and thrills, Happy Tree Friends 3D is something that'll keep you attached to those cute and cuddly animals." On Metacritic, it has a score of 70 out of 100 based on 50 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled on CinemaScore gave the film an "A-" on an "A+ to F" scale, while those on PostTrak gave it a 81% approval rating, with 64% recommending it.
==Follow-ups==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends (film series)
The film was succeeded by two sequel films (One standalone and one direct) and one spin-off film.
==Taglines==
* "They're dying to meet you." -Main tagline.
*"Resistance is futile." -Cuddles' tagline.
*"Let's get groovin'!" -Disco Bear's tagline.
*"You'll never see 'em the same again." -Flaky's tagline.
*"For he's a 'jolly good' fellow!" -Flippy's tagline.
*"Feel the love." -Giggles' tagline.
*"Need a helping hand?" -Handy's tagline.
*"Two best bros. What could go wrong?" -Lifty & Shifty's tagline.
* "Careful, or you'll end up like him." -Lumpy's tagline.
*"He's full of surprises!" -Mime's tagline.
*"Very sweet of you to read this." -Nutty's tagline.
*"Nature is beautiful. Appreciate it." -Petunia's tagline.
* "World's 'best' father." -Pop & Cub's tagline.
*"He's hooked on it." -Russell's tagline.
*"Don't worry, he'll be fine." -Sniffles' tagline.
*"The mole of the century." -The Mole's tagline.
*"Totally not an eyesore. Trust me." -Toothy's tagline.
== Credits ==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Credits
== Trailer transcripts ==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Trailer transcripts
== Transcript ==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Transcript
== Trivia ==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Trivia
== Gallery ==
Main article: Happy Tree Friends 3D/Gallery
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