Release: August 29, 2000 (USA,
direct-to-video)
Directed by: Kathi Castillo
(credited as Kermit Miller)
Voices: Ross
Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman, Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker, Rob
Paulsen,
June Foray
Produced by: Universal
Cartoon Studios
Distributed by: Universal
Pictures Home Entertainment
Before diving into this 2000 gem, it’s worth remembering where the Chipmunks came from. Created back in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., Alvin and the Chipmunks didn’t start as cartoons. They began as a music act, built around speeding up human voices to sound like chipmunks. The first hit, The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late), became a Christmas classic and turned Alvin, Simon, and Theodore into household names.
Decades later, the legacy was carried on by Ross Bagdasarian Jr., who took over the voices of Alvin, Simon, and Dave Seville. His wife, Janice Karman, joined in to voice all three Chipettes and Theodore. Together, they’ve been the creative force behind nearly every Chipmunk project since the 80s.
By the time Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman came out, the big Chipmunk boom was long past, but this movie somehow caught the old spark again.
I watched the Universal UK DVD, which sadly had no extras. Just the movie, no behind-the-scenes or commentaries. A bit of a letdown since I like seeing how these films are made, but honestly, the movie itself made up for it. It’s got that old-school charm.
The voices are great, the acting feels spot on and the story has a lot more heart than you might expect. Under all the chaos and slapstick, it’s really about pride and loneliness and how people (or chipmunks) deal with fear and change.
The setup centers on a school play of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the Chipmunks take part with their usual enthusiasm. The play´s director treats this production like his life’s work, obsessed with making everything perfect. Things start to unravel when strange events begin happening in the neighborhood, especially with Mr. Talbot, the mysterious neighbor with a cane shaped like a wolf’s head.
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Mr. Talbot is voiced by Maurice LaMarche, who’s one of the legends of animation. You’ve probably heard him as The Brain in Pinky and the Brain or Kif from Futurama. His performance gives the film that classic monster-movie vibe that fits so perfectly.
There’s also Frank Welker, the same guy who voices Scooby-Doo and Megatronm, here he is handling creature growls and sound effects. It’s a small detail, but you can feel the experience in how the sound design adds perfect tension.
The animation itself was done by Universal Cartoon Studios, the same team that handled The Land Before Time sequels and An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island. Even though it was a direct-to-video release, the animation has solid craftsmanship and that slightly darker, moodier color palette that fits the theme.
This movie also stands out for how it treats Theodore. He gets one of his best storylines here, going from shy and scared to finding courage when it matters. The transformation scenes, both literal and emotional, make the story surprisingly heartfelt.
The Chipettes play their part too, bringing balance to the chaos and some funny moments that keep it from getting too gloomy.
By the time the credits roll, it’s clear this was more than just another kids’ film, it’s a piece of animation history. In fact, Meet the Wolfman ended up being the last traditionally animated Chipmunks movie before the 2007 live-action reboot. It closed the door on an era that started in the 50s and carried through generations.
I found out there is a glow in the dark slip cover.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236110731249
So
I give this a perfect 10/10. This month is a horror
month after all, so get in on the howling and watch this dark yet heartwarming movie.
//Sonny
