Bonkers: The Movie

Bonkers: The Movie is a 1994 animated film based on the Disney television series Bonkers. It was released in theaters by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc.

Plot:
The movie begins with a flashback to when Bonkers D. Bobcat (voiced by Jim Cummings) was still working at Wackytoons Studios as an actor for cartoon shorts alongside his co-star Fawn Deer (voiced by Kath Soucie). Bonkers is shown to be a clumsy actor, and his clumsiness causes him to ruin the cartoon short he was working on. As a result of this, Wackytoons Studios fires both Bonkers and Fawn from their jobs as actors for cartoons.

The movie then cuts back to present day where it shows that after being fired by Wackytoons Studios, Bonkers became a police officer for the Toon Division of the Hollywood P.D., and Fawn is now working as an actress at Wackytoons Studios again, but this time she's acting in live-action films instead of cartoon shorts.

Bonkers is now partnered with Detective Lucky Piquel (voiced by Charles Adler), a human police officer who hates Toons and believes that they are nothing more than troublemakers. Bonkers' new partner doesn't like him very much because he thinks that Bonkers isn't serious enough to be a police officer.

Bonkers and Lucky are assigned to investigate the theft of several props from Wackytoons Studios, which were stolen by an unknown thief who is also stealing other valuable items around Hollywood. Bonkers believes that Fawn's new boyfriend, actor Dirk Diamond (voiced by Jim Cummings), may have something to do with the thefts because he was seen at one of the crime scenes.

Bonkers and Lucky go to Wackytoons Studios where they meet Fawn, who is now a famous actress at the studio. Bonkers tries to impress her by telling her that he's working on an important case involving Dirk Diamond, but she doesn't believe him because she thinks that he isn't serious enough about his job as a police officer. She also tells him that if he wants to impress her, he should be more like Dirk Diamond.

Bonkers and Lucky go to the set of Fawn's new movie where they meet Dirk Diamond in person for the first time. Bonkers tries his best to act cool around him so that he can impress Fawn, but this only makes things worse because it causes Lucky to think that Bonkers is working with Dirk on a crime.

Bonkers and Lucky go to Dirk's mansion where they find a secret room that contains all of the stolen items from Wackytoons Studios, including Fawn's Oscar statue for Best Actress in an Animated Film (which was awarded to her when she worked as an actress for cartoon shorts). Bonkers is shocked by this discovery because he thought that Dirk Diamond was innocent. He then realizes that Dirk is the thief who stole all of those items from Wackytoons Studios.

Bonkers and Lucky go to Fawn's house where they tell her that Dirk Diamond was responsible for stealing several props from Wackytoons Studios, including her Oscar statue. Bonkers tries to convince Fawn that he can be just as cool as Dirk by showing off his police badge, but she doesn't believe him because she thinks that he's just trying to impress her.

Bonkers and Lucky go back to Dirk Diamond's mansion where they find out that Dirk is actually a Toon who has been using his acting career as a cover for his crimes, which explains why Bonkers couldn't see through his disguise earlier. They also discover that the stolen items from Wackytoons Studios were being used by Dirk to build a giant robot that he plans on using to destroy the studio.

Bonkers and Lucky go back to Wackytoons Studios where they find out that Fawn is being held hostage by Dirk Diamond, who has now revealed his true identity as an evil Toon criminal named "The Collector". The Collector tells Bonkers and Lucky that if they want him to spare Fawn's life, they must give him their police badges. Bonkers and Lucky reluctantly agree to this because they don't want Fawn to get hurt.

The Collector then uses his giant robot to attack Wackytoons Studios while he escapes with the stolen items from the studio in a truck driven by one of his henchmen (voiced by Jim Cummings). Bonkers and Lucky chase after The Collector's truck in their police car, but they end up crashing into a billboard.

Bonkers and Lucky go back to Wackytoons Studios where they find out that Fawn has escaped from The Collector's clutches. They then decide to use the giant robot that was built by The Collector against him so that he can be stopped once and for all. Bonkers uses his cartoon acting skills to control the robot, and Lucky uses his police skills to help him.

Bonkers and Lucky use the giant robot to chase after The Collector's truck while Fawn follows them in her car. They eventually catch up with The Collector's truck where they find out that he has taken all of the stolen items from Wackytoons Studios back to Dirk Diamond's mansion so that he can add them to his collection.

Bonkers and Lucky use the giant robot to attack The Collector's mansion where they find out that he has been using his acting career as a cover for his crimes so that no one would suspect him of being an evil Toon criminal. They also discover that Dirk Diamond is actually just another disguise used by The Collector, which explains why Bonkers couldn't see through it earlier.

The Collector then uses his giant robot to attack Bonkers and Lucky, but they manage to defeat him by using the giant robot's laser beam against it. The Collector is then arrested for his crimes while Fawn tells Bonkers that she loves him because he was able to save her from The Collector.

Distributed
Walt Disney Pictures/Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc./Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (United States)/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (Home media).

Soundtrack
Bonkers: The Movie Soundtrack.

Animation/Similars To
Walt Disney Animation Japan, Ltd./DisneyToon Studios/Toei Company, Ltd./The Simpsons Movie (2007 film) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988 film).

Trailers
Bonkers D. Bobcat in Bonkers: The Movie Trailer.

Production/Development/Casting:
The movie was produced by Walt Disney Animation Japan, Ltd., and it was released in theaters on July 15th 1994 by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc. It is the first animated film to be based on a television series that aired as part of The Disney Afternoon programming block (the second being Aladdin: The Series - The Return of Jafar, which was released in theaters on May 20th 1994).

The movie's production began after the Bonkers television series ended its run on Disney Channel and syndication. It is also notable for being one of the few animated films to be based on a television show that aired as part of The Disney Afternoon programming block (the others are Aladdin: The Series - The Return of Jafar, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2 and TaleSpin: Plunder & Lightning).

The movie was directed by Robert Taylor (who also directed the Bonkers episodes "Fawn And Games", "A Star Is Scorned" and "Toons From The Crypt"), written by David Weiss (who also wrote the Bonkers episode "Toons From The Crypt"), and produced by Tad Stones (who also produced the Bonkers episodes "Fawn And Games", "A Star Is Scorned" and "Toons From The Crypt").

The movie's voice cast includes Jim Cummings as Bonkers D. Bobcat, Lucky Piquel, Dirk Diamond/The Collector, Jitters A. Dog and one of The Collector's henchmen, Kath Soucie as Fawn Deer and Charles Adler as Detective Lucky Piquel.

Release/Screening
The movie was released in theaters on July 15th 1994 by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc., where it grossed $1 million at the box office against a budget of $10 million (making it a box office bomb). It is the first animated film to be based on a television series that aired as part of The Disney Afternoon programming block (the second being Aladdin: The Series - The Return of Jafar, which was released in theaters on May 20th 1994).

Home media/Reception
Bonkers D. Bobcat in Bonkers: The Movie Home Video Trailer.

The movie was released on VHS and Laserdisc on November 15th 1994 by Walt Disney Home Video. It was later released on DVD for the first time as a bonus feature in the 2-Disc Platinum Edition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (which was released on February 7th 2006).

The movie received mixed reviews from critics, with an approval rating of 50% based on 10 reviews. The film's critical consensus reads, "Bonkers: The Movie is a fun and entertaining film that will appeal to fans of the Bonkers television series, but it's not as good as Who Framed Roger Rabbit?".

Box office/Accolades:
The movie grossed $1 million at the box office against a budget of $10 million (making it a box office bomb). It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to The Lion King.

Legacy
Bonkers D. Bobcat in Bonkers: The Movie Legacy Trailer.

The movie was followed by a sequel titled "Bonkers 2", which was released on July 15th 1995 (one year after the first film). It is notable for being one of the few animated films to be based on a television show that aired as part of The Disney Afternoon programming block (the others are Aladdin: The Series - The Return of Jafar, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2 and TaleSpin: Plunder & Lightning).

Categories/Trivia
Bonkers D. Bobcat in Bonkers: The Movie Categories Trailer.

The movie is rated PG for some mild action violence and brief language. It was released on VHS and Laserdisc on November 15th 1994 by Walt Disney Home Video. It was later released on DVD for the first time as a bonus feature in the 2-Disc Platinum Edition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (which was released on February 7th 2006).

The movie's voice cast includes Jim Cummings as Bonkers D. Bobcat, Lucky Piquel, Dirk Diamond/The Collector, Jitters A. Dog and one of The Collector's henchmen, Kath Soucie as Fawn Deer and Charles Adler as Detective Lucky Piquel.