Dick Figures: The Movie

Dick Figures: The Movie is a 2013 American adult animated fantasy action-adventure comedy film written, directed by and starring Ed Skudder and Zack Keller and distributed by Mondo Media. It is based on Skudder and Keller's animated web series Dick Figures. The film's story follows two best friends and polar opposites, Red and Blue, who set out on a journey to find the Great Sword of Destiny for the Raccoon in order to save the world, their friendship, and Pink's birthday from Lord Takagami.

Dick Figures: The Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEd Skudder
Zack Keller
Produced byNick Butera
Andy Fiedler
Written byEd Skudder
Zack Keller
Based on
Dick Figures
by
  • Ed Skudder
  • Zack Keller
StarringEd Skudder
Zack Keller
Eric Bauza
Ben Tuller
Shea Logsdon
Mike Nassar
Chad Quandt
Lauren Kay Sokolov
Music byNick Keller
Edited byZack Keller
Animation byLynn Wang
Joel Moser
John Dusenberry
Brock Gallagher
Ryan Khatam
Dan Forgione
Lindsay Small-Butera
Alex Small-Butera
Anna Hollingsworth
Frank Macchia
Ed Skudder
Additional animation:
  • Jeff Zikry
  • Mac Whiting
  • Adam Rosette
Production
company
Distributed byMondo Media
Release date
  • September 17, 2013 (2013-09-17) (United States)
  • November 9, 2013 (2013-11-09) (Buffer Festival)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
BudgetUpwards of $313,411[1]
Box office$873,987[1]

It is Mondo Media's first feature-length film and independent company 6 Point Harness' first original feature film. The film was released for rent and purchase on September 17, 2013 on digital download and streaming services including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, PlayStation Network, Xbox Video, Vudu, Hulu and Yekra, an all-new movie watching site for indie films. The film was then released a week later on iTunes in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

One of the film's executive producers, Aaron Simpson, aimed to give everyone access to the film, whether they could afford a paid digital download or not,[2] so the movie was also distributed on YouTube in 12 chapters over the course of 3 months.[3]

Dick Figures: The Movie was split into 12 chapters and published onto YouTube by Mondo's YouTube channel at different times. $313,411 was raised through the mass-funding platform Kickstarter from 5,616 backers (including Warren Graff, Fred Seibert, Gundarr creators Corey McDaniel & Ted Wilson, amongst others) through May 31 to July 16, 2012, out of originally a $250,000 goal, breaking the record for the most-funded animation project through the site, until it was surpassed by Blur Studio's The Goon (an upcoming computer-animated adaptation to Eric Powell's graphic novel series of the same name) on November 2012. Dick Figures: The Movie successfully had a theatrical debut at the Buffer Festival in Toronto on November 9, 2013.[4]

Plot

During childhood, a young, socially awkward stick figure named Blue begins his first year in kindergarten. Broseph, a 5th grader who was held back five years to kindergarten, and his 5th-grade bullies begin to beat up Blue for being in their playground. A red asteroid collides with Broseph, killing him. An extraterrestrial stick figure named Red emerges and beats up all the 5th graders. Blue thanks him and promises him that he will always be his friend. A montage plays, showing Red being manipulative to Blue from elementary school to college.

In the present day, Red and Blue, now adults, are still best friends, living together as roommates, with their girlfriends, Stacy and Pink, respectively. When Pink's birthday approaches, Blue lies about getting her the best birthday gift ever, knowing he hasn't gotten her anything. Red suggests that they go see the Raccoon at his pawn shop to get a gift for Pink.

The Raccoon tells them a story of when he lived in ancient Japan. His village fell under attack by Lord Takagami and his demon army. Raccoon, armed with the Sword of Destiny, single-handedly fought the army, but fell into a rage when he saw his wife swallowed by Ocho Muerte, a large octopus. After the battle, The Raccoon realized that he destroyed all of Japan while in a rage. He was banished by his kinsmen, never to return. If Blue finds the Sword and returns it to him, he will give Blue the perfect gift for Pink.

Red and Blue arrive in Japan, meeting with the Raccoon's son, Son-san. They are directed towards a mountain and discover the hilt of the Sword and a large map with the locations of the other pieces, the blade and a jewel. Their retrieval of the hilt awakens Takagami and his ninjas, who give chase. The duo escapes out to sea on a rowboat, and they eventually end up in the middle of nowhere during an approaching storm. Red reveals that the reason for beating up the 5th graders back when they first met was to impress Pink and the girls, inadvertently admitting that he has never thought of Blue as his friend. Betrayed by this revelation, Blue fights with him, angrily stating that their friendship is over. Lightning strikes their boat and a large wave sweeps them away.

Blue and Red, shipwrecked on a paradise island, are rescued in a plane by alcoholic British pilot Captain Crookygrin, who has been sent to stop them from finding the Sword of Destiny. They fly to Paris but are suddenly attacked by Takagami's ninjas. Blue fends them off with the plane's machine gun, however, they crash, with Crookygrin being mortally injured. They are told to find the blade of the Sword at the Eiffel Tower, and head into a restaurant where they find their friend Lord Tourettes. Outside, Mr. Dingleberry directs the police to follow them, who is revealed to have been taking orders from Takagami under promise of a reward but is killed instead. The French police chase Red, Blue, and Tourettes to the Eiffel Tower, where Blue unites the hilt with the blade while Tourettes distracts the police. Red and Blue return home to find the jewel that goes with the blade.

Pink's birthday party has started, and Red abandons Blue to go partying, much to Blue's frustration. Blue decides to finish the quest alone, only to be captured by Takagami and taken to a nearby volcano where the jewel rests. Takagami reunites the jewel with the Sword, and has Blue thrown into the lava. Red and Raccoon arrive just in time and a battle ensues with Red and Blue fighting the ninjas while the Raccoon fights Takagami with the Sword of Destiny. Cutting off his mask, Raccoon discovers that Father-san is Takagami's real identity. Raccoon beheads him, and his remains fall into the lava, but his head transforms into Ocho Muerte, who heads off to attack their town.

Blue, Red, and Raccoon arrive at Pink's party before Ocho Muerte can hurt Pink. Ocho Muerte devours the Raccoon and nearly eats Pink, but not before Blue rescues her with the Sword. Blue nearly falls off a ledge, but Red pulls him up to safety. The Sword falls into Ocho Muerte's mouth and kills him in an explosion of light.

Red apologizes to Blue for the years of torment he gave him, with Blue accepting his apology. They find Raccoon alive, as well as his wife Mama-san. He reveals that he sent Blue and Red on the quest ultimately to rescue his wife, while also making their friendship stronger. In return for Blue's bravery, Mama-san gives Blue and Pink the lotus flower that Papa-san once gave to her, blessing their love for each other. Red and Blue celebrate their successful quest.

Cast

  • Ed Skudder as Red, Raccoon, Cpt. Crookygrin, Mr. Dingleberry, Jacques Bond, Nep-Dawg, Japanese School Girl, 8-bit Gelato Bene, Additional Voices
  • Zack Keller as Blue, Narrator, Shaw, Japanese Guy, Trollz0r
  • Eric Bauza as Lord Takagami
  • Ben Tuller as Lord Tourettes
  • Shea Logsdon as Pink
  • Lauren Kay Sokolov as Stacy
  • Chad Quandt as Chad-Gendarmerie
  • Mike Nassar as Broseph
  • Nick Ainsworth as Umbrella salesman
  • Nick Keller as Party-goers
  • John Dusenberry as Ghetto Cutter
  • Brock Gallagher as Bully and Dock Worker
  • Ashley Shelhon as Global Rescue Services operator
  • Rob DenBleyker and Dave McElfatrick as the dock guards
  • David Haley as Dock Worker, French Father, Cumulonimbus Ninja
  • Brendan Haines as Steve, TNT Boat Foreman, Dead Ninja
  • Tom "TomSka" Ridgewell as French Cop
  • Lynn Wang as French mother (uncredited)

Production

The movie was originally set to be a 40-minute-long special, according to the "stretch goals" announced for the Kickstarter campaign, but the film was extended to a length of 73 minutes[5] and was also made available for public access.

Kickstarter backers David Haley, Brendan Haines, Rob DenBleyker, Dave McElfatrick and Ashley Shelhon were given an animated appearance and actual voice role in the film for their $2,500 pledge contributions.

A book called The Art of Dick Figures: The Movie was written and published by Skudder and Keller onto Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle versions. The book depicts some concepts, designs, storyboards and pre-production information of the movie.[6]

Sequel

In October 2014, Mondo Media announced a sequel to Dick Figures: The Movie. The sequel to this film was originally supposed to be theatrically released in all countries at the end of 2016, with Ed Skudder and Zack Keller reprising their roles and Red and Blue, but its release date was cancelled. The film is still in production, but the release date has not yet been announced, as of 2021. It is still unknown if Skudder and Keller will be reprising their roles. It is also unknown whether Mondo Media or a different company will distribute the sequel on its own.

Soundtrack

"Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song"
Single by Ninja Sex Party
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2013 (2013-09-16)
Recorded2011-12
GenreComedy rock, synthpop
Length2:00
LabelSelf-released
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Dan Avidan
  • Brian Wecht
Ninja Sex Party singles chronology
"Unicorn Wizard"
(2012)
"Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song"
(2013)
"Party of Three"
(2013)

The film's soundtrack composed and created by Nick Keller using the software Apple Logic, including the complete score and the movie's closing credits theme, "Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song" performed by Ninja Sex Party, was released on September 16, 2013, one day before the film came out. Music from the original series can be heard in certain parts of the movie. The official "Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song" music video was uploaded on YouTube on April 3, 2014 by Mondo Media's YouTube channel.

Reception

Critic Mark Bell of Film Threat stated, "It may appear to be as simple an animation as you can get, but it is perfectly executed and extremely entertaining."[7]

Accolades

Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result
International Film Awards Berlin Best Animated Film ifab Award Ed Skudder and Zack Keller Won

YouTube format

The first chapter was released on YouTube on September 17, 2013, the same day the film came out in theaters for a limited time. All 12 chapters were uploaded by Mondo Media's YouTube channel. The first chapter contains the opening to the film. The second chapter was released on September 24. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh chapters were released on October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, respectively. The eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh chapters were released on November 5, 12, 19 and 26, respectively. The twelfth and final chapter was released on December 2, a day before Dick Figures: The Movie came out on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States. The final chapter contains the epilogue and the end credits.

Home media

Dick Figures: The Movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States by Cinedigm on December 3, 2013. The film comes with an audio commentary by Ed Skudder and Zack Keller, 5 behind the scenes featurettes, a short featurette starting Ben Tuller as Lord Tourettes and the theatrical trailer.

See also

References

  1. Dick Figures. "Dick Figures: The Movie by Dick Figures - Kickstarter". Kickstarter. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. Jillian Aubin. "YouTube Series 'Dick Figures' to Release Kickstarter-Financed Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. ""Dick Figures: The Movie" Attempts Unique Distribution Model". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. "Mondo". Mondomedia.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. Faughnder, Ryan (30 July 2013). "YouTube stick figure cartoon series to be full-length film". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. "The Art of Dick Figures The Movie (9781492240556): Zack Keller, Ed Skudder: Books". Amazon.com. 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  7. "Film Threat - Dick Figures: The Movie". Filmthreat.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
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