M.I.S.S.I.O.N.

***MISSION*** is 2005 American 3D computer animated comedy film produced by Universal Animation Studios for Universal Pictures. 8 animated feature in the Universal Animated Features canon, it was directed by Steve Samono and Ash Brannon from screenplay by Michael Wildshill and Joe Stillman and story by Samono, and stars voices of Zach Tyler Eisen, Gary LeRoi Gray, Avril Lavigne, Stanley Tucci, with Wally Kurth, and Patrick Warburton. Film follow middle school student Louis DeMinsky, who is recruited along with his academic Mort Soberman and Tiana Croson into secret agency based underneath school grounds. Their assignment is to battle out of control geological terrorist organization who plan to use their technology to scramble Earth continents.

Film was release in US on July 1, 2005 and received positive reviews from critics. However, while grossing $2 million worldwide on it $7 million budget, film under at box office, forcing write down of $5 million for Universal, but later found considerably larger success in home media, where it became top selling release of 2005.

## Voice cast

* Zach Tyler Eisen as Louis DeMinsky, a 12-year-old "one-of-a-kind" student who is the main member of M.I.S.S.I.O.N.
* Gary LeRoi Gray as Mort Soberman, the second-in-command member of M.I.S.S.I.O.N.
* Avril Lavigne as Tiana Croson, the tomboyish third-in-command member of M.I.S.S.I.O.N. who masters martial arts.
* Stanley Tucci as Clariborn Holmes, the commanding officer of M.I.S.S.I.O.N. and the former principal of Elstree Middle School.
* Wally Kurth as Macksey Skee, the boss of the S.C.H.E.M.E. organization.
* Patrick Warburton as Biggie-B, a member of the S.C.H.E.M.E. organization.
* Caroline Dhavernas as Laura DeMinsky, Louis's 8-year-old sister.
* Laraine Newman as Mrs. DeMinsky, Louis's mother.
* Bob Bergen as Mr. DeMinsky, Louis's father.
* Lauren Tom as Mrs. Teckleski, Louis's teacher.
* Danny Mann as Wilbert Rluck, the current principal of Elstree Middle School.
* Zack Shada as Johnathan.
* Connor Price as Robby McRobbs.
* Jim Anderson as News Reporter.
* Thomas Derviom as Police Officer #1.
* Michael Wildshill as Police Officer #2.
* Amy McNeill as the English teacher.
* John France as one of Skee's minions.
* Steve Samono as Nick.
* Ash Brannon as a security guard.

### Additional voices

* Carlos Alazraqui
* Jack Angel
* Susan Blu
* Rodger Bumpass
* Jane Carr
* John Cygan
* Jennifer Darling
* Paul Eiding
* Bill Farmer
* Jessie Flower
* Aaron Fors
* Gary Hall
* Jess Harnell
* Sherry Lynn
* Mickie McGowan
* Alec Medlock
* Phil Proctor
* Jan Rabson
* Daryl Sabara
* Evan Sabara
* Mindy Sterling
* Joe Stillman
* Jim Ward

## Production

Steve Samono, 1 began work on story for what became *MISSION* about 14 years prior to it release, then directed film development from 1997 to 2003. In 1998, Universal announced film as *Agent Junior*, as 2D traditional animated feature scheduled for release, which Samono described as James Bond like film that revolved around entirely different concept. In 2000, *Agent Junior* was push back to holiday release in order to give Samono more time to work on story.

In 2001, film was title *Operation School* and it was announced that film would be 3D computer animated feature film. In 2002, film title was change once again, this time as *MISSION*. Production began in 2003, and release date was push back to 2005.

## Release

*MISSION* was originally scheduled to be release on June 17, 2005, but in 2004, it release date was move up 2 week later on July 1, 2005, release date that was originally slated for *Chicken Little*, which was later release on November 4, 2005. *Perfect Man*, another film from Universal Pictures, was release on June 17, 2005.

*MISSION* premiere at Toronto International Film Festival on June 11, 2005 and was theatrical release in theaters on July 1, 2005 by Universal Pictures. It was release 2 week early in UK and Ireland on June 17, 2005.

### Marketing

Coinciding with the film's release, Burger King released eight toys in their Kids' Meals. A video game adaptation was released on June 21, 2005 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and on the Nintendo DS. An Xbox 360 version of the video game was released on November 22, 2005.

### Trailers

* Official teaser trailer was release on July 2, 2004, and was shown before *Computeropolis*, *Team POWER*, *Twin, Duo And Double*, *Cinderella Story*, *Thunderbirds (2004)*, *Pyramid Of Light*, *Royal Engagement*, *Aliana Gleen Movie*, *Shark Tale*, *Taxi* and *Runover Boys*.
* 1 official theatrical trailer was release on November 5, 2004, and was shown before *Incredibles*, *SpongeBob SquarePants Movie*, *Lemony Snicket Series Of Unfortunate Events*, *Zina And Vivid Crew*, *Fat Albert (2004), Coach Carter* and *Elektra*.
* 2 theatrical trailer was release on February 11, 2005, and was shown before *Pooh Heffalump Movie*, *Son Of Mask,* *Pacifier*, *Robots*, *Ice Princess*, *Guess Who, Fever Pitch, Kim Possible Movie So Drama,* and *Tj World Movie*.
* 3 and final theatrical trailer was release on April 29, 2005, and was shown before *Hitchhiker Guide To Galaxy, Revenge Of Sith, Madagascar, Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl In 3D, Howl Moving Castle, Wondercolts, and Fully Loaded.*
* TV spots began to air between May 9 to July 12, 2005.

### Home media

*MISSION* was release on VHS and DVD on December 13, 2005. Unlike it theatrical box office performance, film performed better on home video, becoming top selling home video release.

Film was release on HD DVD on May 15, 2007 and on Blu ray on July 22, 2008 and contained new features not included on DVD. 3D Blu ray version was release on January 22, 2013.

## Soundtrack

In 2005, *MISSION Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* soundtrack was release by Varese Sarabande. Harry Gregson Williams composed film score.

## Reception

### Critical reception

*MISSION* has 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with average rating of 7.5 10 based on 146 reviews. Site critical consensus reads, *MISSION* is flash satire complete with visual thrills, silly twists, and brisk pacing. Metacritic, which assigns weighted average score 100 out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives film score 100 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews.

### Box office

*MISSION* earn $73,174, in US and $2 from international markets for worldwide total of $9. Despite grossing $2 million over it $7 million budget, film was deemed box office failure due to high marketing costs of $3 million and falling short of break even point of $4 million. Director Ash Brannon attributed film under performance to poor audience reactions and releasing it on same day as *War Of Worlds* which was more hyped up.

*MISSION* open on July 1, 2005 against *Rebound* and *War Of Worlds*. Film was project to gross $8 million from 3,654 theaters in it open week. It made $1 million from Thursday night previews and $5 million on it open day. Michael Wildshill call these results terribly disappointing and cause studio to rearrange their management team. Film end up grossing $19.1 million in it open week debut at No 2 behind *War Of Worlds*. In it 2 week, film declined by huge margin of 100%, grossing $6.9 million and drop to No 6. 3 week suffered less severe drop declining by 100% and grossed $6.1 while remaining in 6.

## 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.

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