BLINKY BILL
Australia, 2015, 95 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Ryan Kwanten, Robin Mc Leavey, Richard Roxburgh, Deborah Mailman, Barry Humphries, Tony Collette, David Wenham, Rufus Sewell, Barry Otto.
Directed by Deane Taylor, Noel Cleary.
It was interesting to realise that Blinky Bill sprang into life as early as 1933. Illustrator of the first book, New Zealand born Dorothy Wall, continued to write Blinky Bill stories into the 1940s. Bill has also had a life on various television series and a feature film in 1992, produced by top animator, Yoram Gross. Nothing like Wikipedia to furnish a few details like the fact that Bill appeared on a stamp in 1985 – and, with the permission of the Wall estate, Blinky Bill is the official mascot of the Republican Movement.
Bill and his family and friends have been stable entertainment for youngsters and his new animation film is designed especially for the littlies. Littlies who have grown up a little may still have fond memories and so enjoy this film as well. And well-meaning parents, especially taking young children to see the film, will probably enjoy it as well.
The animation repeats the illustrations of the earlier times, a recognisable Blinky, his mother and father, his friend Nutsy, all the inhabitants of Greenpatch and more besides.
The children will enjoy the voices, and adults, especially if they recognise the voices as they watch the characters, double enjoyment. Popular star, Ryan Kwanten, voices Bill. And Richard Roxburgh and Deborah Mailman the voices of mum and dad. The large wombat with trousers at half mast is Barry Humphries. The villain of Greenpatch, the goanna Cranklepot is Barry Otto. The principal villain is the feral cat, a British immigrant, Sir Cedric, is voiced by Rufus Sewell. And, as Bill and Nutsy (Robin Mc Leavey) go to rescue Bill’s Dad, they are accompanied by a very Australian-accented lizard, David Wenham, and, very amusingly, two emus, Cheryl and Beryl, both voiced by Toni Collette as if the two emus were auditioning for roles in Kath and Kim.
There is an open cricket match with two kookaburras commenting, one sounding like Richie Benaud (and the sequence is dedicated to him in the least cricketer, Phillip Hughes). All live happily in Greenpatch, but then decides to go on a quest and doesn’t return for a year, with Cranklepot taking over, so that Bill decides to go to find his Dad. He discovers roads, trucks, advertisements for tea which he thinks thinking that they are real. Defines a supermarket, aisles, sweets… And fights with Sir Cedric. Finds a caged koala, Nazi who accompanies him through the desert, encountering dangers, giant crocodiles, he is finally trapped in the zoo where, of course, he finds his Dad. Mum is in pursuit with Wombo and Cheryl and Beryl.
It Is a blend of adventures, not too scary, even with the evil cat, lots of very Australian comic touches, a little bit of romance, and a happy ending.
Blinky Bill still lives.
1. The popularity of the Blinky Bill stories from the 1930s into the 1940s?
2. The television adventures, the films, the visualising of the characters? The voices?
3. The story and characters as family friendly? For the youngest audiences?
4. Greenpatch, life, the range of animals, Australian animals, their appearance and voices, the human touches…?
5. The narration, Bill telling his story?
6. The cricket opening, the Richie Benaud commentary, dedication to him and to Philip’s Hughes?
7. Dad, as a character, the life of Greenpatch, love for Bill, pride in him, love for Mum? Going on his quest? The dangers, his sayings and fulfilling promises?
8. Away for a year, Blinky and his range of friends, up to mischief, Cranklepot, the Goanna, taking charge, despotic?
9. Bill, decision to go on his journey, not telling his mother, discovering the roads, the roadkill, the onrush of the truck, the advertisement the tea and his licking it, in the shop, the sweets, hot, needing the water?
10. The feral cat, British, his title, having lost his tail, the chase, the mayhem in the shop, the pursuit through the desert, the threats on the rocks, his arriving
at the zoo?
11. Bill and his encounter with Wombo, the character of Wombo, his imaginary girlfriend? His old car, sails?
12. The two emus, Cheryl and Beryl, their chatter, their voices? Meeting up with Jacko, his wisecracks and comedy? The ride through the desert?
13. The encounter with Nutsy, in the cage, freeing her, her fears, knowing only the zoo, her back story, going with Bill, bossing him around, her fears of
heights, the leap, his rescue?
14. The crocodiles, menace, the leaping from rock to rock, the threat of the cat?
15. Finding his father’s hat, no Dad, sad?
16. Finding the zoo, going, Bill being captured, in the cage, finding his dad?
17. The sleepy parrot, the clashes and fight with Jacko?
18. Engineering the escape, swinging the cage, the switches, building up the plane?
19. Mum, her search, arriving with Wambo?
20. The escape, the flights, the interviews flying?
21. The happy ending back home? Pelting critical pot, restoring order?
22. The PS after the credits, Cranklepot and playing with the children?
