Synopsis
In collaboration with Peter Ramsay, DreamWorks Animation produced an animated fantasy film titled Rise of the Guardians in 2012. It is an adaptation of Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood. The film dissects various fantasy characters of a child’s imagination and gives them a new meaning as the defenders of innocence. Action, dazzling animation, and emotion are blended to revolve the narrative around the themes of wonder, courage and belief.
The narrative introduces Jack Frost, a whimsical and free-spirited young man who has the ability to create snow and ice. Although winter is full of fun and joy, Jack takes every opportunity to lighten the atmosphere, “feels” lost, and “invisible” during this process. Instead of being invisible, like other children’s magical figures, such as the Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. Jack is considered to be, “not” believed in. He is unsatisfied with his existence, and the desire to feel connected is present. The foremost question to him is, why, and what for, was he created.
In the form of a mute ether who assists the Guardians, and posesses a heavenly visage, the Man in the Moon changes everything. Jack Frost is bestowed with the title of the latest member of the Guardians. They are comprised of: North, Santa Claus, who is considered to be full of wonder. During the storytelling, he is a brave and noble warrior who embodies the captivating forces of the North.
Tooth (Tooth Fairy), an elegant and quick collector of children’s memories.
Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), a thoughtful and smart its keeper of hope.
Sandy, (Sandman) The soft, gilded guardian of dreams.
The Guardians must defend the innocence, disbelief, and joy of children all over the world. This task becomes more pressing with the emergence of a sinister enemy: Pitch Black, the Boogeyman. Pitch wants to blanket the world in terror and eliminate all belief in the Guardians, for in doing so, they become weak and he becomes strong.
Pitch sets to work by attacking the dreams of children, substituting them with shadows and dread. Dream shredders aren’t his only target: so is Tooth’s castle, which he wants to sabotage by tearing apart the memories of children and weakning her domination. The moment children begin to lose their belief, the Guardians lose their power.
Jack has doubts about his role in the group, especially because he is the only one with no history. He soon realizes that to be a Guardian is not only to have powers. In the course of his journey with the Guardians, he starts to learn the meaning of the word “fun” by the sheer volume of joy he brings with snow and frolics.
In time, Jack recalls the life he lived prior to becoming Jack Frost, the profoundly deep love he held for his family, along with the courage he once possessed. This grants him strength and insight. He embraces this new responsibility as Guardian, not because he was told to, but because it is what he has determined to do to defend what is most important to him.
In the closing moments, Jack Frost is able to, not for the sake of fun, but to again breathe life and magic into joy that was once lost. With the Guardians moving as one and children beginning to believe once more, Pitch loses his strength. With the darkness transformed into light, the imagination that was lost is restored, with Jack being able to be seen and accepted for who he truly is.
Cast & Crew
With fantastic animation and visuals that complement the film, my only qualm is that the story doesn’t take advantage of the concept of dreams as much as it should.
Voice Cast:
Chris Pine as Jack Frost: his soft and upbeat voice softens the character immensely. He is able to project the character’s deep longing which makes for a very captivating piece as we all know the world’s state.
Alec Baldwin as North: his more than capable voice gives this Santa an extra edge, allowing the character to have more of a smile and excitement, which comes in handy for children.
Isla Fisher as Tooth Fairy: Isla adds zeal and depth to Tooth’s character which captures children’s memories and emotions.
Hugh Jackman as Bunnymund: Jackman adds a fascinating subtle dry comedy to The Easter Bunny which gives him a tender and courageous attitude.
Jude Law Pitch Black: Law has a soft and ghostly tone that gives Pitch Black a charm that is somewhat creepy while still being child friendly.
Sandy the Sandman: The only silent guardian, Sandy speaks using symbols which he draws in sand with gold dust. His actions and facial expressions, alongside his mythical, tender gestures, makes him the most loved character in the film.
Creative Team:
Director: Peter Ramsey, confidently makes his directorial debut by managing the movie with a seamless blend of humor, action, and emotion.
Screenplay: Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, the script dances between the whimsical and the profound with themes of belief, identity, and belonging.
Based on Characters by: William Joyce, whose imaginative book series was turned into the film.
Music Composer: Alexandre Desplat captures and evokes all the emotion of the film with his beautifully elegant score. Desplat is known for his graceful and soft music which adds a touch of magic and warmth to the film’s atmosphere.
Production Studio: Once again, DreamWorks Animation has produced a phenomenal animated film, full of incredible imagery and a heartwarming story, after the successes of Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon.
Ratings and Critical Reception
On IMDb, Rise of the Guardians has a 7.2 score out of 10, with a considerable fanbase who appreciate the story’s emotional depth, narrative, and stunning visuals.
Critics commended the excitement brought by the film through the innovative designs of familiar childhood icons with unique characteristics and backgrounds. The overall artistic style was immensely praised; from the Sandman’s glistening trails to Jack Frost’s wintry masterpieces, the animation is incredibly vivid, colorful, and of high quality, making it a visual splendor for audiences of all ages.
The film touches on core subjects Rise of the Guardians contained. Rather than acting purely for action’s sake, the narrative purposefully centers on the act of believing – both in other people and in oneself. The arc of Jack discovering and gaining confidence to claim his identity, after a long period of feeling invisible, is a touching and relatable one; especially for the younger generations who have yet to experience the journeys of self-discovery for themselves.
It gained a Golden Globe nomination for the Best Animated Feature Film and also garnered several Annie Award nominations for animation and design, which, unfortunately, did not translate to winning any major prizes. In recent years, the film has acquired a passionate following, much to the delight of its advocates, and has earned the reputation of being a neglected classic of animated films.
Conclusion
It serves to remind us of the rest of us, that no matter how arduous a journey we partake in, we always have a purpose. The Guardians, with their true, timeless qualities, represent hope, joy, dreams, wonder, and memory — the core values of childhood that we carry with us through the years.
More than a holiday or a children’s film, Rise of the Guardians is a poignant narrative of the power of belief, the magic of dreams, and the value of acceptance. “With its breathtaking ingenuity, the film forges a dazzling dimension in which legendary characters become champions of the spirit.”
For children and adults alike, the Rise of the Guardians is a wonderfully entertaining and inspirational tale that propels us to action and belief — not just in fictional characters, but in the goodness that abounds in the people around us as well.
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