February 1, 1980
Animalympics is a 1980 animated television film directed by Steven Lisberger and produced by Lisberger Studios for the NBCnetwork. Originally commissioned as two separate specials, it spoofs the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and features the voices of Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, Harry Shearerand Michael Fremer.
Storyline
The film is a series of vignettes presented as the broadcast of the first animal Olympic Games through the fictional ZOO television network. The Games combine summer and winter Olympic events.
The event is covered mostly by Barbara Warblers, a songbird, and "anchorturtle" Henry Hummel. The 100-meter dash is covered in the style of a drag race by Jackie Fuelit.
Unlike the real Olympics, continents are represented rather than countries. The continents featured are North America, South America, Eurasia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Eurasia represents the USSR, whereas Europe represents Western and Central Europe.
The only mention of areas other than continents are the New York City Rats soccer team, Dean Wilson being from California, a Central American marathon runner named Pepé Repanosa, an Acapulco cliff diver named "Primo Cabeza", marathon runner Terry Hornsby being from Boulder, Colorado, René Fromage being from France, and Kurt Wüfner appearing at the downhill event right before a Scandinavian is given a gold medal.
Although many of the segments stand alone, there are some recurring events and important characters. The largest such story is the coverage of the marathon, where competitors René Fromage and Kit Mambo are the favorites to win. Both are determined to win – Fromage having devoted his entire life to the marathon, Mambo determined to make a name for herself – they find themselves surprised when their minds wander to thoughts of mutual admiration and then to love, culminating in the pair holding hands for the rest of the race and crossing the finish line together. Another important story is that of Kurt Wüffner, a West German dachshund skier, and his disappearance to Dogra-la during a mountain climbing expedition shortly after the slalom event.
There are even cases of players attempting to cheat in the games, only to end up losing disgracefully while their honorable opponents take home the victory. At the start of the soccer game, the New York Ratpack led by Rizzo the "Whiz" uses underhanded maneuvers to win; yet they are overpowered by the European All-Stars Hounds led by Rolf Shmecker whose experience brings home the win. During the ice hockey game, the Eurasian Longhorns have rigged the entire ice rink with explosives in order to help take out their rivals; the North American Kodiaks, led by their coach Bear McLane. Yet in spite of the foul play, the Kodiaks still emerge victorious due to the efforts of their star player Guy Lafluke. In the swimming game for the 100 meter free-style lap, the largest swimmer Ono Nono tries to take out the entire competition with a tidal wave to ensure no one else but him wins; yet he is defeated by the young surfer Dean Wilson who uses his own tail as a surfboard to ride the wave to the finish line first. With the boxing game, viscous brawler Janos Brushteckel is known for overpowering his opponents with excessive force; yet aspiring boxer Joey Gongolong manages to outmaneuver him with clever strategy and out-boxer style to wear him down and ultimately deal the winning blow. For the fencing game, Count Maurice Boar-Deaux uses underhanded moves to take out all other fencers; only to be outsmarted by The Contessa whose graceful moves and style help her to adapt to the Count's actions and ultimately overcome him, avenging all the players whom he wronged.
A minor story features an alligator named Bolt Jenkins. He was "born as a handbag" and told that he would never walk again. A song during his story reveals that he lives in the sewers. After seeing a frog named Boris Amphibiensky break the world record for the high jump, Jenkins has an epiphany, and becomes determined to break the record. Jenkins goes on to set world records in the high jump, the pole vault, and later the 100-meter dash. Jenkins sacrifices his gold medal in the hundred meter dash to an African competitor and favorite whom Jenkins considers to be his superior.
The film spoofs real-life sports personalities like Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali.
Sound Effects Used
- H-B WINCH - WINCH PULLEY CRANKING
- Hollywoodedge, Big Single Gulp ie Dr CRT026803/Sound Ideas, GULP, CARTOON - BIG GULP, HUMAN
- RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 13/Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - THIN RICCO 03
- Sound Ideas, Cartoon, Whooshes: Comedy - One whoosh, two whooshes 1, 1 - 1967 (7D, reprocessed)
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - LID ON MANHOLE HIT
- Sound Ideas, POP, CARTOON - CORK SQUEAK AND POP
- Sound Ideas, RUBBER CREAKS
- Sound Ideas, SKID, CARTOON - BROKEN SKID
- Sound Ideas, SPIN, CARTOON - SPIN COMMOTION
- Sound Ideas, TWANG, CARTOON - BOWANG
- WB CARTOON, EXPLOSION - WHISTLE AND SMALL IMPACT
Image Gallery
