Synopsis

After years of living in an abandoned cartoon world, Rocky the flying squirrel and Bullwinkle the moose are pulled into reality when their old enemies, Boris, Natasha, and Fearless Leader, escape from the fictional realm of Pottsylvania. With help from rookie FBI agent Karen Sympathy, the mismatched heroes race across America to stop the villains from taking over the country.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was in development at Universal as early as 1992. Danny DeVito and Meryl Streep were originally considered for Boris and Natasha before the project was substantially reworked.

• The movie combines live action with computer-generated animation. Industrial Light & Magic created Rocky and Bullwinkle and handled the film's major visual effects.

• Voice performer June Foray reprised Rocky, a role she had originated in the original television series. Keith Scott provided Bullwinkle's voice and also served as the narrator.

• To help the live-action performers maintain timing and eyelines, Scott worked on set during principal photography. He was initially expected to work for two months, but the assignment expanded to approximately 18 months.

• During rehearsals, ILM crew members sometimes acted out Rocky and Bullwinkle's movements for the other performers. The stand-ins were removed before filming the final takes.

• Des McAnuff prepared roughly 4,000 storyboard panels before shooting began. The detailed planning was necessary because many scenes required live performers to react to animated characters that were not physically present.

• The fictional Pottsylvanian anthem "Hail Pottsylvania" was added after Robert De Niro requested its inclusion during production. The change affected the shooting schedule and increased the budget.

• The film was released theatrically in the United States on June 30, 2000. Made on an estimated $76 million budget, it earned approximately $35.1 million worldwide.

• Critics generally acknowledged the film's effort to preserve the original cartoon's visual spirit, even while criticizing its screenplay and humor. Its later reputation has largely centered on its unusual live-action and animation combination and its elaborate visual-effects work.