The Making of Who Framed Roger Rabbit - An Insiders Look
Behind the Scenes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit
The beloved Robert Zemeckis classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit is considered to be one of the most innovative films of the late 1980's, and contains a narrative that is wildly imaginative, yet deeply rooted in the hard realities of the alternate universe it creates.
With its blend of live-action and animation, Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a great challenge for the production team. Directors Robert Zemeckis and Richard Williams worked together to create a unique style of film that would be both entertaining and visually compelling. Over the course of pre-production, the directors worked together to create the storyboard all animated elements that would appear in the film.
The Actors & Characters
The film had a cast of talented actors and actresses who brought the characters to life. Bob Hoskins starred as the hard-boiled detective Eddie Valiant, while Christopher Lloyd played the part of the villainous Judge Doom. Joanna Cassidy portrayed the dangerously seductive Jessica Rabbit. The cast was rounded out with excellent voice-acting talent, including Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, and Lou Hirsch as Roger Rabbit.
Animating the Characters
Once the storyboard had been finalized, the crew began work on the animation process. A large portion of the effect was achieved through traditional animation techniques, but the film also included rotoscoped animation, which provided a more realistic effect. During this stage, the Toshiba-EMI "Rotoscope/Cel Projector" was used, allowing the filmmakers to trace the lines of each animated character with pinpoint accuracy.
Bringing the Story to Life
The production team worked tirelessly to make sure the story was brought to life as authentically as possible. Motion control was used to combine live-action and animation into one scene, while computer-generated effects were employed to add special touches to certain scenes. Digital ink and paint were also used to create more image-enhancing effects.
The Impact
The film was a huge success upon its release in 1988 and its influence can still be seen in today's movies. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is remembered for its great characters, innovative animation methods, and popular culture references that remain relevant to this day.