www.surveyor.wash.org April 29, 2005 17

Animation gets futuristic with DreamWorks’ ‘Robots’

Andrew Madsen film, I was reminded of movies such as “Me- staff writer tropolis” and “Blade Runner,” movies that present the future as a place of visual wonder, Animation has progressed steadily through- and yet one that also contains an element of out the years, from the early days of black and fear emitting from the rulers who control such white Disney cartoons to the latest CGI films places. Greed and the black and white side of from PIXAR and DreamWorks. human nature are also found in these movies, This is where the delightful movie “Ro- especially in “Robots,” with Rodney’s struggle bots” comes in, the latest CGI picture from against Ratchet’s plans to change Robot City DreamWorks, who is also responsible for the for the worse. successful “Shrek” movies. Certainly animation is not only what Rodney Copperbottem (voiced by Ewan makes the movie worth watching, but also McGregor) is a young robot born to an aver- the plot and characters. “Robots” great- age family. Inspired by the legendary inventor est strength lies in its characters, and the Bigweld (voiced by Mel Brooks), he dreams often funny dialogue they are given to say, of becoming a great inventor and improving along with some of the film’s entertaining, the lives of his fellow robots. comedic moments. In that aspect, Williams Rodney leaves his home and journeys as Fender is the movie’s best character, as to the gigantic metropolis of Robot City, he steals most of the scenes he’s in with where he runs into a gang of misfits led by typical comedic fashion. While Fender at the zany Fender (voiced by Robin Williams). times seems to be similar to the Genie that He also encounters the sinister corporate Williams voiced in “Aladdin,” for the most tyrant Ratchet (voiced by Greg Kinnear) and part Williams keeps the character fresh and Cappy (voiced by Halle Berry), an executive irreverent, and manages to incorporate his at Bigweld’s company. trademark zaniness into the part. First and foremost, the movie’s animation is McGregor does a fine job of voicing Rod- excellent. Chris Wedge, who also directed the ney, as he captures his youthful ideals and animated comedy “Ice Age,” does a wonderful desire to be an inventor and to help others. job of creating a robot city that is futuristic, Cappy and the rest of Fender’s gang seem to and yet has a look straight out of the 1940’s. be side note characters, and don’t really seem The movie itself, much like “A Bug’s Life” and to form a solid supporting cast. Kinnear as www.yahoomovies.com Ratchet is your typical scheming, crazy villain, other animated films, does not feel the need to Due to the film’s entertainment value and only he’s bent on corporate dominance instead include humans on screen. Rather, its about the high-spiritedness of the whole enterprise, of world conquest. Brooks has a small part creating a world on screen that looks and feels along with the film’s colorful animation and as Bigweld, yet he comes off as a fun loving, 3.5 out of 5 stars real, with human elements incorporated into visuals, I found “Robots” to be a great view- young at heart fellow, who reminded me of the movie’s characters. ing experience. Concerning the futuristic aspect of the Walt Disney.

abcmedianet.com Networks hope new TV shows will make an impact for viewers

workers having their own quirks and habits, Jackie Albrecht it provides for a show that is never dull. “The staff writer Office” is on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. Fox is debuting an animated comedy show Spring has finally arrived, and many tele- called “American Dad.” It portrays the life of vision networks have decided to do a little a family man, Stan Smith, who works for the spring cleaning to find room for the addition CIA and is constantly on the alert for terror- of new television shows. ist activity. Stan would do anything for his ABC seems to be the top dog when it country that he loves greatly. To add to the comes to the number of new TV shows. humor, he has a wife who is a bit of a party They’re debuting four new shows. One of girl, a daughter who is a left-winged liberal these four is “Grey’s Anatomy,” which follows (much to Stan’s dismay), a son who tries to the life of Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), an act cool but fails miserably and two other intern fresh out of medical school trying to characters including a sarcastic alien and a succeed in a teaching hospital. Grey and her German talking goldfish. “American Dad” three other fellow interns receive on-the-job will premiere Sunday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. training, where they have to think quick on For all reality TV fans, there is a new show their feet or it could be a matter of life and in town. “Meet the Barkers” follows Travis death. ‘Grey’s Anatomy” airs Sunday nights Barker, the drummer of Blink-182, and his at 9:00 p.m. wife Shanna Moakler, an actress and profes- “Eyes,” also on ABC, depicts the life of sional model as they live life in their hectic Harlan Judd (Tim Daly), head of Judd Risk world. “Meet the Barkers” airs Wednesdays Management, a low-key firm doing whatever at 9:00 p.m. on MTV. it takes to handle cases with the highest poten- USA is debuting a new remake of the tial stakes. Along with other ruthless, brilliant popular 70’s show, “Kojak.” This series and skilled individuals, they do anything they follows a New York detective, Theo Kojak can to win in a world full of blackmail, revenge (Ving Rhames), who is dedicated to his work and intrigue. “Eyes” appears Wednesdays at and solving even the most heinous crimes. 9:00 p.m. Through years of experience and his tough NBC is a close second when it comes to attitude, Kojak is able to get to the center of new TV shows, by debuting three shows. all crimes. “The Office,” based on the British hit televi- Whether it’s comedy, drama or suspense sion show, follows the lives of five nine-to-five you like, there’s bound to be a new television workers at a paper supply company. This show for you to enjoy this spring. Only time show combines documentary with reality TV will tell if these shows will hold up against and then mixes it with comedy. With all the veteran programming.