Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (film)

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Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

Directed by	Masami Hata William Hurtz
Produced by	Yutaka Fujioka
Written by	Chris Columbus and Richard Outten (screenplay); Robert Towne (story consultant); Yutaka Fujioka and Jean Giraud (story); Ray Bradbury (concept for the screen); Winsor McCay (comic strip)
Starring	Gabriel Damon Mickey Rooney Bernard Erhard Laura Mooney
Music by	Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman; Tom Chase and Stephen Rucker; Melissa Manchester
Distributed by	Hemdale Film Corporation MAWA Film & Medien
Running time	85 minutes (edited) 100 minutes (uncut)
Language	English
Budget	35,000,000
IMDb profile

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is an award-winning animated film directed by Masami Hata and William T. Hurtz. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus and Richard Outten, based on the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay (though the storyline and art style differed from the original). Original songs were penned by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers. The film was released in Japan in July of 1989, and in the United States on July 24, 1992. It won the "Audience Award" at the "Cinekid Festival 1992" in Amsterdam, and was nominated for "Best Animated Feature" at the 1993 Annie Awards. While it was considered a box-office flop in the U.S., it became a cult classic on video, selling over 2 million copies upon its release in 1993. A DVD version became available in October of 2004. In Japan, the film is known simply as Little Nemo.

1 Synopsis
2 Characters
3 Taglines
4 Trivia
5 Memorable Quotes
6 External links

[edit] Synopsis

A young boy whose dreams transcend reality is sucked into his own fantasy, which is everything he has dreamed of, until he unleashes a century old secret that may not only destroy this perfect dream world but reality itself.

[edit] Characters

Nemo: The main character and protagonist of the story. He suffers from constant nightmares. While he's generally a sweet and innocent type, he has been known to lose his head now and then, such as when the princess makes fun of his pajamas. He has been summoned to Slumberland by Professor to be the Princess's playmate and (as he finds out later) the future prince of Slumberland. He is voiced by a young Gabriel Damon.

Icarus: Icarus is Nemo's pet flying squirrel who lives in the tree outside Nemo's bedroom window. He mostly communicates through a series of squeaky jitters, although some understandable English slips in between, and very rarely leaves Nemo's side (or in most cases his shoulder). He wears an old-fashioned aeronautical helmet and enjoys mostly anything provided his best buddy Nemo's with him. Like most of the characters, Icarus does get aggravated, usually when referred to as "a rat" by the Princess and then again (accidentally) by Nemo. However, he's usually quick to forgive. Danny Mann provides his voice.

Professor Genius: A professor and a genius, Professor Genius is something of a right-hand man to King Morpheus. He tries his best to help and watch over Nemo, particularly making sure he avoids Flip. He is extremely well mannered and though he tries to maintain a formal front wherever he goes, the Professor can't resist the urge to dance whenever the chance presents itself. The Professor is voiced by Rene Auberjonois.

Flip: One of Slumberland's black sheep characters and an extraordinary troublemaker. He is the first person Nemo meets in Slumberland. Flip enjoys causing mischief and smoking cigars (much to the distress of the others), and travels around Slumberland on a giant crow named Flap. According to Flip, he is the only person in Slumberland wanted "for having fun" (he even has a wanted poster hidden under his coat which reads that he has a 1,000x10 reward for his capture). He is also the owner of the only known map of Nightmareland. Even though Nemo usually enjoys his antics, most of the others are angered by (and some even fear) him. (The Princess even hits him on the head more than on one occasion in the film) He's the one who convinces Nemo to open the door with The Nightmare King in it (even though he meant no harm by it), thus leading to the stories main events. Mickey Rooney provides Flip's voice.

King "Morphy" Morpheus: The king of Slumberland and the Princess's father. He ordered the Professor to bring Nemo to Slumberland to be his daughter's playmate. He shares an interest of trains and machinery with Nemo, who grows very dear to him. The king, in spite of his expected responsibilities, has a habit of sneaking off to his playroom (where he accidentally runs into Nemo who, at the time, wasn't aware of who he was). Morpheus decrees that Nemo is to be trained to be Prince of Slumberland and gives him "The Golden Key" which can gain him access to anywhere in Slumberland. (provided Nemo promises not to open the door with the same symbol as the key on it) He gets kidnapped by the Nightmare King at Nemo's coronation, prompting Nemo to set off after him, along with the Princess, Prof. Genius, Icarus, and Flip. King Morpheus is voiced by Bernard Erhard.

Princess Camille: Usually she is simply called the Princess. She was lonely, being an only child and her father always gone on business, so was one of the reasons Nemo is brought to Slumberland, to be a companion to her. After a few bumpy starts, they become friends. She detests Flip and his constant cigar smoking (and decrees that he is never to smoke another in her presence). In spite of not seeing him often, she dearly loves her father and commission's Flip (at Nemo's advice) to take them to Nightmareland, after King Morpheus is kidnapped by the Nightmare King. Flip at first, refuses, until he discovers that his only alterantive is to be shot out of a cannon into space. At the film's end the Princess shares a kiss with Nemo before he wakes up. Young Laura Mooney voices Princess Camielle.

Bon Bon: The Princess's steward. She appears to be a jester or clown, but she is very sweet and always positive. She mainly tries to look out for the princess. (She even shows concern when Nemo shows reluctance to accept her invitation, even though he's eventually won over by a batch of cookies the princess sent Bon Bon with as a gift to him) Sherry Lynn provided Bon Bon's voice.

The Goblin Boomps: A group of escapees from Nightmare Land. Flip was the first to meet them when he snuck off to have a cigar (and rewrite his map, which got watered out when their boat crashed into a bog). They reveal themselves to be friendly and funny goblins, in spite of what the others expected them to be. They are capable of morphing their bodies together and assume various forms. All of them, except for Oompo (the largest of the group who got caught as they escaped, who meets up with them later on with a message from King Morpheus on how to destroy the Nightmare King) ran from the Nightmare King because they didn't enjoy the tormenting work he forced on them, preferring fun and jesting. The goblins voices are provided by Alan Oppenheimer, Neil Ross, and John Stephnson, among others.

The Nightmare King: The story's main antagonist. He was sealed behind a large door until Nemo, with Flip's help, accidentally released him. He kidnaps King Morpheus in order to lure Nemo, and more importantly the Royal Scepter (which he and the other inhabitants of Nightmareland fear), to his Nightmare Castle. Nemo barely manages to destroy the Nightmare King with the scepter and ends his reign along with Nemo's own nightmares. The Nightmare King is voiced by Bill Martin.

[edit] Taglines

Take off on a wonderous adventure with Little Nemo!

[edit] Trivia

All of the cuts made from the original 85 min. long film were reedited into the film on its DVD release, bringing the run time of the film to a full 100 min. This is not mentioned or addressed on the DVD case.

A large green dinosaur which bears a close resemblance to Gertie the Dinosaur (Another of Winsor McCay's works) appears holding up a tent in Slumberland.

This film spawned an Capcom NES game, Little Nemo: The Dream Master.

Bernard Erhard, who voices King Morpheus and Danny Mann who voices Icarus, also starred in another animated movie together, Rover Dangerfield.

The film had a parody in the magazine Toyfare as "Little Zemo in Slumberland".

Nemo is latin for "no one" or "nobody".

During the early years of the film's development (in the early 1980s), both Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata were involved with the film. Both left due to differing views on what the film should be, and desire to work on other projects.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

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Nemo (having just met Flip): Who was that, Professor?
Professor: Flip! A frightful fellow!
Nemo: Flip?
Professor: Please, forget you ever heard that name.
(Nemo nods)

Nemo: You're Flip. You're a frightful fellow.
Flip: That's right! I'm frightfully funny, frightfully friendly. And I can make your dreams come true!

Flip: Care to come along Princess'y. I'll even let you carry my cigars.
(Flip chuckles and Princess punches him)

Professor Genius: Have nothing but fun!

Princess Camille (inspecting Nemo): I believe the royal invitation was for you alone, and not your little rat.
Nemo: My "little rat?"
Icarus: Hey, I'm not a rat!
Princess Camille: Yes, your little rat.
Nemo: Icarus isn't a rat! And he's my best friend!
Princess Camille: Alright, I apologize.
Nemo: Hey, don't apologize to me. Apologize to my rat! ...Oops!
Icarus: I'm not a rat!

Nemo: Shazama pajama!
Nightmare King: Oooo, pajamas do scare me so...! (Laughs cold-heartedly)

Professor Genius: I am a professor. I am a genius. You may call me... Professor Genius. And this is Bon Bon.

Nemo: Your Majesty, I broke my promise. I opened the forbidden door. I'm very sorry.
King Morpheus: Hm. Your courage destroyed the Nightmare King and his evil kingdom is gone forever.
(Nemo drifts off to sleep)
King Morpheus: Quite the prince you've become, my little Nemo.

Princess Camille: Nemo?
Nemo: Huh?
Princess Camille: Nemo.. I had a wonderful time. Thank you, Nemo. (tears fall from her eyes)
Nemo: Uh, sure I.. I'm uh..
(Princess bends in for a kiss and Nemo kisses her)