adventures in videoland

Critics with attitude

Animation Marathon

2017 was A.V.’s unofficial Year of Animation across its Colosseum episodes, so we wanted to revisit this film medium after such a long break. And with Kung Fu Panda 4 now in theaters, we decided to pit the original against three other films that serve as genre gateway films for children (collectively, martial arts, fairy tale, prison break, and Western). The lineup is:

Kung Fu Panda

Shrek

Chicken Run

Rango

Which funny animal character is your favorite? Did Eddie Murphy really deserve an Oscar nomination as Donkey? Put on your PJ’s, grab a bowl of CT Crunch, and let’s talk about animated movies!

BRAD’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: Chicken Run Tweedy's Farm

  2. Best Character: Rango Rango

  3. Best Score or Soundtrack: TIE Shrek & Rango Harry Gregson-Williams/John Powell & Hans Zimmer

  4. Best Quote: Kung Fu Panda Skadoosh

  5. Best Screenplay: TIE Shrek & Rango Ted Elliott/Terry Rossio/Joe Stillman/Roger S. H. Schulman & John Logan/Gore Verbinski/James Ward Byrkit

  6. Best Special Achievement: Shrek Eddie Murphy getting nominated for voice acting

  7. Best Scene: Shrek Gingerbread Man’s torture scene

  8. Defining Moment/Attribute/MVP: Kung Fu Panda The opening hand drawn dream sequence

  9. Best Director: Chicken Run Nick Park & Peter Lord

  10. Wildcard: Rango Best Gateway Award

  11. WTF: Rango How did Rango never get a sequel?

  12. Worst Picture: Kung Fu Panda

  13. Best Picture: Rango

Total after deductions:

  • Shrek: 4

  • Rango: 5

  • Kung Fu Panda: 1

  • Chicken Run: 2

NATHAN’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: Kung Fu Panda Chorh-Gom Prison

  2. Best Character: Rango Rango

  3. Best Score or Soundtrack: TIE Kung Fu Panda & Rango Hans Zimmer

  4. Best Quote: TIE Kung Fu Panda & Rango “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.” “Nowadays, they have a name for just about everything. Doesn't matter what they call you... it's the deeds that make the man.”

  5. Best Screenplay: Rango John Logan/Gore Verbinski/James Ward Byrkit

  6. Best Special Achievement: Rango Academy Award for Best Animated Picture

  7. Best Scene: Rango I’m nobody scene

  8. Defining Moment/Attribute/MVP: Kung Fu Panda Master Oogway departs

  9. Best Director: Rango Gore Verbinski

  10. Wildcard: Shrek Best Duo Award

  11. WTF: Rango Abortion joke?

  12. Worst Picture: Chicken Run

  13. Best Picture: Rango

Total after deductions:

  • Shrek: 1

  • Rango: 8

  • Kung Fu Panda: 4

  • Chicken Run: Negative 1

KYLE’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: Rango Dirt and surrounding areas

  2. Best Character: Shrek Donkey

  3. Best Score or Soundtrack: Rango Hans Zimmer and various songs

  4. Best Quote: Kung Fu Panda “The Furious Five! You're so much bigger than your action figures. Except for you, Mantis. You're about the same.”

  5. Best Screenplay: Shrek Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman & Roger S.H. Schulman

  6. Best Special Achievement: Chicken Run Led to Best Animated Feature at the Oscar’s

  7. Best Scene: Shrek Gingerbread Man’s torture scene

  8. Defining Moment/Attribute/MVP: Shrek Eddie Murphy as Donkey

  9. Best Director: Rango Gore Verbinski

  10. Wildcard: Rango Best Character Design Award

  11. WTF: Shrek All Star was a placeholder

  12. Worst Picture: Chicken Run

  13. Best Picture: Shrek

Total after deductions:

  • Shrek: 7

  • Rango: 4

  • Kung Fu Panda: 1

  • Chicken Run: 0

MATT’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: Kung Fu Panda Chorh-Gom Prison

  2. Best Character: Shrek Donkey

  3. Best Score or Soundtrack: Rango Hans Zimmer and various songs

  4. Best Quote: Rango “Control the water … and you control everything.”

  5. Best Screenplay: Shrek Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman & Roger S.H. Schulman

  6. Best Special Achievement: Shrek Re-recording Chris Farley’s dialogue AND Mike Myers’ original dialogue

  7. Best Scene: Shrek The Wedding Scene

  8. Defining Moment/Attribute/MVP: Shrek Eddie Murphy as Donkey

  9. Best Director: Shrek Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson

  10. Wildcard: Rango Best Villain Award

  11. WTF: Rango Johnny Depp’s weird voice

  12. Worst Picture: Chicken Run

  13. Best Picture: Shrek

Total after deductions:

  • Shrek: 9

  • Rango: 3

  • Kung Fu Panda: 1

  • Chicken Run: Negative 1

Golden Idol Winner: Shrek