As a lifelong animation enthusiast and someone who has witnessed the magic unfold behind the scenes at Dreamworks Animation during the making of “Shrek,” I can confidently say that Vicky Jenson‘s latest project, “Spellbound,” is an absolute delight. Her return to the storybook world, coupled with her knack for tackling contemporary themes, makes this musical a must-watch.
Veteran filmmaker Vicky Jenson, famously one of the co-directors of the Academy Award-winning “Shrek,” has stepped back into the realm of fairy tales for her latest endeavor: Skydance Animation’s second full-length production, the musical “Spellbound.” This captivating film can now be streamed on Netflix. What drew Jenson to this project was its modern narrative.
She notes that the tale centers around a family facing tough times yet emerging stronger through love and increased comprehension. Despite challenging circumstances, the bond of their affection remains unbroken, whether they ultimately remain together in the film or not.
In the tale, a magical curse turns the rulers of Lumbria, King Javier Bardem and Queen Nicole Kidman, into beasts. Their determined daughter Ellian, who is played by Rachel Zegler in the voiceover, steps up to undertake the mission to rescue her family.
Jenson describes his character as a hero. He explains that she feels responsible for lifting the curse, mirroring a common sentiment among children: if I excel academically, perhaps things will improve at home. This burden often goes unnoticed by the rest of the family.
She points out that it’s problematic to expect children to unite a family, and this was a difficult issue for us in the story. Instead, she explains, the film is asking the parents to take action. She clarifies that the movie isn’t designed to blame anyone in this situation, but rather, it’s about acknowledging that such situations can occur.
The animation for this project was finished at Skydance’s studios, located in Madrid and Connecticut. In retrospect, one of the biggest hurdles faced during production was finding a way to portray the story’s dark themes effectively, which were symbolized as a whirling vortex. As Jenson elaborates, the team aimed not to demonize Ellian’s anger but rather show that feelings such as hurt, feeling wronged, misunderstood, unheard, or unseen are common and should not be suppressed entirely, even though one doesn’t want those emotions to control life to the point where nothing else can be seen. The challenge of balancing this darkness within the narrative was likely the most difficult aspect to tackle.
The concept for “Spellbound” was present at Skydance Animation when she began working there. However, the decision to turn it into a musical didn’t come until later, and that suggestion came from former Skydance Animation president Bill Damaschke during one of their dinners. He proposed, “Why not make it a musical? The emotions are so intense. It would be fitting to express them through song.
The chat served as the catalyst for collaborating with renowned Disney composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater on an assortment of tunes, including the ballad “The Way Things Were Before,” sung by Zegler, and the lively “I Could Get Used to This,” performed by John Lithgow, who lends his voice to the castle advisor. These songs not only reflect the essence of the movie but also carry its message.
While crafting the movie, Jenson benefited from a collective creative mindset at Skydance, which encompassed John Lasseter – a former head of animation at Pixar – as well as Brad Bird and Rich Moore, both of whom have won Oscars. Bird is set to direct “Ray Gun”, marking the third animated feature for the studio, while Moore is currently working on an adaption of Jack and the Beanstalk without a title yet.
Referencing her experience at DreamWorks Animation, where “Shrek” was created, Jenson remarks, “This is my second stint with a studio in its growth phase, and it’s much like the untamed Wild West at first, which makes it incredibly exciting to be involved.
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2024-11-26 00:18