DreamWorks Annie

***Annie*** is a 2005 direct-to-video animated film released in the year 2005. It is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan, which in turn is based on *Little Orphan Annie*, the 1924 comic strip by Harold Gray, with a cast of Harvey Street Kids playing the characters. The characters' voices are generally performed by popular singers at the time.

The film was produced by Columbia TriStar Home Video, DreamWorks Animation, and Adelaide Productions.

## Plot

In 1933, during the Great Depression, a young orphan named Annie is living in Hudson Street Orphanage in New York City. With half of a locket as her only possession, she remains optimistic that her parents, who left her on the doorstep as a baby, will return for her. The orphanage is run by Miss Hannigan, a cruel alcoholic who forces the orphans to clean the building daily. Annie sneaks out with help from laundry man, Mr. Trickle, adopting a stray Dollarmatian which she names Sandy. Annie is returned to the orphanage shortly after by a policeman.

Shortly after, Grace Farrell, secretary to billionaire Oliver Warbucks, arrives to invite an orphan to live with Warbucks for a week to improve his public image. Annie is chosen. She and Sandy travel to Warbucks' mansion, meeting his many servants including his bodyguards Punjab and the Asp. Warbucks is at first dismissive of Annie, preferring a female, but Annie charms him into letting her stay. He takes Annie and Grace to a movie theater to watch a movie. Warbucks begins to develop affection for Annie. Grace urges him to adopt Annie and he meets with Miss Hannigan, convincing her to sign the adoption papers.

However, upon revealing his plans to Annie, even offering her a new locket, Annie declines. She explains the purpose of her broken locket, hoping her parents will return with the other half. Warbucks appears on the radio show of Bert Healy, offering $50,000 to find Annie's parents. This causes mass hysteria with many would-be parents appearing to claim the money. To escape the madness, Warbucks flies Annie to the White House, introducing her to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Roosevelt informs them of his plan to introduce a social welfare program to help America's impoverished, and asks Warbucks to head it. He is encouraged by Annie to help. Upon returning home, Annie is disheartened when Grace reveals none of the potential parents knew about the locket.

Miss Hannigan is visited by her friend, Rooster, a con artist, and his girlfriend Lily St. Robin. They plot to pose as Annie's parents to gain the reward. The trio search the orphans' belongings. Miss Hannigan reveals Annie's parents died, and she possesses the other half of the locket. Annie's friends overhear the conversation and try to sneak out, but are caught and locked away. Rooster and Lily proceed with the plan, but Annie's departure from Warbucks is sombre. Annie is kidnapped minutes after leaving. Her friends reach Warbucks, informing him of the ruse. Warbucks informs the police, who begin a city-wide search.

Annie convinces the felons to pull over, only to escape and tear apart Warbucks' cheque. Rooster chases Annie up a bridge in an effort to kill her after Miss Hannigan fails to stop him in remorse. Punjab rescues Annie and she reunites with Warbucks and Grace. Rooster and Lily are arrested. Later, Annie is officially adopted by Warbucks, throwing a party which the orphans, a redeemed Miss Hannigan, and the Roosevelts attend. Warbucks gives Annie a new locket and she embraces her new father. The film ends with fireworks writing Annie's name.

## Cast

* Grey Griffin as FruFru Machoufru playing Annie
* Brendan Hay as Lotta's Dad playing Oliver Warbucks
* Kristin Chenoweth as Patty Pupé playing Miss Agatha Hannigan
* Joey Fatone as J-Frog Rooster Hannigan
* Aliki Theofilopolous as Chloe Claireson playing Lily St. Regis
* Vanessa Williams as Melvin's Mom playing Grace Farrell
* Peter Emmerich as Dot's Dad 1 playing Franklin D. Roosevelt
* James Earl Jones as Dot's Dad 2 playing Punjab
* Davey Havok as Victor Lavender playing The Asp
* Stephanie Lemelin as Audrey playing Molly
* Kelly McCreary as Dot playing Pepper
* Lauren Lapkus as Lotta playing Tessie
* Laraine Newman as Ryan playing Kate
* Cree Summer as Zoe playing Duffy
* Aliki Theofilopolous as Audrey's Mom playing Elanor Roosevelt
* Jack Quaid as Richie Rich playing Bert Healy
* Roger Craig Smith as Blaze Trickle playing Mr. Trickle
* John Stephenson as Lotta's Pappy playing Police Man
* Dominic Cantrambone as Dollar playing Sandy

## Soundtrack

1. "Tomorrow (opening titles)" - Grey Griffin and Chorus
2. "Maybe" - Grey Griffin
3. "It's the Hard Knock Life" - Grey Griffin, Stephanie Lemelin and Chorus
4. "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" - Grey Griffin and Vanessa Williams
5. "Little Girls" - Kristin Chenoweth
6. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" - Jack Quaid, Chorus and Orphans
7. "Tomorrow (White house version)" - Grey Griffin, Brendan Hay, Aliki Theofilopolous and Peter Emmerich
8. "Easy Street" - Stephanie Lemelin, Brendan Hay and Kristin Chenoweth
9. "I Don't Need Anything But You" - Grey Griffin and Brendan Hay
10. "Tomorrow (closing titles)" - Grey Griffin and Chorus