Best Ed: The Movie

Best Ed: The Movie is a Canadian animated film based on the television series Best Ed. It was released in Canada on March 26, 2010 and is distributed by Entertainment One Films.
The movie follows two anthropomorphic animals, Ed and Buddy (a dog and a squirrel respectively), who live in the town of Swellville (parody of Snellville) in Canada. Their adventures usually cause them to interact with other characters such as Mr Thursty, Miss Fluffé or The Kitten Twins. While Ed is well-liked by all, and extremely lucky, Buddy is furiously despised, and extremely unfortunate.
The film follows Ed as he tries to help his best friend Buddy win the heart of Miss Fluffé. However Mr Thursty also has a crush on her so it's up to Ed to make sure that she chooses Buddy over him.
== Plot: ==
Ed and Buddy are best friends who live in the town of Swellville. Ed is a dog who is overenthusiastic, helpful but rather dimwitted while Buddy (a squirrel) is more level-headed and intelligent than Ed. They both have a crush on Miss Fluffé, an attractive hamster fortune teller. However Mr Thursty also has a crush on her so it's up to Ed to make sure that she chooses Buddy over him by helping him win her heart.
== Distributed: ==
Entertainment One Films (Canada) (theatrical) Entertainment One Films Home Entertainment (Canada) Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm/Alliance Home Video/Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Alliance Films Inc./Alliance Releasing Limited Partnership/A-Film Distribution BVBA A-Film Benelux BVBA A-Film International Holding BVBA A Film Production ApS Best Ed Productions Ltd./9 Story Entertainment 9 Story Entertainment Inc. 9 Story Entertainment International Limited/9 Story Media Group
== Soundtrack: ==
Best Ed: The Movie Soundtrack by Various Artists Released March 26, 2010 Recorded 2009–2010 Genre Pop Length 40 : 00 Label Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm Producer Various Artists Best Ed chronology Best Ed (2008) Best Ed: The Movie (2010) Singles from the album "I'm Here to Help" Released February 23, 2010 "The Mighty Measel Moles Theme Song" Released March 2, 2010 "Best Ed: The Movie Theme Song" Released March 9, 2010
== Animation: ==
The film was animated using Adobe Flash software. It is the first feature-length film to be produced in this way. The animation style of Best Ed is similar to that of other shows such as Total Drama Island and 6teen which are also made with Adobe Flash software. However unlike those two shows Best Ed uses a more traditional cel shading technique for its characters while Total Drama Island and 6teen use a more sketchy style.
== Similars To: ==
Best Ed is similar to other shows such as Total Drama Island, 6teen, The Simpsons and Family Guy in that it uses Adobe Flash software for its animation. It also has similarities to the show South Park in that both are animated using Adobe Flash software but Best Ed uses a more traditional cel shading technique while South Park does not use any cel shading at all instead opting for an even simpler look than Best Ed.
== Trailers: ==
Best Ed: The Movie Trailer 1 Best Ed: The Movie Trailer 2 Best Ed: The Movie Teaser 3 Best Ed: The Movie Teaser 4
== Production: ==
==== Development: ====
The film was first announced in 2008 when the show's creator Rick Marshall said that he had plans to make a feature-length Best Ed movie. The film was originally going to be released in 2009 but it ended up being pushed back until 2010. It is the first feature-length animated film based on an Adobe Flash series and also one of the few films based on a Canadian television series (the others being Total Drama Island: The Movie, 6teen: Dude Of The Living Dead and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut).
==== Casting: ====
The film features the same voice cast as the television series. Sean Cullen voices Ed while Pat McKenna voices Buddy. Kedar Brown returns to voice Mr Thursty while Carolyn Scott reprises her role as Miss Fluffé. Sarah Commisso and Tessa Marshall return to voice Betsy and Buster respectively (the two kitten twins) while Jamie Watson also returns to play Dr Quacken. Damon Papadopoulos also returns to voice Heiny the Scottish Terrier crossing guard.
== Release: ==
The film was released in Canada on March 26, 2010 and is distributed by Entertainment One Films (formerly known as Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm). It was originally going to be released in 2009 but it ended up being pushed back until 2010. The film's soundtrack album was also released on March 26, 2010 and features songs from the movie as well as some of Ed's favourite songs from the show.
== Screening: ==
The film was screened at various film festivals in Canada including the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, the 2010 Vancouver International Film Festival and the 2010 Calgary International Film Festival. It also had a special screening at The Royal Cinema in Toronto on March 25, 2010 (the day before its official release). The cast of Best Ed were present for this screening as well as some of their friends and family members. Sean Cullen hosted a Q&A session after the screening.
== Home media: ==
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in Canada on July 27, 2010 (the same day as Total Drama Island: The Movie). It is distributed by Entertainment One Films Home Entertainment (formerly known as Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm Home Video/Alliance Home Video/Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.). The DVD features a widescreen transfer of the film with English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound audio while the Blu-ray features a 1080p widescreen transfer of the film with English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound audio. The DVD and Blu-ray also feature various special features including deleted scenes, outtakes, behind the scenes footage and interviews with Sean Cullen (the voice of Ed) as well as Pat McKenna (the voice of Buddy).
== Reception: ==
==== Box office: ====
The film was released in Canada on March 26, 2010 where it opened at #1 at the box office with a gross of $3,856,902. It remained in first place for two weeks before being knocked down to second place by How To Train Your Dragon (which was released on March 26 as well). The film ended up spending five weeks in the top ten and eight weeks in total at the Canadian box office.
== Accolades: ==
The film won Best Animated Feature Film at both the 2010 Genie Awards and 2010 Gemini Awards while Sean Cullen won Best Voice Performance in an Animated Feature Production at the 2010 Gemini Awards for his role as Ed.
== Legacy: ==
The film was followed by a sequel titled Best Ed 2 which was released on March 25, 2011 (the day before its official release). The film's soundtrack album also spawned two singles "I'm Here to Help" and "Best Ed: The Movie Theme Song". Both songs were written by Sean Cullen who is also featured on both tracks. A music video for each song was also released.
== Categories: ==
2010 films 2010s animated films Canadian animated feature films Best Ed Films based on television series Flash animation in film Films set in Canada English-language films Entertainment One Films (Canada) Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm/Alliance Home Video/Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Alliance Films Inc./Alliance Releasing Limited Partnership/A-Film Distribution BVBA A-Film Benelux BVBA A-Film International Holding BVBA A Film Production ApS Best Ed Productions Ltd./9 Story Entertainment 9 Story Entertainment Inc. 9 Story Entertainment International Limited/9 Story Media Group
== Trivia: ==
The film was originally going to be released in 2009 but it ended up being pushed back until 2010. The film's soundtrack album also spawned two singles "I'm Here to Help" and "Best Ed: The Movie Theme Song". Both songs were written by Sean Cullen who is also featured on both tracks. A music video for each song was also released. The film's soundtrack album was also released on March 26, 2010 and features songs from the movie as well as some of Ed's favourite songs from the show.