Re-Animated
Re-Animated is a 2006 American live-action/animated teen fantasy-comedy television film that premiered on Cartoon Network on December 8, 2006.[1] Directed by Bruce Hurwit and written by Adam Pava and Tim McKeon, the film stars Dominic Janes as Jimmy Roberts, a 12-year-old boy who suffers a severe brain injury during an amusement park accident and receives a brain transplant from Milt Appleday, a deceased cartoonist obsessed with cartoons, enabling him to see and interact with animated characters in the real world.[2][1][3] The film was produced by Cartoon Network Studios in association with Renegade Animation, marking the network's first original live-action production.[4] Principal photography was completed in October 2006, blending live-action footage with low-budget Flash animation for the cartoon elements.[4] Key cast members include Bil Dwyer as Jimmy's father, Rachel Quaintance as his sister, and voices provided by talents such as Matt Knudsen and Brian Stepanek for the animated characters.[1] Re-Animated served as a pilot for the subsequent live-action/animated series Out of Jimmy's Head, which premiered on Cartoon Network on September 14, 2007, and ran for one season until 2008.[5] The film received mixed to negative reception, with an audience score of 24% on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 100 ratings, often criticized for its humor and production quality but noted for its innovative blend of formats.[2] It was released on DVD on August 21, 2007.[6]Development and Production
Concept and Development
Cartoon Network announced the development of Re-Animated on March 9, 2006, marking it as the network's first original film to blend live-action footage with animation in a hybrid format.[7] The project was greenlit during the network's upfront presentation, with production slated to begin in spring 2006 and aimed at a fall premiere to appeal to tween audiences through its innovative mix of real-world teen scenarios and animated whimsy.[8] Executive Vice President Jim Samples highlighted the film's potential to explore the "collision of animation and the real world" in an irreverent, humorous way, positioning it as a fresh evolution for Cartoon Network's original programming.[8] Conceived as a pilot episode for the subsequent series Out of Jimmy's Head, Re-Animated established the core premise of a 12-year-old boy receiving a brain transplant from a renowned cartoonist after an amusement park accident, granting him the ability to perceive animated characters in everyday life.[9] This setup fused teen comedy tropes with surreal cartoon interactions, allowing the story to delve into themes of imagination invading reality while setting up ongoing adventures for the lead character.[10] The creative team was led by writers and creators Adam Pava and Tim McKeon, both veterans of Cartoon Network series such as Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, with direction handled by Bruce Hurwit.[10] Development progressed rapidly from the initial pitch to completion, with principal photography wrapping in Los Angeles by early October 2006, transitioning into post-production shortly thereafter.[10] This timeline reflected Cartoon Network's push to innovate in hybrid storytelling, ultimately leading to the film's broadcast on December 8, 2006, and laying the groundwork for the Out of Jimmy's Head series premiere in September 2007.[9]Filming and Animation
Re-Animated was produced by Renegade Animation, Appleday Pictures, and Cartoon Network Studios, marking Cartoon Network's first original live-action/animated television movie.[10] The film's runtime totals 85 minutes.[1] The animated elements were created using Flash animation techniques by Renegade Animation, a studio known for its work in vector-based, low-budget animation styles suitable for television production.[1] Live-action sequences were filmed to allow for the overlay of these animated characters onto real-world footage, enabling interactions between actors and cartoon figures in a hybrid format.[10]Cast and Characters
Live-Action Cast
The live-action cast of Re-Animated consists of young performers portraying the human characters in a story blending real-world settings with animated visions, emphasizing family dynamics and corporate intrigue at Appleday Pictures. Dominic Janes stars as Jimmy Roberts, the 12-year-old protagonist who receives the brain transplant from the deceased animator Milt Appleday, granting him the ability to see and interact with cartoon characters. Born in 1994 in Tucson, Arizona, Janes had prior experience in child acting roles, including guest appearances as Alex Taggart on ER (2004–2005) and in episodes of Crossing Jordan. His lead performance in Re-Animated marked a breakthrough, leading to the spin-off series Out of Jimmy's Head.[11][10] Matt Knudsen portrays Sonny Appleday, the antagonistic son of Milt Appleday, who schemes to reclaim the transplanted brain by targeting Jimmy. Knudsen's depiction of the villainous executive-in-training underscores the film's themes of greed and sabotage within the animation studio.[10] Eunice Cho plays Robin, Jimmy's supportive friend and budding love interest, providing emotional grounding amid the chaos of the brain transplant's effects. Cho's role highlights youthful camaraderie and subtle romantic tension in the live-action sequences.[12] Bil Dwyer appears as Ken Roberts, Jimmy's father, infusing the role with wry humor and paternal warmth. Known for his stand-up specials and hosting game shows such as Lingo, Dwyer contributes to the family dynamics in the narrative. Rhea Lando portrays Yancy Roberts, Jimmy's adopted older sister, contributing to the family ties central to the narrative. Lando, whose television credits include guest spots on CSI: Miami and Ghost Whisperer, delivers a poised performance in her feature debut.[13][12] Rachel Quaintance plays Louisa Roberts, Jimmy's mother, supporting the family-oriented aspects of the story.[14] Micah Karns portrays Craig Wheeler, Jimmy's best friend, adding to the peer interactions and comedic elements.Voice Cast
The voice cast for Re-Animated features a roster of comedians and veteran voice actors who brought the film's animated characters to life, particularly those appearing in protagonist Jimmy Roberts' imaginative visions of the Gollyworld universe. Fred Willard provided the voice for Milt Appleday, the late cartoon studio executive whose brain is transplanted into Jimmy, infusing the role with Willard's signature dry wit and eccentric delivery that highlighted the character's over-the-top showbiz persona.[15][10] Tom Kenny lent his versatile vocal talents to the Appleday Board Member, a minor animated figure in the corporate sequences, drawing on his experience with high-energy, comedic characters from projects like SpongeBob SquarePants. Kenny also voiced Tux the Penguin, one of the whimsical Gollyworld inhabitants, adding to the film's blend of humor and absurdity in the animated segments.[16][17][18] Additional animated characters were voiced by notable performers, including Paul Reubens as Golly Gopher, the cheerful mascot of the theme park; Ellen Greene as Dolly Gopher, Golly's companion; and Brian Posehn as Crocco the Alligator, contributing to the lively ensemble of cartoonish figures seen in Jimmy's hallucinations. The casting emphasized comedians to ensure humorous and exaggerated performances in the animated portions, enhancing the film's satirical take on animation history.[15][17][10]Plot
Middle school student Jimmy Roberts is often bullied and belittled by his peers. During a class trip to Gollyworld, an amusement park themed around the cartoons of the late inventor Milt Appleday, Jimmy is coerced by his friends into retrieving Appleday's frozen brain from a hidden lab. While searching, Jimmy is struck by a runaway train called Crocco's Train and critically injured. In an emergency surgery, doctors transplant Appleday's brain into Jimmy's head.[19] After recovering, Jimmy discovers he can see and interact with Appleday's animated characters in the real world, including the mascot Golly Gopher and his co-host Dolly, while others cannot. The characters urge Jimmy to become the new president of Appleday Pictures to revive the studio's popularity. With their help, Jimmy gains fame at school, impresses his crush Robin Yoshida, and is elected president, but he begins neglecting his real friends and family in pursuit of celebrity.[3] Meanwhile, Sonny Appleday, Milt's greedy son and current head of the studio, learns of the transplant and plots to extract the brain from Jimmy to secure his inheritance. Sonny modifies the Crocco's Train into a decapitation device to kill Jimmy during a live broadcast. Robin grows suspicious of Jimmy's behavior and the animated characters' exploitative influence. With Robin's support and assistance from Golly, Jimmy thwarts Sonny's plan, destroys the train, and publicly denounces the presidency on air, choosing his friendships over fame. In the aftermath, Sonny's scheme fails, and Jimmy reconciles with his loved ones.[19]Music
Featured Songs
The featured songs in Re-Animated blend live-action and animated elements to enhance the film's hybrid narrative, introducing key themes and advancing the plot through musical sequences. The opening theme, "Re-Animated," performed by Johnny Colt, sets the tone by depicting the fusion of real-world and cartoonish realities in Jimmy Roberts' life following his experimental brain transplant.[20] This upbeat track underscores the initial chaos of Jimmy's visions, establishing the story's central conflict between ordinary adolescence and surreal animations. A standout humorous number is "The Meat Song," sung by Jared Faber, which plays during a chaotic visit to the Gollyworld amusement park attraction. The song satirizes consumer culture and excess through absurd lyrics about meat products, coinciding with Jimmy's hallucinatory encounter with animated characters amid the park's over-the-top exhibits.[20] Its playful, repetitive chorus amplifies the comedic tension as Jimmy navigates the blend of live-action peril and cartoon antics. Additional tracks include comedic jingles such as "The Party Song" by Matt Crocco, which erupts during a lively social scene involving Jimmy's peers, and "Mittens' Revenge" by Johnny Colt, a vengeful ditty tied to an animated puppet character's outburst in one of Jimmy's visions. These shorter musical interludes punctuate corporate boardroom sequences and fantastical daydreams, using irony and whimsy to highlight Jimmy's internal struggles. Songs like "Pure" and "It's On" by Superchick provide emotional contrast, building to plot progression.[20] Other songs featured include:- "My Only Friend" by Ronnie Day
- "Greatest Day" by Bowling for Soup
- "The Love Song" (performer unspecified)
- "K.I.T." by Johnny Colt
- "Closer" by Joshua Radin
- "Today" by Joshua Radin[20]