Rock and Rule: Musical Hell Review #24

[@RiddledRose]

Personally I love this movie. I feel it's kind of a mistake to say Omar is the main character though. If anything, this is Angel's movie.

[@QJ89]

True. She reminds me a bit of Gadget, the engineer mouse from 'Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers.' Could Angel be her great+ grand-daughter?

[@questionablemotivegirl6054]

Yeah. Omar is barely in the film. Angel really is the main character of the movie.

[@rogue7723]

Yeah, I feel like I would like this movie unironically.

[@jeremypayne2040]

I love this movie but I feel like it needs a remake to make it more of a solid film.

[@garthst.claire3459]

It should be Angel's movie, but most of the time we're following Omar's story.

[@zest1513]

How was Mok voiced by anyone but Tim Curry??? The instant he appeared on screen, I thought, "That’s definitely a Tim Curry character."

[@ingonyama70]

His voice is actually Don Francks, the voice of Sabretooth and Graydon Creed in the 1992 X-Men animated series.

[@shogunblade]

I guess he was considered for the role but he was too much money. He was just on the rise for acting in movies so that would have made sense (everything after Rocky Horror would have been up from there)

[@eamonndeane587]

@@ingonyama70 That and Boba Fett in the Star Wars Holiday Special

[@ultimatedarkrai255]

Its the lips

[@koichidignitythief7429]

or David Bowie

[@blackmagician7645]

Fun trivia: The actor who voices Mok is Cree Summers father. If you need to know who Cree Summers is, look up her voice biopic. There is too many known animation characters in her work for me to list all here. But the green m&m- tiny toons Elmyra- inspector gadgets Penny- rugrats Suzy- Clifford the big red dog Cleo- drawn together's Foxxy- hello kitty's Katnip- Disney princess Kida from Alantis- number 5 from the kids next door- Xiaolin Chronicles's Wuya, and many other side characters.

[@harrietamidala1691]

"Well Thank You Little Miss Ambition" I keep thinking "Well Excuse me, Princess." Wonder if Omar and Link are voiced by the same guy.

[@grainneorgracequinn2888]

harrietamidala1691 who knows?😅

[@mikusmom]

Well Excuuuuuuuse me Princess.

[@youfoundwaldo77]

The animation on this is pretty eye catching and unique, even if the story is crap

[@litlblkhouse]

Consider this was a Canadian film, and most Canadian cartoon productions are average at best, I think it's a rarity.

[@brianarodriguez2757]

I don't know, I actually like the animation in this. The whole grungy style has a kind of appealing look to it fits well with the rock and roll music. But whatever. Different strokes for different folks I guess...

[@gilbertgranby9339]

Graphic Novel Style..😎👍
Think, Johnny Quest..1964 😏

[@kayw8224]

Before I knew better (I only saw the love as a child, thus no credits), I thought he was Bowie when I was growing up. We recorded this on vhs from some tv showing lol

[@WobblesandBean]

I admit, this film is a HUGE guilty pleasure for me. I admit if they'd made the characters human it would have fixed a lot of issues, or go whole hog, make them actual anthropomorphs and don't include that ridiculous opening crawl.

[@speeta]

Back when the film in development was called Drats! with much more cartoon animal designed characters. By the end the designs were so humanized they should have rethought, dropped the "evolved animals" premise entirely and put humans in a post-WWIII terchno-dystopia.

[@EasyZee69]

This film is also a guilty pleasure of mine, and a big reason why became an animator. But I have to differ with one thing, I actually like that the characters are not fully human and not fully anthropomorphic animals. It made perfect sense to me right from the very first time I saw this movie. It's a post apocalyptic, radio active, world. Everyone is mutated. Cheers.

[@WobblesandBean]

I know they're mutated, but the idea wasn't expanded on enough. It was a half-baked idea that could have had potential, but they didn't put enough thought into it. And that's what's so sad about this movie, there's a great movie hidden in there.

[@MitchellTF]

Have you SEEN what happened when this guy tried to make humans? *Points to the Holiday special*

[@WobblesandBean]

@@MitchellTF LOL!! Point.

[@Flowerbarrel]

Angel was a big fan of Mok’s, and she even told him she loved his albums. She could’ve helped him get back on his feet if Mok had been more amicable. Maybe they’d have become friends and Angel would’ve helped Mok with his music, kinda like how David Bowie helped Lou Reed make his Transformers album. Then only when Angel realized that Mok was twisted did he start to show his villain, crazy side. You’re absolutely right in saying all Mok’s obvious villain crap wasn’t necessary. But at least this movie introduced me to Lou Reed.

[@godzillasaurbuttersworth3176]

I actually really like this movie. I dig the grungy animation.

[@Missourifangirl7789]

I saw this film a while back and I liked it. It was good.

[@emmajochum8682]

I love it too. That weird attention to anatomical detail. I call it "Eyelid Animation". This trend that was definitely around in the 80s (but may have originated in the 70s and/or bled into the early 90s) where the animation was hyper detailed enough to animate eyelid lines around the character's eyes. A big example that always sticks out to me is in "The Chipmunk Adventure"

[@kieranstark7213]

Miyazaki films and Rock & Rule could all do surreal animation properly!

[@dakotasan8719]

Godzillasaur Buttersworth Nelvana got some VERY good animators, no doubt. Not to mention the soundtrack KICKS ASS

[@therederror8595]

The movie you’re reviewing is actually the American cut of the film. The Canadian version actually changes the dialogue and helps the movie flow better at some parts. I can tell because of that talking Omar gets when angel is being forced to sing. I have no idea why they decided to change those lines. Basically I just recommend people watch the Canadian version. Not everything is fixed but it’s sure better. Fun video though thank you!

[@alpo2722]

TheRed Error where can you find the Canadian version?

[@litlblkhouse]

The Canadian version is great, and slick on story. The version we Americans got (this one?) was a disappointment.

[@otakon17]

I think you're mistaking animation with aeshetic. The animation for the movie is actually pretty good overall, just the character designs and tone aren't your thing. Still a legit gripe though.

[@Marveryn]

its a grip for her cause she feels that same way to heavy metal. an animation that I love, but yeah this movie has the same style so its clearly not her style. Kind of like me and all those computer animation. I can't stand those

[@nixnightbird138]

Yeah, but then she sings the praises of same-old same-old anime aesthetics. People who are big anime fans seem to think any animation that doesn't have the same features as a Disney or Miyazaki film is "ugly". It drives me nuts, because I think the typical anime aesthetic is insanely ugly and stupid-looking. Cookie-cutter characters with big eyes, small noses, big hair, and the same costumes. I loathe anime.

[@megankelley1105]

@@nixnightbird138 That's kind of reductive when it comes to anime. How a Studio Ghibli film looks is different from how Crayon Shin-Chan looks which is different from how JoJo's Bizarre Adventure looks (which differs from season-to-season/part-to-part). I say this as a person that does like some of the grungy aesthetic of a Ralph Bakshi picture or a Heavy Metal, and really liked The Triplets of Belleville. I mean, you're entitled to your opinion of anime, but your criticism of it on the basis of complete uniformity of design doesn't entirely hold up.

[@dignerds]

Its not a legit gripe

[@becuaseimbored3481]

I think the thriller *perfect* *blue* is the perfect example to sin #5 . In it , our main character has to stage a rape scene and take nude photos . Not only is it showed as wrong and twisted (like it should be ) but it plays a huge role in the grand scheme of things as mima (our protagonist) loses her sense of identity and of reality itself .

[@QuintetMagician]

Definitely. There's a reason it's a classic.

[@hobbitsdosucesso4704]

This movie need to study Akira, not Miyazaki. Especially in the scenery, color palet and animation.
Akira is a best dark and violent "trippy" cyberpunk animated movie

[@nixnightbird138]

Akira is one of the only decent anime films ever made. Miyazaki is dull.

[@amiefortman7220]

Y'know, Lou Reed does actually have a really nice speaking voice. Shame he didn't go into voice acting on the side.

[@eamonndeane587]

@@Talisguy He was also the voice of Sabretooth in the 1990s X-Men animated series.

[@xTheWorldIsQuietHere]

I only watch the Forbidden Canadian Cut that was lost in a fire. CBC has the only tape of it left and the rest has been cobbled together with pencil tests and the original voice actors. It's a HUGE guilty pleasure.

[@madamefluffy4788]

What's weird is that, for whatever reason, the Canadian version (i.e. -the original/uncut version) is better than the Americanized version. I think it's because Omar's original voice actor makes me want punch the character in the face less.
And I don't find Mok's musical number before the climax of the movie all that random. I just saw it as Mok - being on the verge of getting what he wanted - took some of his mind altering substances and fell into a narcissistic dream about himself and how awesome he is.

[@LaydiNite]

Miyazaki films really aren't all that trippy, though. Certainly not on the same level as what they were going for here. Also, while I see where you're coming from, I'm one of those that really likes this movie. However, I also enjoy bizarre or surreal animation in general, and I'm also a fan of Cool World, so take that for what it's worth, I guess.

[@ingonyama70]

There's a fluidity and a coherence to the strangeness of Miyazaki, where you can follow what's going on even when it seems to go nuts. This does not have that. The middle-school sensibilities don't help.

[@ssj4jason737]

I never minded Cool World but I'll watch Wizards before watching Cool World.

[@frisbyart]

I'm sorry but Cool World is a lousy excuse of a film in almost every conceivable way. Even the animation there seems dated compared to every other film Bakshi has made.

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

As a artist myself (Coffee Monster comic strips/Facebook) I totally dig the animation in this film and say all the animator's in this movie ought to be credited on a good job

[@RobBob6197]

I never knew you reviewed the film before I watched your review of Scooby-Doo: Music of the Vampire. I do agree with you that the movie could've been more fleshed-out in terms of story and characters. Also, just because you have adult jokes doesn't automatically make you more mature.
On the other hand, the animation is stunning (loved the movements of the characters and the designs of the monsters), the OST is cool to hear, and I adored Mok as the villain despite it's flaws. So yeah, it's a mixed bag.

[@thegayghost872]

The demon design was pretty cool, imo.

[@merrittanimation7721]

This has to be the tamest furry art I've ever seen. Most characters look more like normal people with a few warped features (especially the leads) than animal-human hybrids.

[@miticaBEP07]

That's because they're not anthropomorphic animals, but rather animals who evolved into humans.

[@merrittanimation7721]

@@miticaBEP07 That's not really all that different.

[@nixnightbird138]

This movie pre-dates the furry movement by a few decades.

[@merrittanimation7721]

@@nixnightbird138 Not really. They'd been around at least a decade at this point.

[@clarelabellerose]

@@merrittanimation7721 They began in the 80s.

[@Missourifangirl7789]

I actually like this film. It's not without it's flaws but it's still good. But I totally understand that not everyone will like this film and that's ok. Everyone has their opinion.

[@victorhernandez8723]

The soundtrack to Rock & Rule really needs to be made available for sale on iTunes. Who else agrees with me?

[@dano8902]

Victor Hernandez I agree wholeheartedly. Unearthed Films tried to get the rights, but there was a labyrinthine rights issue problem

[@speeta]

Victor Hernandez as is is often the case, the artists' performances appeared in the film courtesy of their respective labels but there was no provision to license the recordings for a soundtrack album on account of each artist's differing label.

[@ilikecurry2345]

Well at least it didn't suffer like the 1999 Sonic movie did and have the studio burn down.

[@thirteenfury]

The #6 Runaway Guys Fan Uhhh....hate to break this to you, but the original Canadian cut of the movie did burn in a fire. The American cut is the only source we have for DVD releases, outside of ripping extremely rare VHS copies of the Canadian version. And using VHS tape to convert is much worse video quality than converting a film reel. The original studio recording of Debbie Harry's song also burned, so the only way to make an official soundtrack is again using the film reel. That or she could re-record it in a studio decades later, but then her singing voice won't be the same as it was 35 years ago.

[@brandonhill4197]

I agree 100% but yeah unfortunately the original masters we're burned up in the fire. Not that I'm encouraging anyone here to do anything illegal but i found ppl right here on TH-cam who somehow we're able to get a hold of one of the limited cassettes that we're released to music critics at the time and then on their own remastered it as much as the limited source material would allow for. You can easily pull up one of those vids and rip the audio from video and then transfer it over to your iPod. That's what i did and while it doesn't sound perfect it's better then not having it at all. Hope that helps.

[@incognitoburrito7458]

Tbh that animation looks pretty cool. The art style and color kind of accents the grungy and unique time period this movie was made in.

[@CJCroen1393]

Also, as much of a cliche villain as he is, I totally agree that Mok's the best part of the movie. He's such a diva ("She can sing or she can SCREEEEEEAM!!!!! *dramatic pause* But she still pissed me off.") and so delightfully petty. According to Lou Reed, the whole thing that motivated his evil plan was _two empty seats_ at his latest concert. That's how much of a narcissistic bitch he is. I love it XD

[@VegetasCorndog]

mok is goblin king after a heroine binge

[@jedimarhwini948]

+VegetasCorndog Yup, I was thinking he looked like the goblin king if they got Mick Jagger to play the role today, so, pretty much the same thing.

[@VegetasCorndog]

Yeah haha, theres definitely a bit of jagger in there!

[@amiefortman7220]

He looks kind of like a cross between Mick Jagger and a younger Steven Tyler. Ooh, and look at the four musicians in the introduction--they're all Ziggy Stardust! :D

[@MitchellTF]

...You know? Mok's lips are apparently some of the most technically demanding animation ever done...

[@reyfan011]

My animation professor showed us the making of this movie to show what it looks like to animate by 1’s. I think that was his point. I appreciate the creativity of the designs, but I wish the movement was faster.

[@brianoconnell6459]

You know, I was just thinking. Prior to Rock & Rule (and almost 10 years after its release), there has barely been a single Disney movie where the villain had his own personal "Hey, I'm evil!" song. Look at it. Even The Black Cauldron didn't have the villain do a song. Then along came R&R, and every Disney movie since has had a villain sing in it.

[@Bannar]

+Brian O'Connell So basically Mok popularized the Villain Song in animated movies?

[@brianoconnell6459]

Yeah, actually, there were NO Disney "I'm evil, get to like me!" musical bits up until the late 80s starting with The Great Mouse Detective. Rock & Rule came out in 1982.

[@Bannar]

Brian O'Connell Funny how I've always seen Mok as something of a cross between Ratigan and Jafar in terms of design. xD

[@lizkenn1144]

I have always thought of Jafar as the son of Mok. Jafar's voice, looks and character were clearly influenced by Mok.

[@dominicsanimatedreviews5966]

Yeah Captain Hook's song was probably the closest by this point

[@akildukes7499]

Saw this and heavy metal back to back when I was a kid. Love them both. Great job, dad.

[@starsantheoriginal]

I'm sorry, but I had to stop listening to you after you said the animation was ugly. This is some of the best and detailed animation of an adult film you can find. It's beautifully done, even if the designs are weird.

[@pilgram974]

11:13 the voice over fitted so well in this scene

[@speeta]

This project was in development at the tail end of the 1970s and into the very early 1980s. Remember nothing yet existed that looked like it outside of adult comic books like Heavy Metal magazine, no future dystopias of Blade Runner or Road Warrior, and Miyazaki's only feature to date was Castle of Cagliostro. Bakshi's grungy adult animated features were the only things that came close. The release of the Heavy Metal movie in 1981 influenced this film in places and that was really it's only closest relation in tone. Also remember this was this team's first ambitious effort at a full length animated feature, trying to do something different, and they made a lot of rookie mistakes in the process.

[@weirdo_with_a_paintbrush]

It's not ugly, it's supposed to be off putting and fluid in movement, juxtaposed to traditional animation.
It's supposed to reflect adult movement, instead of zainy like kids animation.
The effect is called rotoscoping.

[@ennieminymoo6675]

rotoscoping is not making realistic animation, but to literally copy the figure of a real person (tracing it) Is a technique used in this movie, but in little fragments and the rest was just experience and time

[@DarkDennis1961]

I saw this on Beta in 1985. I still have it somewhere. And I liked it. Your idea of ugly animation is very subjective, You mentioned Heavy Metal too. All good looking animation

[@starsantheoriginal]

Agreed. She should stick to talking about the music parts only. Cause her opinions about animation is plain blind

[@nixnightbird138]

She's clearly an anime fan. They think anything without the Disney/Miyazaki aesthetic is "ugly".

[@KillerCaitie]

As a Canadian that grew up being very well-versed in the works of everything under Nelvana, it is REALLY weird to hear the first thing you associate with it being the Star Wars Xmas Special. It's like saying you know of Disney because of House of Mouse. It's just not the first, second, third, or twentieth thing that would come to mind.

[@harrietamidala1691]

Is it just me, or does the computer face look like a mighty duck?

[@MusicalHell]

harrietamidala1691 It's not just you.

[@harrietamidala1691]

Musical Hell Why didn't you make a joke of it?

[@MusicalHell]

harrietamidala1691 Probably didn't think of it until after the fact.

[@danthefan28]

Looks like if the villain from Tron and the Mighty Ducks logo were merged together, come to think of it, some of the characters do look like rejected Disney characters.

[@KaeMcSpadden]

The animation is pretty good. But yes, I don't know why they decided to make the characters talking animals.

[@decadentgamer3108]

Because anthropomorphic characters are fun to draw and considering this came out in 1993, when anthropomorphic characters were getting more mainstream popularity, not surprising.

[@KaeMcSpadden]

Ok, but why for an animation that was clearly meant to be for an adult audience?
Fritz the Cat made sense why they used anthropomorphic characters because it is a satire on animation like Disney and Loony Tunes and is able to use them to discuss adult themes like sex, racism, violence, which is prominent in other works by Ralph Bakshi.

[@decadentgamer3108]

Now that is the mystery. I'm guessing it was because most films that star/starred anthropomorphic characters were for targeted to children so the creators may have thought they could try making one that was aimed at adults.
And I mean, in the average furry demographic, the people are young adults and surprisingly enough, furries have been around since the late 80s so maybe the film was trying to appeal to furries?

[@jakarnilson]

Because Rock & Rule had its origins in an earlier Nelvana animated short called "The Devil and Daniel Mouse."

[@iamapizzaindisguise7730]

Kae McSpadden it's supposed to take place in a dystopian future where all humans have died out and only animal human mutants live

[@Gerilyn2003]

The animators had to create Strawberry Shortcake cartoons to fund this. They deserve massive props for that alone!
And c'mon, the witness statements for the failed concert at Carnage Hall was awesome!

[@bromodragone8405]

Greg Salata voices Omar (animated by Frank Nissen) in the Canadian version.
Paul Le Mat voices Omar in the American version of the film.
Robin Zander supplies Omar's singing voice.
Susan Roman voices Angel (animated by Anne-Marie Bardwell).
Debbie Harry provides Angel's singing voice.
Don Francks voices Mok Swagger (animated by Robin Budd).
Lou Reed provides the singing voice for "My Name is Mok" and "Triumph"; Iggy Pop provides the singing voice for "Pain & Suffering".
Samantha Langevin is the voice of Mok's computer.
Dan Hennessey is Dizzy (real name Alphonse) (animated by Charles Bonifacio).
Greg Duffell voices Stretch and Zip.
Chris Wiggins is Toad (animated by Chuck Gammage).
Brent Titcomb voices Sleazy.
Donny Burns plays first radio announcer and Quadhole (animated by John Celestri).
Martin Lavut voices second radio announcer and Mylar (animated by John Celestri).
Catherine Gallant voices Cindy (real name Cinderella) (animated by John Celestri).
Keith Hampshire voices other computers.
Melleny Brown plays a Carnegie Hall groupie.
Anna Bouroque voices Edna, a.k.a. "What's Her Face".
Nick Nichols voices border guard.
John Halfpenny plays Uncle Mikey.
Maurice LaMarche plays sailor.
Catherine O'Hara plays Aunt Edith (animated by Chuck Gammage).

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Susan Roman? As in Sailor Jupiter Susan Roman? Nice.

[@Warlocke000]

Angelina Jolie? Ouch. I thought of Karl Lagerfeld the instant I saw Mok.

[@andrewollmann304]

Warlocke000 David Bowie as Jareth, anyone?

[@ilikecurry2345]

Speaking of Karl Legerfeld, his design was used for picky fashion critic Hoity Toity in the hit show MLP: Friendship is Magic. He maybe showed up once, in Suited for Success, and that's it. He wouldn't appear anywhere else, aside from fanart... That is, until Honest Apple came around 7 years later and reintroduced him with exactly the same persnickety demeanor and silly sunglasses!

[@JolanXBL]

He is actually modeled after Mick Jagger

[@KevinStriker]

I'll never unsee Lagerfeld now, thank you

[@eoghanfeighery7383]

There's actually 2 versions: The uncut Canadian original and the US one where Omar's character was "softened" and his voice actor was changed for someone with more name recognition.
And I'm using the word softened lightly, since the US version somehow made Omar even more intolerable.

[@harrytodhunter5078]

I can really dig this art style

[@DR-vf9tr]

I have watched about 20 of your videos in the past few days. I just wanted to make sure I let you know how much I appreciate your witty commentary. I also love the theming you've developed, with the "Sins", rare "Saving Grace" and especially when you reference hell in ways like "What in the here?!", Etc. You seem to hit every note seamlessly in your editorializing. I'm so late to the Musical Hell party but so glad I found your channel!

[@anactualmotherbear]

The animation is actually amazing and beautiful... it's the character designs that are bad. I hate almost all the character's drawings.

[@eamonndeane587]

If you tweaked the script and added some more songs, Rock and Rule has the potential to be a great Stage Musical.

[@Matthias-of-Redwall]

This looks really strange but I like both labyrinth and Rocky horror so I can't judge

[@ripleyandweeds1288]

I actually think the animation isn't that bad. I mean the movie outright states that the creatures that inhabit this world are mutant animals so of course they're gonna look a bit nightmarish. Nelvana's previous works have been very cartoonish and Rock and Rule is probably their first shot at realistic anthropromorphized animals.

[@LaDracul]

I dunno, this looks like a more mature "The Devil and Daniel Mouse"...

[@herpderp3916]

LaDracul Same studio, actually!

[@MasterHappychipmunk]

That's because it was not only made by the same studio, but it was originally meant as a film sequel to the t.v special.

[@kirara2516]

Studio Ghibli films isn't a punishment! Sign me up for that please!

[@nowaymangoshtomuchna]

i wish i could have the soundtrack to this... especially "i am the mock" "angels song" and "send love trough"....

[@Hinatachan360]

13:06 Could this be where Tommy Wiseau got his 'You're tearing me apart, Lisa!' expression? You ok, Omar?

[@felisd]

I remember catching this on TV way back in the day when I was (probably) far too young for it to be appropriate for me to be watching it! I loved the Mok villain song, and the duet at the end. And though I've never seen it again since, those songs, the moment when Angel is sneaking out and her comically obvious reaction when she's almost gets busted when Cinderella starts to think maybe she's not who she claims to be still stick with me. This movie is so bad it's almost good. XD Thanks for that trip down memory lane.

[@williamcrowe2576]

Nelvana also did the animation for the *Tales From the Crypt* episode "The Third Pig". Just thought I'd point that out.

[@antonharmacinski276]

This movie had a major impact on my childhood and one of the reasons I own 8 guitars at 40+ years old.

[@afterdinnercreations936]

Money is the reason animated-features are mostly family-oriented. Animation is expensive and time-consuming; having to rely on making their money back through merchandising.

[@alecfoisy58]

About Sin #5, how do you feel about the Ralph Bakshi stuff and Sausage Party? I feel like those films have the "look at how edgy we are!" problem more than this film does, and yet people praise them anyway.

[@angewomon143]

I love this movie, and from what I could find this movie was almost lost in a fire so we r lucky we got anything at all but I could be wrong

[@marthademovimaus5140]

I've watched R&R a bunch of times and I think Alphonse AKA Dizzy is the real hero of this movie. He really cares about Angel and takes risks to save his buddies.

[@AceSoulWolf]

I'm Canadian and idc I love this movie lol

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

That opening text font is straight from Star Trek Next Gen.

[@ejl423]

15:06 Nice Back to the Future reference!

[@LostApotheosis]

I actually think the animation is great. Its smooth and unique. Of course animation is one if those things that end up being a personal taste so I can see why others wouldn't like it.

[@cjthehaasman9954]

The animation looks awesome, just like the movie is awesome.

[@gabe_s_videos]

How is it that there's a movie that combines my three favorite things in the world (2D animation, rock n roll and furries) and I DON'T like it??

[@schirins.6670]

I LOVE that film, but i always HATED Omar and Mok, Angle is OK but also not splendid. But for me it was the unsettling athmosphere and the beautifully drawn backgrounds, which sucked me in

[@FirstnameLastname-rf8bf]

Mok is an awesome villain. His songs are awesome, and he's willing to summon demons. Badass rock star. He deserved to be a rock star. I almost feel he should've won. He didn't need to be so rotten to the mooks, I kinda liked the girl. She seemed nice. And when the brother died, it was kinda sad. Which I liked. It moved me. I'm torn between bands tho. What Mok should've done was hired the whole band. Who knows how powerful they'd have been... the last song slaps. I love it. It really gets to me. I'd love to have the soundtrack. One of the better musicals imo. Everything about it I like.

[@ilikecurry2345]

Wait - if the movie says a nuclear war wiped out humanity and mutated all the cats and dogs and rats to be humanoid, why is there a random, normal, not-mutated cat?

[@ScreamingScallop]

Nelvanna blew their big chance by doing what they always did: cutting corners in the wrong places. One of the subtler reasons the animation is so off-putting is that it uses the worst cheap trick (see what I did there?) in the book: characters frequently being off-screen while they talk to reduce lip-sync duties. And that in turn is often accomplished with some of the worst editing I've ever seen in a film. The studio could make some fine, fun animation (just look at the scene in which Cindy bounces Angel then herself up into the air duct) and they really invested in the gaudy computer visuals, but every scene suggests someone stood over the shoulders of the director and the animators making sure nothing went a single frame longer than it absolutely had to.
Back in the early '80s several animation studios set out to usurp Disney. There was that scrubby, half-assed Heavy Metal mess, Don Bluth prevailed with The Secret of NIMH, Hanna-Barbera crapped out Heidi's Song (which I hope to see in Musical Hell some day), Rankin-Bass made the charming-but-cheapskate cult fave The Last Unicorn, Warners Brothers...well, Warners took a bunch of old Looney Tunes films and slapped together A CLIP SHOW FOR THEATRICAL RELEASE, and Nelvanna made this glorified overlong TV special. NIMH and Unicorn would become hits on home video, but only Heavy Metal was even marginally successful at the box office ($20 million). Rock & Rule could've stomped the crap out of it if only Nelvanna could have avoided studio meddling--and put some genuine effort into the animation and script development rather than the flashy-for-their-time light effects.

[@JustCallMeHeavy]

Is this in regards to the American version?

[@VincentMariethe4th]

This is one of my favorite comfort movies, but I get that it's a VERY acquired taste. I actually really dig the bizarre & grimy art style cuz I love when artists & studios want to try something different or break from convention. It's often what makes some of my favorite films so unique in identity.
Story-wise, though, I agree with the general consensus that Angel is the real star/hero of this movie, & "Send Love Through" is just so brilliant I get chills every time I listen to it. With Debbie Harry's magnificent vocals the only way it can be improved would be if it were a duet between her & Pat Benatar. Now THAT'S a duo that could tame the savage beast.

[@Nothin2seehere-e4z]

Why can't the females have snouts too?

[@CJCroen1393]

"What if Mok had been more subtle-"
LITERALLY _NOTHING_ ABOUT MOK IS SUBTLE.

[@2doot]

I definitely have to check this one out. Even with all the story flaws, the animation really captivates me so if anything, I just want to see what animation they'll throw.

[@davidschulberg8584]

Hol' up: wouldnt Mok's master plan just end up killing all his own actual fans?

[@tabthecabbit3354]

They actually did the narration thing in Princess Mononokè.

[@eamonndeane587]

Keith David can do no wrong, so he gets a pass.

[@SongbirdAlom]

it's weird but while I agree that the animation is ugly and the puns are bad....I kinda? like?? that about it? like, I LIKE the ugliness of it.

[@williamswonderland3636]

2:50 really to me its like ohy we wanted to do the text wall thing because its ceeper then the visuals and has a classy minimalism i guess but lets also have some verbal narration for the people with dexlyica or seeing impairments or some other thing that would make it difficult or impossible to tmread the expansion even though this particular film can be understood without it

[@noblegotit9109]

Aside from it's various flaws, I still think that this is a very charming movie.

[@kenflagg]

Say what you will about the quality of the story, but there aren't any other films quite like Rock & Rule. Less puerile than Fritz The Cat and Rock & Rule, more interesting than American Pop, free of the Tolkien obsession that created movies like Wizards. The animation is unique & compelling, the backgrounds are gorgeous, the voice acting is "cartooney" without being off-putting or childish and the soundtrack is stellar. I commend the brave & adventurous souls who brought this film to life.

[@DreamDancer82]

Boy, Nelvana produced some really weird stuff in their early days.

[@cmmosher8035]

I grew up on Canada in the 80s so this movie just sounds like my childhood.

[@starbird3939]

I don’t think the animation if the problem, but more of the character designs and animation.
No one has a consistent design. Some people look more like humans wearing cheap mouse noses to more animal like. Hell, Mok just looks like a human.
I feel there is a scale of anthro: humans with a tail, human/animal, bi pedal animals (Robin Hood, Warcraft), and straight up animals. Rock and Rule can’t make up its mind on where the characters stand, and nuclear holocaust is no excuse either.

[@frisbyart]

Say what you will about the movie, but let's not deny how fantastic it is during those musical sequences and the numbers too. Plus I agree a lot about Mok; he reminds me so much of a character that Tim Curry would play, and a visual flare of Mick Jagger (his main inspiration, BTW) meets David Bowie.

[@Sweetumskitty1789]

Why don't you like American Idiot? It's Green day, Billie Joe's music is great. Granted I've never seen the show itself and I just like Green day so I probs don't know what I'm talking about.

[@castheghostthatlivesinyour1878]

I don't know, maybe she doesn't like Jukebox Musicals? I like Green Day, still haven't seen the musical.

[@doctortehe]

The musical is a juke box which is hit and miss in itself.
SPOILERS AHEAD
American Idiot is only partially above an extended music video.
The stories of the three protags (Jesus, Tunny and...the other guy??) are a solid meh. Its a standard set of guy tries to make if big but loses everything/guy gets girl preggo but has no interest in being responsible and she leaves him/guy joins army and is wounded but falls for his nurse. The guy wanting fame but turning to drugs and losing his gf takes up the majority of the story with the other two stories being just left at the sidelines.
I would say im 99% sure that the soldier guy's story only exists to make lazy commentary on the Gulf wars since for most of the songs for THAT story line had to be drafted in from B sides or other albums. That and the fact that his story is more or less done by a quarter way through Act 2.
The story with the other guy not wanting to be a parent is similarly half baked and feels like it was shoved in to justify that one bit in Homecoming which they could have done otherwise.
The main story is pretty cliche and the twist that he imagined his new pal St Jimmy and he is St Jimmy just makes things make less sense and feels like theyre just trying to Tyler Durden their way out of a plothole.
The story is just too all over the place and because they use very minimal dialogue, it forces filler.
If they werent scared of dialogue (like there is some dialogue at the start which more or less either makes fun of the characters for trying to seem cooler than they are or are a 4th wall break) but it drops off quickly and theres only a few lines by the time you hit Act 2 and it drops the humour and stuff because Act 2 is all about how serious shit is.
Lile as a Green Day fan its okay but if I am honest it feels too unfocused to make a good story and they do not make the satire strong enough for that to make an impact. Whatever political message was attempted to be said (which seems to be more or less fuck Bush and that America has a industrial military complex that manipulates people to sign their lives away) is muddled and is dropped part way through Act 2 to look at drug addiction. Even so, these political messages are not unique and the concept of the bullshit people spin to get people to fight in wars has been prominant in literature since the poetry from the trenches of WW1 so its not as if it was a complicated message.
It annoys me so much because if they concentrated and maybe actually used dialogue and maybe tried to satire as good as it thinks it does, it could be pretty nifty.
Maybe im just bitter that the longer i looked at it, the more meh it became tho lmao

[@cartooncritique6625]

"Rock and Rule" has a warm place in my heart, but I have to admit the writing is ironically not as good as its shorter more child-friendly predecessor, "The Devil and Daniel Mouse"; to which this movie is essentially a more "adult" cracked-out remake.

[@sesfilmsllc]

9:06 Well excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me princess.

[@75aces97]

As to "why people treat animation as strictly for kids," I don't know if it's so regarded outside the US, but within I'd say because for almost 50 years animated content was aimed almost exclusively at children. Ince Fleischer studios closed down, Disney was the only game in town for feature length for decades, and aimed for young audiences. TV animation was either Saturday morning cartoons to help sell breakfast cereal to children, or family friendly primetime fare.
Once a notion gets into the public imagination for 2 generations, it's hard to shake.

[@GirlYouDontKnow-rx3lm]

Wait... so, this movie wasn't just a weird fever dream of mine? Weird.

[@tenkaikagaya]

Has anyone else noticed that the opening text crawl is not only a Star Wars rip off, but it's in Star Trek the Next Generation font?

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

This was a great movie. I saw it back in the 80s. It's part of my cult animation trilogy. American Pop, Heavy Metal, and Rock N Rule.

[@catspaw3092]

Is it me or does Omar & his attitude remind anyone of Lance from the animated movie "Sing" & Angel is Ash who is also fighting with her boyfriend for her voice to be heard.

[@TailsFan]

Yeah, without the cheating.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Honestly, I'd chuck the Sondheim and bring on better music and lyrics - not necessarily metal.

[@bloodrunsclear]

'The Signal' is still a nice song. It's too bad the song has no clean version without watching the end credits.

[@rainylupin]

Can someone who can figure it out please tell me what the whole anthro animal thing even ADDS to this movie? How it wouldn't have been exactly the same if the characters were humans?!

[@elsie8757]

Not having to draw human noses?

[@iamapizzaindisguise7730]

It's supposed to take place in a dystopian future where there aren't any humans left ,just human animal mutants

[@Gwen1661]

Yeah, the movie doesn't really explain the setting in the opening scroll (unless it does and I literally don't remember it) and I had to google it. It's a sort of alternate reality where a WW3 happened between the Soviet Union and the US, which led them to se literal atomic bombs and everyone died. Thus a new life form emerged in animal mutants

[@rainylupin]

Ro Saavedra you guys are all misunderstanding. I'm not asking how it fits into the story. I'm asking how the story would be different if it wasn't there. How would this story be changed if everybody was humans instead of anthro animals? Coz I'm getting the distinct impression that the amount of actual legit change would be ZILCH.

[@2doot]

Why do the main characters look like rejected Goofy Movie characters? Lmao

[@decadentgamer3108]

I have to admit that after seeing the film a few weeks ago... I actually did enjoy it. I can admit the movie was not objectively good. The story kinda didn't make any sense, there were a few scenes that were kinda pointless, and yeah, Omar was kind of hard to like due to his too cool for school attitude. But I loved the music, the art style while gross at times was strangely interesting, and ignoring a few mishaps, Mok was an interesting villain.
And I dunno, boobs aside, I thought the club scene was fun and it was cool seeing how zany it got.
I agreed on your comment on Omar's appearance. When I first saw a picture of the character (before I watched the movie which was a year ago), he looked hideous to me. It was like... "What is that? A rat or a mutated man??" Haha but yeah, after watching the movie, his look kinda grew on me a bit where his snauser of a nose/mouth didn't bug me as much but his personality was just ugh... A backstory for it would've helped us sympathize with him. I thought Angel looked nice though. She looked like a mix of Debbie Harry & Joan Jett which I loved. But you know, art style is subjective and a style like this won't work for everyone.
In the end, I can accept that the film is not objectively good and does a lot of things wrong but from a subjective view of guilty pleasure, this film gets put in that category for me lol
Good review nonetheless :)

[@wolfan20]

Well text explanation and narration was done in the US version

[@infamoushiphop7943]

The best part of this was the earth wind and fire track.

[@xanthe4547]

Angel should have been the main character tbh

[@lhfinatl7068]

I concur with most of this review. There's just something about this movie that I keep coming back to. It's weird, definitely a product of its time and yeah, that finale is pretty epic.
If anyone has had the chance to play Tim Schafter's/Double Fine "Brütal Legend" on the Xbox 360 or PS3, it shares a lot of similarities but corrects most of the glaring issues of 'Rock & Rule'. Granted the animation is all cartoon 3D CGI, it still tells a compelling story with well-written and well-voiced characters and at the heart of it all, great music spanning multiple genres.