Enter the Gaping Maw of Animated Teeth

As someone who’s spent countless hours poring over animated masterpieces and the intricate details that breathe life into their characters, I find myself utterly captivated by these teeth-filled tales. Each set of chompers tells a story, a secret hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be unraveled by the discerning eye.

When it comes to animated teeth, they often challenge our ability to accept them as realistic: How much realism are we anticipating, compared to what we actually see? Teeth that appear overly lifelike can seem too detailed and may invite mockery, with excessive anatomic details that stand out. On the flip side, excessively abstract designs might look generic and templated, appearing flat and similar to other instances you’ve seen. The key in any animation is ensuring that these mouths can chew and move appropriately at 12 or 24 frames per second, while still being easily recognizable and adhering to the established design (on-model).

In various forms, animated teeth can act as a potent symbol for a character’s identity. From Goofy’s distinctive overbite on Disney merchandise globally to Sonic’s 2020 movie teeth sparking fan uproar, these unique sets of chompers represent diverse ends of the spectrum between photorealistic and surrealistic animated teeth. Animators have dedicated immense effort and skill to craft these memorable mouthpieces just right. Prepare yourself as we revisit a curated collection of such iconic animated teeth throughout animation history – some so lifelike they seem unreal, while others are so twisted they bear little resemblance to actual teeth.

Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

The initial design of the Sonic character in the movie based on the popular video game sparked a massive controversy when people saw his human-like teeth in an early trailer, causing such a backlash that the animators had to make changes to appease fans and improve the film’s design. This incident serves as a reminder that even decades after The Polar Express, some artistic choices can still be too unsettling for audiences, particularly when it comes to tooth designs, which people seem to have strong personal opinions about.

Æon Flux and Trevor Goodchild in Æon Flux (1992)

Yes, their actions align perfectly. In the initial moments of “Gravity,” the second episode of Aeon Flux, animator Peter Chung meticulously illustrated his character Aeon sharing a passionate kiss and receiving a secret mission detail hidden in a false tooth. This cartoon, part of MTV’s Liquid Television, was so brief that each frame needed to pack a punch. Unlike the rigid action cartoons popular in the ’80s, the realistic movement of the ’90s is showcased here with precision: Aeon and Trevor’s teeth have distinct sizes, shapes, and sharpness; they stand out due to individualized shading; and their tongues are unmistakably sensual and fleshy. It takes a lot of effort to achieve such detail in a brief span of animation, but Chung’s focus on detail and courage in portraying the risqué elements made Aeon Flux a ’90s icon.

Totoro in My Neighbor Totoro (1989)

In contrast to what one might find frightening in another creature with such distinctly large and sharp teeth, Totoro exudes a softness and humanity that is unique to his character. Not only does he appear anthropomorphic, but also emblematic of his gentle nature. In certain frames, when Totoro opens wide, you can count 16 lower teeth, each with rounded corners and indents in the molars – a detail that adds anatomical accuracy to his design. Director Hayao Miyazaki playfully emphasizes Totoro’s teeth throughout, using them for comedic effect as seen in the scene at the bus stop where Totoro roars, and limiting his grin to a mere triangle in other scenes. For a taste of Miyazaki’s scarier tooth work, check out the Heron’s beak in “The Boy and the Heron.” While Miyazaki is renowned for his visionary direction, he also demonstrates exceptional skill as a character designer – let us not forget the charming grin and fangs of the Catbus as well.

Unit 01 in Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

In the initial presentation, Eva Unit 01 was depicted as a towering, humanoid robot, yet it exhibits signs of life that are far from mechanical. This extraordinary cyborg draws inspiration from Japanese folklore’s feared oni demons and is described by its creator, Ikuto Yamashita, as a “giant barely kept in check by humanity.” When the Eva falls into a rage, it becomes evident that it has sharp white teeth hidden beneath its armor, which were previously concealed. It unleashes destruction upon its colossal adversary, the Angel Zeruel, not merely defeating the monster but tearing and dismembering the Angel’s body with its teeth. The main character was in control of Eva Unit 01 throughout this entire ordeal. It is also suggested that Eva Unit 01 may house the spirit of the pilot’s deceased mother. The blood-stained teeth, which quickly become tainted by the Angel’s splattered blood, symbolize the hidden complexities within Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in Wacky Wabbit (1942)

As a film enthusiast, I find the teeth in Bob Clampett’s “Wacky Wabbit” cartoon, which features a mischievous little bunny tormenting a clumsy hunter, remarkably lifelike. The cartoon duo flaunt their golden grins, and it’s not just a break of the fourth wall; the teeth designs resemble human anatomy, with visible gums, rounded edges, and even roots that are clearly depicted when Elmer holds one up. Clampett was known for his ability to get incredibly bizarre with teeth (more on that later), and he always found innovative ways to elicit laughter from his characters.

In this short, Bugs Bunny was one of the last characters animated by Chuck Jones’ team before Robert McKimson reworked his design. At that time, he was slightly taller, with longer ears and a wider mouth to highlight his mouse-like incisors. Though two years prior to the debut of this new design in “Tortoise Wins By a Hare,” Bugs still showed more teeth than normal, but his prominent front ones were distinct.

Two-Face in Batman Caped Crusader (2024)

Bruce Timm, a longtime Batman animation designer and producer, found it challenging at first to create this fresh take on Two-Face. He was accustomed to depicting the Batman villain in the style of his other show, “Batman: The Animated Series”. As Timm puts it, “Two-Face was elegantly ugly in B:TAS.” In this new version, they aimed for a more disfigured appearance. A crucial piece of advice that helped shape the design came from James Tucker, his collaborator. Tucker suggested flipping Two-Face’s scarred side to the right, which broke Timm out of his usual design pattern. The final design is a modern interpretation of the character that aligns with the show’s 40s aesthetic, giving it a film noir feel. Additionally, Two-Face’s appearance in this storyline subtly differs from most Batman tales: His scarred teeth are not just discolored but largely missing. “I wanted his teeth to be more than just grimacing,” Timm explains, “I wanted to make them really damaged by the acid bath he underwent.

All the Teeth in “Shiny Teeth” in Fairly Oddparents (2002)

In the beloved cartoon series, “Fairly Oddparents”, the character Chip Skylark, known for his dazzling smile, discovers that his teeth aren’t genuine in the episode titled “Shiny Teeth”. The dentist who allegedly stole and exposed them as fake is portrayed by Gilbert Gottfried, adding a touch of absurdity. This isn’t just a clever critique of the idealized dental industry but a fun jab at dentists everywhere – making it an excellent choice for children’s viewing.

In this episode of ‘Oddparents’, while many characters sported squarish teeth that were characteristic of the show, our hero Timmy Turner was an exception with his buck teeth. This episode delves deeply into various tooth designs, not just simple rectangles, but ones that still adhere to the series’ style and spirit: musical molars, jagged gums on the wicked dentist and his son, the shiny teeth belonging to Skylark, and even tooth ornaments resembling Christmas trees. The episode’s catchy tune, “My Shiny Teeth and Me”, as crafted by ‘Fairly Oddparents’ creator, director, and songwriter Butch Hartman, has been recognized as one of the show’s most beloved songs.

Jack Skellington, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

In extended usage, teeth can wear out similarly to the materials utilized in stop-motion figurines. The sculptors Shelley Daniels and Randy Dutra painstakingly crafted around 800 unique heads for Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas, following designs by story artist Jorgen Klubien. This laborious process resulted in numerous teeth for a character who vocalizes through singing, shouting, and yawning throughout the film. Jack’s mouth has multiple layers as well – an outer layer of drawn-on lines and an inner row of teeth that occasionally appear or disappear. When he growls, his teeth take on sharp points, much like ours do.

Goofy in Hockey Homicide (1945)

In the realm of animation history, this particular pair of central incisors might be the most notable among many. The film “Hockey Homicide,” directed by Jack Kinney, was produced during a transitional phase for Goofy shorts where a single Goofy model was utilized across multiple characters, some with teeth and others without. In this specific installment, the Goofs are attending a hockey match – some as players, some as spectators, while the more formal Goofs do not exhibit their teeth. As the seven-minute short progresses, the intensity of the game escalates, with the announcer rapidly calling plays, and sticks, pucks, and the audience becoming increasingly chaotic. Amidst this pandemonium, Monstro – the whale from “Pinocchio” known for his rows of sharp teeth instead of baleen hair – unexpectedly makes an appearance in a brief non-sequitur scene. The teeth become one of the most prominent visual indicators that the entire world has been Goofified: By the end, every character onscreen is flaunting their protruding teeth as they immerse themselves in the excitement of the game.

Back in the late ’40s, Disney embarked on a series for everyone’s favorite character, Goofy, aiming to give him a cleaner, more business-like image by flattening his buck teeth into rectangular boxes, hiding his protruding dentures, and dressing him in suits. However, this makeover didn’t quite take hold and may have even felt a tad sinister. As Art Babbitt, the Disney artist who was instrumental in shaping Goofy’s iconic design, once put it in his 1,046-word analysis, “buck teeth” are what make him charming.

Marceline in Adventure Time (2010)

Displaying a closed smile with her slightly crooked fangs peeking out, this vampire queen appears more like a young woman sporting the trendy Japanese “yaeba” look – a snaggle-toothed style – than a traditional vampire. Over the ten-year run of the animated series Adventure Time, her appearance and transformative abilities subtly changed among different artists, showing variations in size, outfits, and forms. However, from the initial concept pitch by creator Pendleton Ward to the final episode, those small, adorable eyeteeth remained constant – until instances like the scene in “Henchmen” (and numerous other episodes) where they expanded into her usual monstrous form. Marceline’s tiny teeth are a crucial aspect that sheds light on her complex, romantic, and undead life story.

The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland (1951)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=G4fHre-yRPY

The Cheshire Cat’s teeth offer an initial glimpse of this trickster character from Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland,” known for its nonsensical dialogue inspired by Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” poem. Ward Kimball, a jazz trombonist and long-time Disney animator, designed and animated these teeth to showcase the Cat’s playful and magical abilities. In the beginning, they appear more like accordion keys than teeth, moving in sync with the Cat’s mouth before he fully materializes and starts talking to Alice. The design of the teeth is straightforward yet eerie; they seem like teeth but behave strangely due to their movement and introduction. Disney’s 2010 remake, which gives him a row of sharp canines, fails to convey the Cat’s enigmatic essence. These teeth symbolize the Cat’s musical and poetic character, only aligning properly once he decides on the tune he will play for Alice who has lost her way. It is unclear whether the Cat was influenced by our previous entry on this list or not.

88 Teeth, The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946)

In the realm of unpredictable humor, I can’t help but admire the cunningly crafted gang that Daffy Duck encounters in Bob Clampett’s ‘Bank Robbery’, a gem within the Looney Tunes collection. Snake-Eyes boasts dice instead of eyeballs, Hammerhead sports a hammer-shaped head, and 88 Teeth… well, let’s just say his smile is a unique set of piano keys. 88 Teeth, much like his fellow villains, meets an abrupt end in a storm of bullets – a fittingly dramatic finale for the characters in what was one of Clampett’s final creations before parting ways with Warner Bros.

From my perspective as a film enthusiast, it’s undeniably a triumph of surrealism that is partially owed to the vividly painted frames of characters like 88. The narrative – with Daffy being drawn into a terrifying comic-art nightmare (at one point he vanishes due to another villain who has a pencil for a head) – bears a striking resemblance to the ordeals Chuck Jones would subject Daffy to in his own short, “Duck Amuck,” which was released seven years later. Upon leaving, Clampett passed on several unfinished cartoons to his fellow animators. However, “The Great Piggy Bank Robbery” seems like a poignant farewell message. Unlike the other teeth mentioned here, 88’s are not shown in motion but rather in a cutaway shot. They may not move, but they still have an impactful bite.

2024-10-08 20:54