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FIRST LOOK

First Look: Sony Animation's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

by Alex Billington
December 9, 2008
Source: Cinema Blend

Ever since Sony Animation's Surf's Up bombed at the box office last summer, they've been rather quiet, working in secret on their next feature animation project called Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The story in the movie, which is based on the children's book of the same name, follows a scientist who ties to solve world hunger but encounters a problem of global proportions, as food begins to fall from the sky. Thanks to Cinema Blend today, we've got our very first look at the style of the characters in the movie, and some giant ice cream in the background as well. Will it be a big Pixar contender? I highly doubt it...

Providing their voices for the film are Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, James Caan, Tracy Morgan, and two special guests, Mr. T and Bruce Campbell. Check out the photo and stay tuned for more.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is co-directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the creators of the TV cartoon "Clone High". The screenplay was also co-written by both Lord and Miller and is based on Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett's book of the same name. Sony Pictures Animation is animating the film and will debut Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in theaters everywhere on September 18th, 2009 next fall.

Explore tags: First Look, Hype, Opinions

-peter-

I'm really unimpressed with how this looks. One of my favorite books as a kid, though. So I am interested.
Kail

Why you gotta be negative to anything that isn't Disney/Pixar? Most of Disney's movies have been sub-par since Tarzan, and Pixar has been getting pretty repetitive with it's movies. I'm sorry if I rather see some gangsta Zebras move it move it than see the same sappy story about a rat who falls in love with food, or toys who fall in love with toys, or robots that fall in love with robots, or fish that fall in love with fish, or monsters who fall in love with children. This COULD contend with anything Pixar puts out because it's something new and not the same cartoon rehashed again and again.
Ryan

What makes the book so amazing is the artwork. But the screenie above is in a different universe. It was only a matter of time before this story found it's way to the big screen. However, I had always hoped they would do the Princess Bride approach in narration and stay true to the story. Instead they've injected a completely different plot with the scientist. Secretly, I was hoping for live action. What a let down...
tuwhitt

You guys are crazy to judge from just one picture, if this is being helmed by the dudes who created the Hilarious clone high then count me in. It has some really funny talent involved (Bruce Campbell, Ana Farris, Andy Samberg)-- not that a lot of animated movies that sucked didn't-- but I'd say just on paper this looks like it could be good. Picture aside.
Bo

#2 is crazy, how do you say Disney isn't the same, madagascar 2 was a bunch of cheap gag jokes, and lacked any heart or true sense of purpose, while ratatouille is one of the best animated films of our generation. It was the closest thing to an old school disney film that you will find...but instead of going on, this movies looks meh, but again I liked the book as a kid too, so I'll wait for a trailer to pass judgment.
Waynson

I know I'm beating an old drum here, but they could have done better with 2D animation, especially considering the source material. But I'm still looking forward to this.
cmedina

im sold with the special guests! no one can beat mr. t and bruce campbell!
dino-pusy

my wife left me....this movie is the only reason i want to live...some body touch my p3n1z
Alfredo

in this day and age, the textures and shapes of the one picture look subpar. I also agree that if they're gonna make it stylized they should stick to 2D animation.. even cell-shaded. Oh and Kail, you are indeed crazy my friend. If you wanna go and be cynical, why not criticize 90% of all movies out there that deal with love in one way or another. Ar they also repetitive? Do you find every movie that comes out to be repetitive?
Bry from Chi

I did not know Surf's Up was a flop..I rather enjoyed it. And it got an oscar nod..so it wasn't all that bad I guess. But I'm game. I'll try this one..shoot..Bruce Campbell!! I'm there!!
Kail

@9 - I did exagerate a little, Monsters Inc was great, but c'mon, like all of Pixar's movies have the same "awwww I feel so warm inside" feeling that gets them an Oscar nod every year, where as Madagascar's cheap jokes keep me more entertained then the same freakin disney crap every year.
Allen Sharpe

Gotta love the clone high crew. Im in
jman571

"co-directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the creators of the TV cartoon "Clone High"" Sweet! Now I'm downright looking forward to this. I know this will probably be PG-rated, but I hope they can carry-over their humour from Clone High to this movie.
tzarinna

Looks cute, I'm not familiar with the book though.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

One of my favorite childhood books and besides the low-form CGI, the mid-September release date is very disheartning. Looks like the new IGOR.
Catz2

Looks kinda...*cough cough*...dumb. I never heard of the book OR read it so I'm not to sure of the story. Otherwise I'm looking foward to see how it does! I don't think I'll see it in theathers though!
Kate

This was my favorite book growing up! So I really hope they don't mess with it to much. I wanted to live in that town when I was a kid so it makes me kind of sad that they are including the world in this movie. No need to make a classic global and ruin the already sweet story line. That kind of makes me upset.
John

My favorite book when i was growing up. I read the shit out of it. But I cant see it becoming a full-length film. Theres not enough story there to make it one. And in order to make it long enough they'll need to add alot of stuff that will pull it away from the original story.
John B

I have to say, when reading the book, it was amazing. I STILL want to read the book. A great thing about the book is that the illustrations weren't to be the extent of the story. The illustrations let your mind explore the unexplorable. You never saw JUST how much food there was everywhere. You could make the food universal, and the book would never hinder that mind's suggestion. But here we are; faced with a movie that will totally limit our understandings beCAUSE this movie is a Movie. It's 3D, as opposed to the inifinite dimensions of the book. I AM interested in watching the movie, but that will only be because I want to see how well the movie compares to the book. I have to agree with many of the previous posters, and say that because the book is so short, they'd HAVE to add so much to it, which will inevitably draw away from the book. As we can see by the scientist deal. I don't want anything to do with ending global hunger in a movie that's strictly fun.