Puppet Pals

***Puppet Pals*** is 2006 American 3D computer animated comedy film, directed by Steve Martino and produced by David Silverman. Film was produced by 20 Century Fox Animation for 20 Century Fox, as well as 1 entry in Fox Animated Features canon. Film features voices of Jesse McCartney, Isla Fisher, Josh Peck, Seth Rogen, Sandra Bullock, Zack Stevens, Matthew Broderick, Anne Hathaway, Robin Williams, William Shatner, with Jason Lee, and Sarah Vowell. In film, Nathan Ritter, upper class human boy has his life turn upside down, when slobby kid out sink, and in his efforts to get rid of him, he end up get sent into city name Tinywood and recruits help of weird team and teen girl, and while try to get back home, Team is try to avoid evil woman who is out for destruction of Tinywood.

*Puppet Pals* premiere at Mann Village Theater on June 12, 2006, and was release in US on June 23, 2006. It received acclaim from critics and was box office success, grossing $6 million worldwide on it $9 million budget, making it 4 highest grossing film of 2006. Puppet Pals was nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but it lost to *Happy Feet*. It also received nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound Mixing. *Puppet Pals* saw 3D release in theaters on September 2, 2016 to celebrate it 10 anniversary. Film success helped spawn expanded franchise, with 4 sequels *Puppet Pals 2*, *Puppet Pals 3*, *Collision Course*, and *Puppet Pals Forever,* holiday special, several short films, theme park attraction, and 2 TV spin offs.

## Plot

Spot dog name Slippy attempts to find place to store his bone in small grass field. Eventually, as he tries to stomp it to ground, he inadvertently cause large crack to form in ground that extend for miles before set off large earthquake that crush him. He escape, but find himself get step on by group of townspeople head to large and complex town name Tinywood.

Nathan Ritter is 18 year old young man who love solitude of his own pampered life. He find interrupted when overweight and lazy man name Jeremy Johnson, who comes from alternate world and comes out of Nathan bathroom, where he decides to stay and invade Nathan home, especially as championship round of National Basketball Association season, Spurs are play against Pistons in NBA Finals. Nathan schemes to get rid of Jeremy by luring him into portal of where he came from, but Jeremy is not fooled, instead throw Nathan into portal and send him away into alternate dimension.

He discovers himself in Tinywood, which must have been alternate world. Talk lizard name Toby along with other people and creatures who are being load into trucks for rewards, surround by guards. However, Toby attempts to escape, but he is stop by guards, whom they chase after him. Toby then find Nathan, who he is try to find new home, where later Toby is soon rescue by Nathan, who fight guards off.

Toby join Nathan, not want to be alone and unprotected. Nathan is later annoy by Toby constant and out going talk and wish to live on his own, but Toby convinces Nathan to live with him at his temporary new home for 1 night. Later that night, Nathan new home is invaded again, by townspeople of Tinywood, who they were exile by evil vertically challenge Rosie Storm. Angered by intrusion, he decides to ask Rosie to exile them elsewhere, bring Toby along as he is only 1 willing to guide him to her palace, with help of mysterious young woman and weird team Puppet Pals.

Rosie torture of talk magical creature name Steve Smiley for location of Puppet Pals is interrupted when his son, Rob, and her guards present her with Magic Ball. She ask Ball if in order to be rule of Tinywood, her son must marry princess. Rob Storm resolves to marry Anna Dawson, who is enterprising scavenger, where she is hiding from Rosie and her henchmen.

Nathan and Toby head to dark alley, where they meet Anna, who turn out to be mysterious woman that Toby was talk about, where she work in Tinywood with her faithful boat, Lucky Ocean. Anna is initially irritated by Nathan, and she is appalled at his lack of romanticism, but end up taking him along. Rosie henchmen, John and Dave, invade boat where 2 capture Nathan, Anna, and Toby, after find Anna deceased father prize diamond, which she stole back from Rosie years ago. Later, 5 later head to Rosie palace, and Rob then challenges Nathan and Toby to fight off Rosie guards, but they ignorantly defeat them. Rosie then plan to have Nathan, Anna, and Toby melt with boil lava. 3 escape, but they are attack by Rosie guard dragon, who corners Toby. In desperation, he sweet talk beast, learning that it is female. Dragon falls in love with Toby and carries him to her chambers. However, Nathan rescue Toby, with Anna taking unique electrical key that is required to control large dam of Tinywood.

After escaping Rosie palace, Nathan discovers that diamond is fake and break it in front of Anna. Outrage, Anna tries to attack Nathan, but eventually calm down and explains that she is only because her grandfather die try to obtain it just for her, only to find that it was just fake. Nathan offers Anna real diamond if she take him back to his own world, to which she agrees, and trio 1 stop to meet rest of Puppet Pals before set off. During Nathan stay, he overhears conversation that cause him to think that Anna is selling him to Rosie, so he reneges on deal and steal Lucky Ocean. When rest of Puppet Pals catch up to him, Anna is able to clear up misunderstanding.

Later that night, After set up camp, Nathan explains to Toby his frustration at how society judge him for his attitude, Anna over hear this, Natalia Miller, young member in team, convincing Anna to be kind to Nathan. Next day, team almost reach portal, only to encounter form river of lava. Nathan, Captain Matt, Toby, and Natalia, along with Ryan Woods, make it across safely, but Anna end up hang on cliff, about to fall into lava. Nathan save her, narrowly miss certain death by fall into lava himself.

After being frustrated by her minions repeated fail, Rosie Storm send for her son Rob to hunt Puppet Pals down, while it has been revealed that Rosie was originally Puppet Pal member and she was taught by Matt when she was teen, but although Rosie was proficient member of Puppet Pals, Captain Matt now deceased father sensed corruption within her and refused to give her Silver Scroll, making her enraged by severely attack Tinywood and tried to take scroll by force, but Matt stopped her and kick her out of team, result in her hatred of Puppet Pals and city of Tinywood.

Next night, Nathan and Anna spend personal time together, and Nathan fall in love with her. and then next day, after spend night, they are later surround by Rob Storm and subordinates, and they intercept Nathan, Toby, and Anna into waterfall, while they capture Anna, Natalia, Ryan, and Captain Matt. Nathan retrieves key, sinking the Lucky Ocean in the process, but trio use grappling hook right into portal to save and send themselves back to Santa Cruz and Nathan old home.

Back home, Nathan pay Anna promised diamond, then shows her around his house. She at 1 believes he has family in home, but notices picture of Nathan parents, who they died years ago. Anna tries to persuade Nathan to come with her, but he is too proud to admit that he is lonely, having Anna depart from him, while Nathan angrily abandons Toby and go back to his own life.

Talk to Jeremy about half time, Nathan pieces together Rosie plan, to open gate of dam during halftime of NBA Finals, with huge great water wave form and wiping out entirety of Tinywood, kill every 1, where Rosie will finally become rule of Tinywood and repopulate city with her new built robots. Back in Tinywood, Anna is later captured by John and Dave, where Rob is ready to marry her with secret plan while Rosie finally use electric key to unlock security gate of dam. Nathan end up cloning himself and entrusts his clone with his home and position, and has his clone send him and Jeremy back to Tinywood.

Nathan and Jeremy then arrive in Tinywood, where Nathan tries to confront angered Toby. Explains that Anna is about to get married to Rob, where Rosie guards are going to tie her up in front of dam, where she will be kill by giant wave. Express his feel for Anna before she is kill, and 2 travel to Rosie palace quick by riding now tamed guard dragon, who had escape her confines and follow Toby.

Nathan, Toby, and Captain Matt interrupt wedding before Rob can kiss Anna, and Nathan tell her that she can marry Rob, where she would be kill if she do. Captain Matt is knock unconscious, while Rob kidnap Anna, where Nathan, Toby, and Captain Matt try to rescue her, and are chase by Rosie guards across city, but leave Natalia and Jeremy behind. Group arrive at dam, where Anna is currently being tied up, but she is freed by Nathan.

Later, Natalia and Jeremy arrive with whole town of Tinywood beside them, where battle between Puppet Pals, Rosie henchmen, and town of Tinywood. Rob then attack Nathan, frustrating him with confusing fight techniques with his own new techniques. However, Rob momentarily bests Nathan, where he explains to him that he just nobody and pampered and lonely man, but Nathan refuses to accept that and continue attack Rob before Nathan and Anna defeat him together, and they freeze giant wave with Rosie ice gun.

Nathan is praised by townspeople of Tinywood and earn respect of Puppet Pals, who fully acknowledge him as true Puppet Pal master. Outraged, Rosie orders Nathan and Anna executed, and rest of Puppet Pals detained, but luckily, Guard Dragon bursts in alongside Toby and devours Rosie alive.

Nathan and Anna profess their love and share kiss, where they marry in Tinywood, and her later join Anna as 1 mate of Lucky Ocean 2. As they set off in new boat on their honeymoon, Rob Storm, and Rosie Guards are seen hitchhiking back to Honeymoon Hotel. Somewhere else far from Tinywood, Slippy, trap in small box, end up on shores of tropical island. Slippy then find coconut and tries to stomp it into ground, this time only to accidentally trigger volcanic eruption.

## Cast

* Jesse McCartney as Nathan Ritter, an pampered but lonely young man.
* Isla Fisher as Anna Dawson, an street-wise and "tough as nails" 19-year-old scavenger girl. She is the captain of The "Lucky Ocean" and Nathan's close love interest.
* Sandra Bullock as Rosie Storm, a haughty girl wanting the entire population of Tinywood to be killed off so he can make room for his hundreds of robot offspring.
* Josh Peck as Toby, a magical and geeky lizard-like creature.
* Seth Rogen as Jeremy Johnson, an overweight and lazy guy from Tinywood and is an acquaintance of Anna Dawson and the Puppet Pals.
* Zachary Gordon as Zack Stevens, and Young Nathan Ritter
* Sarah Vowell as Natalia Miller, a cheerful and kind teenage girl who is the youngest member of the Puppet Pals.
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Ryan Woods, a tough and strong man who is one of the members of the Puppet Pals.
* Matthew Broderick as Captain Matt, the leader of the Puppet Pals.
* Zach Braff as Jeremy Moore
* John Goodman as Mayor Adam, the mayor of Tinywood.
* Chris Wedge as Slippy the Dog
* Robin Williams as John, one of Rosie Storm's henchmen.
* William Shatner as Dave, one of Rosie Storm's henchmen.
* Jason Lee as Rob Storm, Rosie Storm's son
* Susanne Blakeslee as an old lady
* Corey Burton as a police officer
* Patrick Warburton as Milo, a tourist.
* Betty White as Wendy, a tourist.
* Tom Kenny as The Magic Ball
* Patton Oswalt as Steve Smiley, a magical talking yellow round creature who looks similar to a yellow smiling face.
* Kevin James, Steve Carell and Cedric the Entertainer as Rosie Storm's other henchmen.
* David Silverman, Chris Renaud, Dee Bradley Baker, Bob Bergen, and Steve Connell as the Smileys

### Additional voices

* Tom Amundsen
* Kirk Baily
* Ranjani Brow
* John Carnochan
* Mitch Carter
* David Cowgill
* Holly Dorff
* Elisa Gabrielli
* Johnny Gidcomb
* Jackie Gonneau
* Nicholas Guest
* Wendy Hoffmann
* Emily Johnson
* Anne Lockhart
* Scott Menville
* Gregory Perler
* Hans Tester
* Thalia Ward
* Debi Mae West

## Production

### Development

Chris Renaud came up with concept for *Puppet Pals* in 1999 during production of *Ice Age*. At begin of production, Renaud began work on film after release of *Titan AE.* In 2000, Jon Vitti and Mike Reiss had draft treatment with that bore some resemblance to final film. Renaud pitch story to 20 Century Fox Animation with some initial artwork in 2001. He and his story team left with some suggestions in hand and return to pitch refined version of story. Although film was directed by Steve Martino, Disney, Universal, and Pixar artist came into project and create characters and story, which were given to film director.

Film was originally developed under title *World Of Tinywood*, but it was change. In 2002, after finish *Ice Age*, it was announced that Steve Martino was work on then title project that would become *Puppet Pals*. In 2002, Fox film title to be *Puppet Pals*, then plan for release. In addition, it would be with 3D computer animation, rather than 2D traditional hand drawn animation that had been done with Fox previous films.

In 2003, production of film began, and *Simpsons* animation director and producer David Silverman, was brought in to produce film. Thalia Ward, creator of *Alaina Gleen* and Chris Wedge, who voice of Slippy Dog and Smiley, work as creative consultants on film. Chris Renaud served as director of film. Film was later complete.

### Casting

In 2003, it was report that Jesse McCartney, Isla Fisher, Sandra Bullock, Josh Peck, and Seth Rogen had been cast as film characters. Martino hired him because of his performance in *Computeropolis,* Universal Pictures 1 computer animated film from it own studio which was release on July 2, 2004.

Coming soon!

### Music

Main article: Puppet Pals (2006 film)/Soundtrack

Film original score was compose by Michael Giacchino and John Powell. Soundtrack album was release on June 16, 2006 by Varese Sarabande.

## Release

*Main article: Puppet Pals/Release dates*
Film was originally schedule for release on November 18, 2005, but in 2004, it release date was push back to June 23, 2006. Sheer magnitude of new film has led to conclude that release date, with DVD, will enable to best maximize performance and increase profitability, generating enhanced asset value and better return. Chris Meledandri explained, release date change was also day before Universal Pictures and Gingo Movies change release date of *BJ And Wally (2006)* to December 16, 2005 to July 7, 2006.

*Puppet Pals* premiere on June 12, 2006, at Mann Village Theatre, Westwood in Los Angeles, and was release in US on June 30, 2006. Film was rated PG by Motion Picture Association Of America for mild language, crude humor, some action and peril.

Film theatrical release was accompanied by Fox Animation 2004 Academy Award nominated short film *The Mushies.*

In 2005, IMAX decided to plan big screen 3D version of Puppet Pals. Film would have been release, after it conventional release. Release would have also included sequences and alternate end. Plan for this was drop due to creative change instituted by Fox and result in loss of $1 million, down from IMAX profit of $4 million.

However, in 2014, Fox and IMAX announced that film would be issued and digitally mastered for IMAX theaters during film conventional 3D release on September 2, 2016.

Montage of outtakes were made and included in end credits of film starting on July 28, 2006, which was done because Fox hoped it would encourage people to view film 2 time.

### Marketing

Film was backed by large marketing campaign, with toys, books, games, clothes, and many other items becoming available throughout 2006.

In 2006, Burger King began promo for film, giving out set of 8 kids meal toys featuring characters from film, in Big Kids Meal and Kids Meal orders.

Dairy Queen also ran 8 week promo of film, selling products such as Puppet Pals EXTREME Sundae, combination of Oreo Cookies and Cream ice cream, hot fudge, crushed chocolate cookies, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and Puppet Pals Freeze Frame Cake, featuring image of Nathan, Anna and Toby framed by green grass hill.

Even tie ins with Chuck Cheese, Chevrolet, Ziploc, Kraft, General Mills, and Amazon, and series of 5 Lego sets were also use to promo film.

Film website launch on May 14, 2005, about 5 days before release of *Revenge Of Sith*. Along with 4 teaser posters resembling 2 big letters of letter P, Nathan inside portal colors, Slippy causing crack in ground, and night in Lucky Ocean, follow day.

### Trailers

* Film teaser trailer aired on May 15, 2005 on Fox between new episodes of Malcolm In Middle, King Of Hill, Family Guy and Simpsons. It depicts scene where Johnny and Mavis get ready to go on vacation with their son, Dennis at Disneyland in time for 50 Anniversary. Dennis get goldfish and Nathan fed before he leave his room. Skippy and Aliana get him ready for any plan for even, and they found Jeremy Johnson spew out of sink, at day instead of night. This scene was not present in final film. then on May 19, 2005 and was attached into theatrical screen of *Revenge Of Sith*, *Madagascar*, *Wondercolts*, *Fully Loaded, MISSION*, *Fantastic 4*, *Charlie And Chocolate Factory*, *Speedy Chase*, *Bad News Bears*, *Sky High*, *Valiant*, *Proud Family Movie*, *Kenny Drive*, and *Corpse Bride*, and was made available on official Puppet Pals website same day.
* Another teaser trailer was release on October 7, 2005 and was attached into *Curse Of Were Rabbit*, *Chicken Little*, *Zathura Space Adventure*, *Harry Potter And Goblet Of Fire*, *Metro Cone*, *Yours, Mine And Ours*, *MYCUN Movie, World Tour, Lion, Witch And Wardrobe*, *Vampy*, *Cheaper By Dozen 2*, *Hoodwinked, Big Momma House 2,* and *Nanny McPhee*.
* 1 full trailer was release on February 10, 2006 and was shown with *Pink Panther*, *Curious George*, *Circus Bears, 8 Below*, *Doogal, Aquamarine*, *Shaggy Dog*, *She Man*, *Inside Man, Meltdown, Wild Midgets,* and *American Dreamz.*
* Final trailer debut on Fox on April 23, 2006 during new episode of *Simpsons*, and was later release in front of *Akeelah And Bee*, *Hoot*, *Creatures Of Nature*, *Beastz*, *Over Hedge*, *Last Stand*, *Cars*, *Tail Of 2 Kitties*, and *Nacho Libre*.

TV spots began to air between April and July of 2006.

### Video game

Video game based on film was release on June 27, 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, PC, and Macintosh. It was also release on November 19, 2006, for Wii and PlayStation 3.

## Home media

20 Century Fox Home Entertainment 1 release *Puppet Pals* on DVD on November 3, 2006. This release includes special THX edition with DTS sound, 2 short films Slippy Miss Adventure and Puppet Pals Crazy Dance Party, inside look of *Kate And Chris*, play games, demo of film video game on PC and more.

*Puppet Pals* was release to DVD same day that DreamWorks Animation and Aardman *Flushed Away* hit theaters. Since videos were release on Tuesdays, DreamWorks executive did not receive this well, say that move seem like attempt some of their film steam. Fox responded that it simply release to Friday to make it more of event and predicted that it and other studios would do so more frequently with important films. DreamWorks and Aardman *Flushed Away* earn that week $3, while Puppet Pals video release made more than $1 million, and eventually became biggest selling DVD at time with over $6 million sales. Fox release film on DVD and for 1 time on Blu ray in NA on October 12, 2010. It was release again on Digital HD, Blu ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD Blu ray on November 1, 2016 to honor 10 anniversary of franchise.

## Reception

### Critical response

*Puppet Pals* received widespread critical acclaim, becoming cult hit among critics upon release. On aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, film has Certified Fresh rating of 100% based on 198 reviews, with average rating of 8.3 10. Site critical consensus reads, Even if it not animated classic, Puppet Pals is clever funny and cater to family members of all ages. On Metacritic, it received score of 100 out of 100, based on 73 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews.

### Box office

*Puppet Pals* open in 13 NA theaters on it open week, grossing $6 on it 1 day which was biggest Friday open day in at that time. During it open week, Puppet Pals earn $8 million from it NA theaters, which at time set new records such as highest open for Fox animated film later overtaken by *Simpsons Movie*. Film open at 1 at box office on it open week beat Fox own *Devil Wears Prada* and Warner Bros. *Superman Returns*. Film close on December 14, 2006 after 24 week of release, grossing $2 million in US and UK, along with $7 million overseas for worldwide total of $5 million. Film sold estimated tickets in NA.

Film was release in UK 3 months later on September 22, 2006, and top country box office for next 2 week, before being dethroned by *Devil Wears Prada*.

#### 3D re-release

*Puppet Pals 3D* was open in 9 theaters on September 9, 2016, and made $1 million in it open week, finish in 2 at box office. Film close on October 20, 2016, with worldwide gross of $8 million. Unlike other countries, UK and Argentina received film. *Puppet Pals 3D* was release on September 23, 2016 in UK, and October 6, 2016, in Argentina.

## Transcripts

### Main

To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

### Trailers

To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.

## Notes

**Television:** *Puppet Pals: The Series* • *Joanna: Princess of Tinywood*

**Upcoming:** *Alaina Gleen: World's Most Wanted* (2021) · *Cool Spot: Spot Goes to Hollywood* (2022) · *Hyper* (2022)