CGI Sidekicks!

• 30th Mar 2011

Easter film, Hop, is released in cinemas on Friday, with Russell Brand as the voice of E.B., the Easter Bunny, in a buddy role alongside a live-action James Marsden. It’s a great pairing, providing plenty of laughs, as you can find out in our review. (http://www.filmwerk.co.uk/?p=3731)

So, to celebrate, we thought we’d take a look at some of the other great pairings of humans and their CGI sidekicks…

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

When we first heard about Hop, we couldn’t help our minds leaping back to Jessica Roger Rabbit! Bob Hoskins’ performance against Toontown’s inhabitants – from Roger himself to the cigar chomping Baby Herman. It remains a joy to watch, even 23 years on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTMk6RSssw

Paul

Another 2011 newcomer on the list (though somewhat less family-friendly) is Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s alien foil, the eponymous Paul. Voiced by Seth Rogen, this foul-mouthed, pot-smoking extraterrestrial is a far cry from E.T.!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hljxH-QJq1g

Transformers

Perhaps it’d be more fitting to say that Sam Witwicky is the sidekick here, but either way Michael Bay’s computer generated colossuses are not to be overlooked!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZsMAZcoweA

Lord of the Rings

Ground-breaking technology and an amazing physical performance from Andy Serkis brought Gollum to life in a most spectacular way for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He might be sneaky and little bit sinister, but we can’t wait to see his return in The Hobbit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvIFRNbqOs

Pete’s Dragon

Any excuse to mention this enchanting 70s musical of a runaway orphan boy and his dragon! The mix of live action and animation may not be as slick as others on the list, but it certainly helped pave the way for them. In fact, its uncredited assistant director was none other than Roger Rabbit associate producer, Don Hahn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9-ff7f4ke4