If you happen to live in Los Angeles, you can find Hoodwinked!, one of the ten animated features eligible in the Oscar race, playing in a few theaters today. Written and directed by Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards and Tony Leech, Hoodwinked! offers a fractured fairytale treatment of the classic Brothers Grimm fable of Little Red Riding Hood.
The CG-animated pic centers on a band of creatures investigating a domestic disturbance at Grandma’s famous cottage. The animated players, which include a karate-kicking Red, a smart-aleck wolf, a goofy Woodsman and a thrill-seeking Granny, are voiced by the likes of Glenn Close, Jim Belushi, Anne Hathaway, Anthony Anderson and hip-hop artist Xzibit. Andy Dick also lends his voice as a creepy bunny and Benjy Gaither is a standout as a scene-stealing singing goat
The feature also showcases several fine songs penned by Todd Edwards.
The toon was produced by Kanbar Ent., which was founded by SKYY Vodka entrepreneur Maurice Kanbar and former Disney Animation exec Sue Bea Montgomery. This is the first computer-animated theatrical release from Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who handled distribution for the direct-to-video Bionicle series through their former company, Miramax. The film will open nationally on Jan. 13, 2006. You can read all about the making of this indie project in the January issue of Animation Magazine, now available in Barnes and Nobles stores around the country.
