Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic (film)

Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic is a 2023 2D-animated fantasy adventure comedy film based on the book of the same name by Thom Pico and Karensac, and also serving as a sequel to the 2021 film Aster and the Accidental Magic, which in turn, is also based on the book of the same name. The film was directed by Paul King, who also directed the first film, and with a screenplay written by Jared Stern, Josh Appelbaum, and André Nemec.

Development of the film began shortly after post-production of the first film had finished. Jared Stern, Josh Applebaum, and most other makers remained to produce the film. Like the first film, it also contains entirely new scenes that are not shown in the book itself, most notably the puppet and claymation sequences.

Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic premiered in January 17, 2023 in New York City and was released theatrically in theatres across the United States on January 27 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It also received positive reviews from critics like the first film, with many saying it was an improvement over its predecessor. It grossed $202 million worldwide on a $48 million budget, grossing less than its predecessor. Although rumored and widely discussed by the filmmakers, a third film is not in development.

Synopsis
"Moving to the middle of nowhere has made Aster's life turned upside-down, but effectively admitting that she had fun adventures ever since. So she can finally have a rest now, right? Oh no, we're not done yet."

-Warner Bros. Pictures

Plot
TBA.

Cast

 * Haley Tju as Aster, the titular main protagonist
 * Charlyne Yi as Buzz, Aster's dog
 * Frank Welker as the vocal effects of Buzz
 * Jordan Peele as Fox, a small fox that was given to Aster as a reward; previously the King of Autumn
 * Ricky Gervais as Dumbacarda, a "ram"
 * Meryl Streep as Granny, a shepherdness
 * Alan Tudyk as The Trickster Rapscallion
 * Vince Vaughn as Hull, the first chestnut knight; mute most of the time
 * Rachel House as Leaf, the second chestnut knight
 * Marion Cotillard as Burr, the third chestnut knight
 * Kristen Schaal as Aestas, the former Queen of Summer
 * Ellie Kemper as Rose, Aster's mother
 * Ed Helms as Lewis, Aster's father
 * JB Blanc as Francis, a monster in a different reality
 * Olivia Colman as Linda, a monster in the same reality as Francis
 * Pierce Brosnan as Mike, the Great Sylvan of the Sylvan people
 * Jack Dylan Grazer as Reed, Aster's brother
 * Kate Micucci as the King of Winter, a mountain
 * Charlie Day as Fiona, Aster's friend
 * Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Marvin, Aster's second friend
 * Ariel Winter as Capucine, a girl that Aster meets in class
 * Ashly Burch as Agni
 * Lupita Nyong'o as Maya, a purple puppet
 * Alex Hirsch as Wayne
 * Lashana Lynch
 * Daniel Kaluuya
 * Debra Wilson
 * Rita Moreno
 * Sheila Atim
 * Keith David
 * David Mazouz
 * Becky Sloan

Additionally, James Corden makes a cameo as the unnamed sheep character. Olivier Richters and Dan Fogler were also confirmed to make a cameo appearance.

Development
In December 2020, it was announced by Collider.com that New Line Cinema and New Eden Pictures were developing a sequel film based on Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic, and that it would be written by new writers such as Jared Stern. On March 14, 2021, Haley Tju revealed on her Instagram that she was in talks to reprise her role as Aster in the sequel, but hadn't decided yet.

Production began under the working title A2ter, with a scheduled release date of February 17, 2023. Walden Media, who co-financed the first film, also co-financed the film. The film was later re-titled back to Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic.

Casting
Haley Tju revealed that she would reprise her role as Aster, along with others such as Charlyne Yi, Vince Vaughn, Rachel House, and Marion Cotillard. For January 9, 2022, Lupita Nyong'o was cast in an undisclosed role for the film. Lashana Lynch, Debra Wilson (who additionally voiced in the first film) and Sheila Atim was cast. Rita Moreno joined the cast later.

On February 24, 2022, Jack Dylan Grazer expressed interest to reprise his role as Reed, Aster's brother. Ricky Gervais was also cast in an undisclosed role. James Corden was cast as the voice of an unnamed sheep character, as described his character as based on the book series version of the anthro sheep characters. Kristen Schaal, Keith David, Daniel Kaluuya, David Mazouz and Timothy Dalton were cast by March 9, 2022. Timothy Dalton left due to scheduling conflicts, being replaced by Pierce Brosnan the next week. In April 10, 2022, Olivier Richters and Dan Fogler was attributed to cameo in this film.

Animation
Rough Draft Studios, who animated the first film, also animated the second, along with Rough Draft Korea and Mercury Filmworks. British-based company Blink Industries, known for their work on Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, animated the puppet and claymation sequences that are shown exclusively in the film. Ironically, the sequences in the film are similar to those on the latter show.

Music
Carter Burwell returned to compose the film's score. English singer James Arthur and American score composer Mark Snow attributed to create an original song called "High for the Enough" was released on December 9, 2022 and reached number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Justin Timberlake, Camila Cabello, and Kid Cudi also performed a clean, 6-minute song called "Somebody Else", a cover of The 1975's song of the same name, which released on December 13, 2022 and reached number 45 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and was the longest song ever made for an animated film. Other songs featured in the film include: "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit, and "m'lover" by Kishi Bashi. The film's score album featuring High for the Enough and Somebody Else was released on January 27, 2023 by WaterTower Music.

Marketing & release
Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic was originally scheduled to release on February 17, 2023, before being pulled up to January 27, 2023.

On November 25, 2022, Warner Bros. Television Studios released a 22-minute Christmas special by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation titled Aster: The Holiday Magic on Cartoon Network to promote the film.

Home media
The film was released on digital by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 14, and then on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on April 4. It was also released in a 2-film collection also containing the first film on the same day. All formats include behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, deleted scenes, the making of the puppet and claymation sequences, and a short film titled The Talent Show, while the Blu-Ray and 4K UHD formats also contain Aster: The Holiday Magic.

Box office
Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic released alongside Harold and the Purple Crayon and Distant. It grossed $54 million in the United States and Canada, and $148 million overseas, making it a box-office success.

Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of 184 critics were positive, with an average rating of 6.95/10. The critical consensus reads, "Much more physical comedy and action, Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic serves quite an impressive comeback than the first." Metacritic assigned an average score of 66 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled on CinemaScore gave the film an "A-" on an "A+ to F" scale, an improvement over the "B+" score its predecessor got, while PostTrak gave the film a 4 out of 5, with 70% giving it a "definite recommend".

Future
Shortly after the release of Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic in February 2023, film producer Gabe Frost discussed with Rolling Stone about a third film, saying: “A third film is not in development right now. But we’re not saying that it might not be possible, it’s just that we may need to wait for the third book to come out sometime soon. Either that or we can just write an original story, but it may not be well done.”

In early-February 2023, it was announced that Frost and King were interested in a short spin-off series focusing on the Chestnut Knights, saying: "There's more to the characters' stories than just Aster. We need to go for something smaller, like the Chestnut Knights."

Logo Variants
Aster and the Mixed-Up Magic’s opening logos are the same as Aster and the Accidental Magic, with the Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Walden Media logos, except that the background is red instead of blue, and that the “a WarnerMedia company” byline is replaced with “A WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY COMPANY”. Unlike its predecessor, the film now features the New Eden Pictures logo. And when the logos finish playing, it fades out and then fades into Dumbacarda’s base.