Tune Story

Tune Story is a 1992 American computer-animated comedy film produced by United Saints Animation Studios and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The first installment in the Tune Story franchise, it was the entirely computer-animated feature film. It was directed by Don Bluth and produced by Paul Gertz and Dan Rounds, from a screenplay written by Karey Kirkpatrick, Tab Murphy, Pam Brady and Don McEnery and a story by Randy Cartwright, Steve Rudnick, Caroline Thompson, and Chris Weitz. The film features music by James Newton Howard, and was executive-produced by Pete Townshend and Maureen Donley. The film features the voices of Roger Craig Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Richard Kind, Michael J. Fox, Billy Crystal, Jeff Bergman, Cindy Robinson, Brad Pitt, Justin Long, Laurie Metcalf, and Nancy Cartwright.

Taking place in a world where tunes come to life when humans are not present, the plot of Tune Story focuses on the relationship between an good-hearted blue hedgehog named Sonic and a Electric-type Pokémon, Detective Pikachu, as Sonic develops jealousy towards Pikachu when he becomes their owner Hogarth's favorite tune.

Tune Story was released in theaters in North America on June 19, 1992. It was the highest-grossing film during its opening weekend, eventually grossing over $528 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 1992. The film received critical acclaim and holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was praised for the technical innovation of the 3D animation, screenplay, Howard's score, appeal to young age groups, and vocal performances (particularly Smith and Reynolds); it is considered by many to be one of the best animated films ever made. The film received three Trophy Award nominations (Best Original Screenplay (the first animated film to be nominated for this award), Best Original Song for "You've Got a Friend in Me", and Best Original Score) as well as honoring a non-competitive Special Achievement Academy Award.

In 2004, Tune Story was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", one of seven films designated in its first year of eligibility. The success of Tune Story launched a multimedia franchise and a series of three sequels, starting with Tune Story 2 (1995). The film also had a theatrical 3D re-release in 2006 as a part of a double feature with the second film. A spin-off, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, was released in 2019.

Plot
One day, a group of living tunes are preparing to move into a new house with their owner Hogarth Hughes, his sister Hilda and their single mother. The tunes become uneasy when Hogarth has his birthday party a week early. Sonic the Hedgehog, Hogarth's favorite tune and their de facto leader, sends Sinbad and his pirates men to spy on the gift opening with a baby monitor. The other tunes (which include Tom Cat, Stuart Little, Mike Wazowski, Bugs Bunny, and Amy Rose) are relieved when Hogarth receives nothing that could replace them. Hogarth then receives a last-minute surprise gift – a Detective Pikachu who believes he is an actual Pokémon. Pikachu impresses the other tunes with his various features and becomes Hogarth's new favorite tune, making Sonic jealous.

Two days before the move, Hogarth's family plans for a dinner at Pizza City, where Hogarth is allowed to bring along only one tune; to ensure Hogarth chooses him and not Pikachu, Sonic tries using the radio-controlled car Lightning McQueen to knock Pikachu behind the desk, but accidentally knocks him out an open window instead. The other tunes (except for Amy and Stuart, although Mike has second thoughts) believe Sonic deliberately tried to kill Pikachu, but Hogarth arrives and takes Sonic before they can exact revenge. A furious Pikachu stows away in the car, and confronts Sonic when the car stops at a gas station on the way to Pizza City. The two fight, fall out of the car, and are left behind.

After a further argument, the two hitch a ride on a Pizza City delivery truck and sneak into the restaurant. Pikachu mistakenly believes a claw crane full of Minions to be a true Poké Ball, and Sonic climbs in after him. Hogarth's sadistic next-door neighbor Nelson Muntz spots and captures the two and takes them to his house, where they encounter his Bear Mor'du and his much-abused "mutant" characters made from parts of other characters he has destroyed.

As Sonic tries finding an escape route, Pikachu is shocked by a TV commercial that reveals he is indeed a Pokémon. He attempts to fly, but breaks his arm off and falls into despair. After Nelson's characters fix Pikachu, Nelson returns and tapes Pikachu to a rocket, but a thunderstorm forces him to delay the launch until the next morning. Overnight, Sonic helps Pikachu realize that his purpose is making Hogarth happy, restoring Pikachu's resolve. Nelson takes Pikachu out to launch him, but Sonic rallies the mutant characters to frighten Nelson into never harming tunes again, freeing Pikachu.

Sonic and Pikachu pursue Hogarth's moving truck, but Mor'du sees them and gives chase, biting Sonic. Pikachu fights off Mor'du, while Sonic, freed, climbs into the truck and pushes Lightning McQueen out, using him to distract Mor'du and rescue Pikachu. The other tunes, thinking Sonic is now trying to get rid of Lightning McQueen as well, toss Sonic back into the street. Having escaped Mor'du, Pikachu and Sonic pursue the truck on Lightning McQueen, and the other tunes spot them coming and realize their error. During the chase, Lightning McQueen's batteries run out, forcing Sonic to ignite the rocket still strapped to Pikachu. As they launch towards the truck, they become airborne, and Sonic drops Lightning McQueen into the truck. Pikachu opens his tail to sever the tape just before the rocket explodes; he and Sonic glide over the truck and fall through the sunroof of Hograth's car, landing safely beside Hogarth.

At Christmas, in the new house, Sinbad and his pirate spy on the gift opening again while the other tunes wait. Tom is delighted when Hilda gets a Kitty Katswell, and Sonic and Pikachu jokingly ponder what gift could be "worse" than Pikachu, only to nervously smile at each other when Hogarth gets a puppy.

Voice cast


See also: List of Tune Story characters


 * Roger Craig Smith as Sonic the Hedgehog, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with superhuman speed who is Hograth's favorite tune.
 * Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu, a world-class detective and exceptionally intelligent talking Pikachu, Andy's second favorite tune, and Sonic's rival, who later becomes his best friend.
 * Richard Kind as Tom Cat
 * Michael J. Fox as Stuart Little, a young anthropomorphic mouse.
 * Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski, a short, one-eyed scarer assistant.
 * Jeff Bergman as Bugs Bunny
 * Cindy Robinson as Amy Rose
 * Justin Long as Hogarth Hughes, the tunes' owner.
 * Nancy Cartwright as Nelson Muntz, Hogarth's next-door neighbor, who destroys tunes for fun.
 * Laurie Metcalf as Mrs. Hawkins, Hograth and Hilda's single mother.
 * Brad Pitt as Sinbad, an Arabian adventurous pirate and sailor.
 * Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson
 * Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, the mother of Maggie, Lisa and Bart.