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Unit 4
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American Animated Movies
I. Unit Overview
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The unit is to cultivate the students' ability of appreciating American animated
movies with discussion, explanation and exercises.
American animated movies now dating forty and fifty years old still maintain
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their spark and appeal. The specialty of these movies lies in the fact that the
directors can go beyond the realistic realms of movie by making with the characters
capable of doing acts that in real life would be quite unheard of. In addition,
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children have grown up being enchanted by the lovable animated movies and
magical kingdoms, which are educational, entertaining, and capable of teaching
some of life's important lessons.
II. Knowledge Key Points & Mastery Degrees
Open questions about American animated movies
(Remember)
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Features of American animated movies in English movies
(Remember)
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In鄄depth understanding of Up
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Movies with similar features
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Exercises about American animated movies
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(Analyze)
(Understand)
(Apply)
III. Ability Key Points & Mastery Degrees
荫
The ability to understand the features of American animated movies in
English movies
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The ability to understand Up and analyze the features of it
(Essential)
(Essential)
Unit 4摇 American Animated Movies摇 摇
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The ability to understand the typical words and expressions as well as the
cultural background
(Medium)
IV. Key Points & Difficult Points
1.Key Points
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Understanding the features of American animated movies
荫
Memorable quotes in Up
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2.Difficult Points
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Reality, educational meaning and fairy tales in American animated movies
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Analysis of American animated movies in Up
3.Solutions
The open questions help the students think among themselves and discuss with
classmates about the topic, and the teacher's explanation helps them enlarge their
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knowledge and understand the methods of analyzing features of American
animated movies with Up as an example, the students learn to analyze the features
of American animated movies and appreciate cultural background when watching
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the movie clips, which helps them improve the ability to understand and analyze
artistic works, and enlarge their international horizon. The students can achieve the
goal of attaining abilities through working out the exercises with the knowledge and
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skills learned in the unit.
V. Teaching Design & Methodology
The unit starts with some open questions to help the students think and discuss
about the topic.The discussion leads to the detailed explanation of the features of
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American animated movies.
The movie Up helps to illustrate how to analyze the features of American
animated movies, how sound in American animated film works, and what the
effects of fairy tales may be, which helps to understand the features of American
animated movies and how to analyze artistic works. The recommended movies with
similar features enlarge the horizons of the students, and help them appreciate
American animated movies better.
The exercises test how well the students have mastered the skills they have
learned, and help to consolidate what they have learned. While finishing the
exercises, the students can develop the abilities of identifying and analyzing
American animated movies.
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VI. Practice Process Design
On鄄class activities are applied incultivating the students the abilities of
identifying and analyzing American animated movies. The activities are carried out
in the form of independent thinking, group discussion, and cooperative working.
VII. Measurement of Degree of Goal Attainment(Teaching Effects)
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The degree of goal attainment is measured with the methods of group
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discussion, homework submission, and the assessment of the teacher.
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Analyzing the Impact of Animated Movies
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玉.Understanding of Animated Movies
For the past two decades, animated movies have earned more money at the
box office than any other genre. Animation is that genre which increased the
revenue and reputation of studios like Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks. The World of
Animation now is not just only for kids and children. In fact, animated movies can
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inspire young and old with timeless lessons of hope, courage, and love.
(Watch the clip ofUp)
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域.The Features of American Animated movies
While the origins of films can be traced into Europe and the United States, the
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history of animated movies is almost entirely an American accomplishment.
Audiences worldwide have marveled at the innovative and appealing images of
characters and stories largely created by Hollywood studio animation units.
Original American animated movies, now dating back as far as forty or fifty
years ago often still maintain their spark and appeal. Even contemporary computer鄄
generated cartoon features and traditionally drawn animated television series are
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among the most鄄watched and highest grossing properties in the entertainment
industry.
a)Soundtracks in American animated movies
Though most people focus on the visuals in animated movies, the vocal talents
and symphonic scores that accompany the images are also very important to the
animations'success.
Cartoons include scores played by studio orchestras.Carl Stalling at Schlesinger/
Warner Bros. and Scott Bradley at MGM have numerous cartoon soundtracks, which
include both original material as well as familiar classical and popular melodies. The
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soundtrack
to
Beauty
and
absolutely spectacular. " Be
the
Beast
Our
was
Guest " is
regarded as one of the most enjoyable songs
Disney has ever recorded. When combined with
the film, the song takes on life of its own. In The
Lion King, the music and the film worked together
to unfold a glorious animal kingdom in the pride lands of Africa. There are several
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significant scenes that cooperated with appropriate music. Take Mufasa's death scene
as an example, Simba was scared and sad, and the feeling was heightened by the
gloomy music. However, after this scene, the filmmakers incorporated cheerful music
to comfort the young audiences.
b)Reality and American animated movies
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Animation has continued to charm people worldwide right from the time of Walt
Disney to the current age of animated movies. The specialty with these movies lies
in the fact that the director can go beyond the realistic realms of our world. The
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characters are capable of doing acts that, in real life, would be quite unheard of.
Earlier fantasy stories could be read and understood only through books but now it
is possible to see them with of our eyes with the help of animation. Animation
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technology has made it possible to create characters, which look and behave in
such a realistic way that it is hard to imagine that they are only man鄄made.
Animation provides an alternative view of reality.
Seeing an animated film is a practice of escapism
from an adult's hard life. It can also be viewed as an
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extension of a child ' s imagination. Sitting in a dark
theater as the first few seconds begin is like
temporarily losing all sense of reality, responsibility,
and all the things that make us angry or sad. People's thoughts become consumed
with the characters, visuals, and sounds—the most wonderful feeling in the world.
c)Education and American animated movies
Since animated movies usually aim at children, animation has become a
specialty for families. These movies greatly rely on color and music, as well as
personality and narrative.
There are multitudes of good animated movies for kids that are both
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educational and entertaining, taking The Lion
King for example. It combines humor along with
serious themes, such as the death of a parent.
Timon and Pumba provide much of the comic
relief. Some sensitive children may get upset
when Simba's father dies, but it also introduces
the idea of the circle of life. Parents can use this
idea to discuss serious issues their children
might have with life and death. The movie
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covers many classic themes for children as well, such as loyalty, friendship, and
honor. It also covers issues of responsibility and forgiveness.
d)Fairy tales and American animated movies
In 1937, Disney released its first feature
film Snow White that has been a part of Disney
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animation heritage. Thereafter, many animated
movies were produced based on classic fairy
tale theme like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and
the Little Mermaid. Fairy tale action figures
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based on characters from Disney ' s movies
populate many children' s rooms, drive sales of merchandise up and serve as the
inspiration for many a Broadway musical. Over the decades, Disney has benefited
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from the ticket sales and licensing revenue generated by such princess鄄driven
properties like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. However, following the release of
Tangled, Walt Disney Company announced it would no longer produce animated film
based on classic fairy tales. They feel that the use of fairy tales has "run its course"
and that they must focus on new stories to win a "wider appeal".
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芋.Up
a)Plot
摇 摇 Young Carl Fredricksen is a shy and quiet boy who idolizes
renowned1 explorer Charles F. Muntz. He learns, however, that 1.著名的
Muntz has been accused of fabricating2 the skeleton of a giant 2.伪造
bird he had discovered in Paradise Falls. One day, Carl befriends
an energetic tomboy named Ellie, who is also a Muntz fan. Ellie
tells Carl her desire to move her " clubhouse " to a cliff
overlooking Paradise Falls, making him promise to help her. Carl
and Ellie eventually get married and grow old together. Unable to 3.共同基金提供
金钱
have children, they repeatedly pool3 their savings for a trip to
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4.义务,职责
5. 争斗
6. 计划,方案
7. 地基
8. 打扰,纠缠
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Paradise Falls, but end up spending it on other obligations4 . An
elderly Carl finally arranges for the trip, but Ellie suddenly
becomes ill and dies, leaving him alone and bitter.
Years later, Carl still lives in the house, now surrounded by
urban development, but he refuses to sell it. He then ends up in a
tussle5 with a construction worker over his broken mailbox, and is
forced to move into a retirement home. However, Carl comes up
with a scheme6 to keep his promise to Ellie: he turns his house
into a makeshift airship, using thousands of helium balloons to lift
it off its foundations7 . A young Wilderness Explorer named
Russell becomes an accidental passenger, having pestered8 Carl
earlier in an attempt to earn his final merit badge, "Assisting the
Elderly."
The house lands near a large ravine facing Paradise Falls. They
later befriend a tall, colorful flightless bird (whom Russell names "
Kevin") trying to reach her chicks, and then a dog named Dug, who
wears a special collar9 that allows him to speak. They are then
ambushed10 by a pack of similar dogs led by Alpha, and taken to
Dug' s master, who turns out to be Charles Muntz. Muntz invites
Carl and Russell aboard11 his dirigible, where he explains that he
has spent the years since his disgrace12 searching Paradise Falls for
the giant bird. When Russell innocently reveals13 his friendship with
Kevin, Muntz becomes disturbingly hostile14 , prompting the pair,
Kevin, and Dug to flee15 . Muntz eventually catches up with them
and starts a fire beneath Carl ' s house, forcing Carl to choose
between saving it or Kevin. Carl allows Muntz to take the bird. Carl
and Russell eventually reach the falls, but Russell is angry with
Carl over his selfishness.
Settling into his home, Carl discoversa note from Ellie thanking
him for the "adventure" and encouraging him to go on a new one.
Reinvigorated16 , he goes to find Russell, only to see him sailing off
alone on some balloons to save Kevin. Russell is captured17 by
Muntz, but Carl manages to free both Russell and Kevin. Muntz
pursues18 them around the airship, finally cornering19 Dug, Kevin,
and Russell inside Carl's house with a hunting rifle. Carl lures Kevin
out and onto the airship with a chocolate bar, just as Muntz is
about to close in. Muntz leaps20 after them, only to snag his foot on
some balloon lines and fall to his death.
Carl and Russell reunite21 Kevin with her chicks, then fly the
dirigible back to the city. When Russell' s father misses his son' s
Senior Explorer promotion22 ceremony, Carl takes over and
proudly presents Russell with his final badge: the grape soda cap
badge that Ellie gave to Carl when they first met.
9. 项圈
10.埋伏
11.上机
12.羞辱
13.透露
14.有敌意的
15.逃跑
16.再振作
17.俘获
18.追赶
19.使走投无路
20.冲
21.重聚
22.晋升
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b)Cast
Edward Asner摇 摇 摇 摇 ... Carl Fredricksen (voice) (as Ed Asner)
... Russell (voice)
Bob Peterson.
.. Dug / Alpha (voice)
Delroy Lindo
... Beta (voice)
Jerome Ranft
... Gamma (voice)
John Ratzenberger
... Construction
Foreman
… Tom (voice)
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Christopher Plummer ... Charles Muntz (voice)
Jordan Nagai
Elie Docter
... Young Ellie (voice)
Jeremy Leary
... Young Carl (voice)
David Kaye
... Newsreel Announcer (voice)
Mickie McGowan.
... Police Officer Edith (voice)
(as Mickie T. McGowan)
... Construction Worker Steve (voice)
Donald Fullilove
... Nurse George (voice) (as Don Fullilove)
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Danny Mann
... Nurse AJ (voice)
... Omega (voice)
c)Analysis
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Jess Harnell
Josh Cooley
The first near鄄silent ten minutes of the film Up, about Carl Fredricksen and his
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life鄄long love Ellie was surprisingly touching. Carl had always dreamed of taking Ellie
to a place called "Paradise Falls " in South America. However their hopes are
continually spoiled by reality again and again—financial troubles, a miscarriage, and
a parting that comes too soon. Though it' s heartbreaking to see Carl lose his wife,
even at an old age, the filmmakers performed a wonderful balancing act between
the fantasy of their story and the reality of life.
Everything at Paradise Falls—from the talking dogs to Kevin the Bird鄄monster—
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helped us better understand the character of our own hearts.
To start with, Kevin was more than just an exotic bird. She was trying to get
back through the wilderness to find her crying babies. Her primal attachment to her
chicks reminds us of our own fundamental responsibilities. In trying to help her, Carl
and Russell are expressing their own desire for a caring family.
Kevin also made us consider how we might respond to all that is wild, beautiful,
and mysterious in this world. When the adventurers ran into Charles Muntz, the
legendary explorer who was a hero to Carl and Ellie, we quickly saw that there is a
right way and a wrong way to respond to this question. Carl and Russell wanted to
help the bird thrive, but Muntz wanted to claim the creature as a trophy to advance
his own maniacal ego.
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Up has much to offer children, but far more to offer adults.We're so entertained,
we don' t realize until afterward that we ' ve been exploring difficult questions. How
faithful are we in the promises we make? What happens to a boy when his father
abandons him? How do we sustain our dreams when life disappoints us? What
happens when we shut ourselves off from human community? What happens when
we open ourselves to the risk of relationship?
Like most Disney' s animations, Up has a happy ending. Carl eventually let go
off his baggage and fulfilled the dreams that he and Ellie shared. Russell found the
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father figure he needed—an adult who will succeed where his biological father
failed.
d)Memorable Quotes
Clip 1
Fredricksen: Quite a sight, huh, Ellie? Mails here. Shady oaks retirement. Oh,
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brother! Hum.
Worker: Hey, good morning, Mr. Fredricksen. Need any help there?
Fredricksen: No. Yes! Tell your boss over there that you boys are ruining our
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house.
Worker: Well, just to let you know, my boss will be happy to take this whole
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place off your hand, and would double his last offer. What do you say to that? I' ll
take that as a no, then.
Fredricksen:I believe I made my position to your boss quite clear.
Worker: You poured prune juice in his gas tank.
Fredricksen: Yeah, that was good! Here, let me talk to him. You in the suit. Yes.
You. Take a bath. Hippie!
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Worker:I am not with him!
Clip 2
Russell: Yeah, but can I tell you a secret?
Fredricksen: No.
Russell: All right. Here it goes. I never actually built a tent before. There! I
said it.
Fredricksen: You've been camping before, haven't you?
Russell: Well, never outside.
Fredricksen: Well, why didn't you ask your dad how to build a tent?
Russell: I don't think he wants to talk about this stuff.
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Fredricksen: Why don't you try him sometime? Maybe he'll surprise you.
Russell: Well, he's away a lot. I don't see him much.
Fredricksen: He's gotta be home sometime.
Russell: Well, I call, but Phyllis told me I bug him too much.
Clip 3
Fredricksen: Ellie, it' s so beautiful! We made it! We made it! Russe, we could
float right overthere! Climb up, climb up!
Russell:You mean, assist you?
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Fredricksen: Yeah, yeah,whatever.
Russell: Okay, I'll climb up!
Fredricksen:Watch it!
Russell: Sorry.
Fredricksen: Now, when you get up there, go ahead and hoist me up.Got it?
You on the porch yet? What? That's it? I came all this way here to get stuck at the
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wrong end of this rock pile? Great.
Russell: Hey, if I could assist you over there, would you sign off on my badge?
Fredricksen:What are you talking about?
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Russell:We could walk your house to the fall.
Clip 4
Fredricksen: Now, we're gonna walk to the falls quickly and quietly with no rap
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music or flash dancing. We have three days at best till the helium leaks out of those
balloons. And if we are not at the falls when that happens,
Russell: Sand.
Fredricksen: We're not getting to the falls.
Russell: I found sand!
Fredricksen: Don't you worry, Ellie. We'll get our house over there.
Russell: It is fun already, isn' t it? By the time we get there, you' re gonna feel
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so assisted. Oh, Mr. Fredricksen,if we happen to get separated , use the wilderness
explorer call. Wait, why are we going to Paradise Falls, again?
Fredricksen: Hey, let ' s play a game. It ' s called " see who can be quiet the
longest."
Russell: Cool! My mom loves that game!
郁.Insight into American Animated Movies
a)Analyze American animated movies
Try to describe the characters in Up and summarize what you learn from the
movie.
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Carl Fredricksen
Ellie Fredricksen
Russell
Dug
Charles F. Muntz
Kevin
b)Research on American animated movies
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Look through essays and online resources and work out the following topics
with your group members.
1.What do you think of Disney's decision that there won't be any new fairy tale
films?
2.Try to list the differences between Japanese and American animation. Which
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do you prefer? Why?
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References
Storyline
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a)Ice Age
Back when the Earth was being overrun by glaciers,
and animals were scurrying to save themselves from the
upcoming Ice Age, a stupid sloth named Sid, a woolly
mammoth named Manny, a saber鄄toothed tiger named
an
acorn鄄loving
saber鄄toothed
squirrel
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Diego, and
named Scrat are forced to become unlikely heroes. The
four reluctantly come together when they have to return
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a human child to its father while braving the deadly
elements of the impending Ice Age.
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Cast
Manfred (voice)
John Leguizamo
Sid (voice)
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Ray Romano
Jack Black
Cedric the
Entertainer
Denis Leary
Diego (voice)
Stephen Root
Goran Visnjic
Soto (voice)
Diedrich Bader
Zeke (voice)
Carl (voice)
Rhino / Start
(voice)
Saber鄄Toothed Tiger
(voice)
b)Monsters, Inc.
Storyline
In a city of monsters with no humans called Monstropolis centers around
Monsters, Inc., the city ' s power company. Monsters, Inc. The lovable confidant,
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tough large, furry blue behemoth鄄like giant monster
named James P. Sullivan (A.K.A. better known as Sulley)
and his Cyclops wisecracking best friend short, green
monster with one large eye, Mike Wazowski discover what
happens when the real world interacts with theirs in the
form of a 2鄄year鄄old baby girl dubbed " Boo," who
accidentally sneaks into the monster world with Sulley one
night. And now it's up to Sulley and Mike to send Boo back
in her door before anybody and especially two evil villains
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such as Sulley ' s main rival as a scarer chameleon鄄like
Randall ( a monster that Boo is very afraid of ), who
possesses the ability to change the color of his skin and
Mike and Sulley' s boss Mr. Waternoose the chairman and chief executive officer of
Monsters, Inc.
James P. "Sulley"
Sullivan (voice)
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John Goodman
Billy Crystal
Boo / Mary
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Mary Gibbs
Steve Buscemi
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Cast
(voice)
Randall Boggs
(voice)
James Coburn
(voice)
Jennifer Tilly
Celia (voice)
Bob Peterson
Roz (voice)
John Ratzenberger
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c)The Princess and the Frog
Storyline
A modern day retelling of the classic story The Frog
Prince. The Princess and the Frog finds the lives of arrogant,
carefree Prince Naveen and hardworking waitress Tiana
crossing paths. Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by
a conniving voodoo magician and Tiana, following suit, upon
kissing the amphibian royalty. With the help of a trumpet鄄
playing alligator, a Cajun firefly, and an old blind lady who
lives in a boat in a tree, Naveen and Tiana must race to
break the spell and fulfill their dreams.
Henry J. Waternoos
The Abominable
Snowman (voice)
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Cast
Anika Noni Rose
Bruno Campos
Wooley
Prince Naveen
Jennifer Cody
(voice)
Dr. Facilier
Jim Cummings
(voice)
Louis (voice)
Charlotte LaBouff
(voice)
Ray (voice)
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Keith David
Michael鄄Leon
Tiana (voice)
d)Lion King
Storyline
A young lion prince is born in Africa, thus making his
uncle Scar the second in line to the throne. Scar plots
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with the hyenas to kill King Mufasa and Prince Simba,
thus making himself King. The King is killed and Simba is
led to believe by Scar that it was his fault, and so flees
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the kingdom in shame. After years of exile he is
persuaded to return home to overthrow the usurper and
claim the kingdom as his own thus completing the "Circle
Jonathan Taylor
Young Simba
Thomas
(voice)
Matthew
Adult Simba
Broderick
(voice)
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of Life".
James Earl
King Mufasa
Jones
(voice)
Jeremy Irons
Moira Kelly
Niketa Calame
Scar (voice)
Adult Nala
(voice)
Young Nala
(voice)