Make Way for Noddy: The Movie

Make Way for Noddy: The Movie is a 2006 British-American direct-to-video computer animated musical comedy film based on the children's television series Make Way for Noddy. The film was directed by Dave Unwin and written by Steve Cuden, with music composed by Robert J. Walsh and songs performed by Rachael Leigh Cook, Wayne Brady, Tom Kenny, Tara Strong, Kevin Michael Richardson and Cree Summer. It was produced by Chorion (who owned the rights to Enid Blyton's Noddy character at the time) and SD Entertainment in association with BBC Worldwide Americas Inc., distributed theatrically in some countries outside of North America through Icon Productions International Ltd., released directly to home video on 4 September 2006 in North America from Universal Studios Home Entertainment under their "Universal Animation Studios" banner (after being delayed due to technical issues),[1][2] 9 October 2006 in Australia & New Zealand from Universal Pictures Australia,[3] 23 October 2006 in Germany from Universum Film GmbH,[4] 6 November 2007 as a 2-disc special edition DVD set featuring both widescreen anamorphic 1:78:1 format or full screen 1:33:1 format presentations along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound audio tracks plus French/Spanish language dubs and subtitles from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in North America,[5] released on Blu-ray for the first time ever on 4 September 2012 also from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in North America[6] and finally reissued again as a single disc DVD release with only English language audio tracks (in both widescreen anamorphic 1:78:1 format or full screen 1:33:1 format presentations) plus French/Spanish language dubs but no subtitles included this time around once more exclusively available only within the United States & Canada regionally through Walmart stores nationwide starting 26 March 2013.

The film's plot follows Noddy, who is framed by Sly and Gobbo for a crime he did not commit. He must clear his name before Mr. Plod imprisons him forever. Along the way, he makes new friends including Bumpy Dog, Martha Monkey, Clockwork Mouse and Big Ears' niece Lola. Together they discover that Sly and Gobbo are behind everything bad that has happened to Toyland recently – even if it means getting into big trouble themselves!

Plot
Noddy is a wooden boy who lives in Toyland. He has many friends, including Bumpy Dog, Martha Monkey and Clockwork Mouse. One day, Noddy's friend Big Ears' niece Lola comes to visit him from the country. She tells him about her adventures with Sly and Gobbo – two mischievous goblins who live in the woods near her house.

That night, while Noddy is asleep, Sly and Gobbo sneak into his house and steal some of his things. The next morning when Noddys friends come over they see that his things are missing too! They all go to look for them in the forest but can't find anything except for one of Lolas shoes which she lost when she was running away from Sly & Gobbo earlier on during their encounter together as well prior before coming over to visit Noddy at his place instead afterwards right after finding out what had happened once they've discovered that he was framed by those two troublemaking goblin brothers of hers leading up towards them setting off on an adventure throughout all of Toyland searching high & low for any clues or evidence that might help prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it wasn't actually him (Noddy) responsible this time around but rather those no good thieving goblins known as Sly & Gobbo instead who are the real culprits behind everything that's been going on lately much to everyone's (Noddy and his friends) disbelief but also their dismay unfortunately.

During their search, they discover that all of the things that were stolen have been taken to a secret cave in the woods where Sly and Gobbo live. Noddy and his friends sneak into the cave to get them back but they are caught by Sly & Gobbo! They try to escape but end up getting lost in the maze-like caves. While trying to find their way out, they stumble upon a room full of treasure which belongs to Mr Plod – Toyland's policeman! They realize that it was actually Sly & Gobbo who had been stealing things from all over Toyland and framing Noddy for their crimes this whole time!

They finally make it out of the caves just in time before Mr Plod arrives with Lolas father Big Ears. He arrests Sly & Gobbo for being thieves while at last clearing Noddys good name once again proving beyond any reasonable doubt whatsoever that he wasn't responsible afterall leading up towards him no longer being accused or suspected anymore thankfully much to everyone's relief including his own most importantly as well fortunately too not forgetting about those poor innocent victims whom were affected by this whole ordeal in the process as well.

In the end, Noddy and his friends all celebrate their victory over Sly & Gobbo with a big party at Big Ears' house where Lola decides to stay for good now that she knows that Toyland is such a fun place to live in afterall along with everyone getting what they wanted most of all too especially those two troublemaking goblin brothers known as Sly & Gobbo who finally got exactly what was coming to them (getting arrested) much sooner than later thankfully leading up towards everything going back to normal around there once again just like it used too prior before any of this nonsense started happening unfortunately causing so much unnecessary drama, chaos & havoc throughout not only Toyland but also amongst its residents living there including Noddy and his friends which none of them deserved nor asked for neither resulting in things taking quite an unexpected turn for the worse unexpectedly unfortunately but fortunately though everything turned out alright eventually thank goodness.

Distributed:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie was distributed theatrically in some countries outside of North America through Icon Productions International Ltd. and released directly to home video on 4 September 2006 in North America from Universal Studios Home Entertainment under their "Universal Animation Studios" banner (after being delayed due to technical issues),[1][2] 9 October 2006 in Australia & New Zealand from Universal Pictures Australia,[3] 23 October 2006 in Germany from Universum Film GmbH,[4] 6 November 2007 as a 2-disc special edition DVD set featuring both widescreen anamorphic 1:78:1 format or full screen 1:33:1 format presentations along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound audio tracks plus French/Spanish language dubs and subtitles from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in North America,[5] released on Blu-ray for the first time ever on 4 September 2012 also from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in North America[6] and finally reissued again as a single disc DVD release with only English language audio tracks (in both widescreen anamorphic 1:78:1 format or full screen 1:33:1 format presentations) plus French/Spanish language dubs but no subtitles included this time around once more exclusively available only within the United States & Canada regionally through Walmart stores nationwide starting 26 March 2013.

Soundtrack:
The film's original score was composed by Robert J. Walsh and songs performed by Rachael Leigh Cook, Wayne Brady, Tom Kenny, Tara Strong, Kevin Michael Richardson and Cree Summer. The movie's soundtrack album was released on 5 September 2006 from Varèse Sarabande records in both CD & digital download formats.[10][11] In addition to the 23 tracks of score music (including an alternate version of "Noddy Theme"),[12] there are also 7 songs featured on the album as well:[13]

"A Place Like This" – Performed by Noddy (Tom Kenny)

"Bumpy Dog Rap" – Performed by Bumpy Dog (Wayne Brady), Sly & Gobbo (Don Brown & Doug Parker) with additional vocals provided by Martha Monkey (Kathleen Barr), Clockwork Mouse (Ian James Corlett), Mr. Wobblyman(Lee Tockar), Miss Pink Cat(Tara Strong), the Skittles (Teryl Rothery, Cree Summer & Chantal Strand) and Noddy's Car(Dee Bradley Baker)

"I Wanna Be Like You" – Performed by Lola (Rachael Leigh Cook), Martha Monkey, Bumpy Dog, Clockwork Mouse & Mr. Wobblyman with additional vocals provided by Sly & Gobbo

"Naughty Boys Rap" – Performed by Noddy with additional vocals provided by Big Ears (Michael Dobson/Richard Newman), Miss Pink Cat, Master Tubby Bear(Manny Petruzzelli/Justin Fletcher) and Tessie Bear(Britt McKillip/Joanne Ruiz)

"(There's No Place Like) Toyland!" – Reprise; performed by all of the characters featured in the film during the end credits sequence.[14]

"Toyland Parade" – Performed by the Skittles, Martha Monkey & Mr. Wobblyman during the film's opening credits sequence.[15]

Animation:
The movie was animated at SD Entertainment in Los Angeles, California and Mainframe Entertainment in Vancouver, British Columbia with character designs provided by Patrick Schoenmaker (who also served as art director on this project).[16][17][18] According to an interview that took place between Doug Parker (the voice of Sly) and Paul Rugg(the voice of Gobbo),[19] they stated that all of their dialogue recordings for Make Way for Noddy: The Movie were done separately from one another due to scheduling conflicts which prevented them from being able to record together as a team like they had done previously while working on other projects such as Animaniacs or Freakazoid!. In addition, both actors revealed that some changes were made to their characters' appearances compared to how they looked originally when the show first started airing back in 2002. For example; Sly now wears glasses whereas he didn't wear any type of eyewear before and Gobbo has lost his buck teeth completely since we last saw him.[20][21]

Trailers:
A trailer for Make Way for Noddy: The Movie was released on 4 August 2006 exclusively through the official Universal Studios Home Entertainment website.[22]

Production:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie began production sometime in early 2005 and wrapped up by late that same year. According to an interview with Doug Parker (the voice of Sly), he stated that recording sessions for this movie took place at SD Entertainment's studios located in Los Angeles, California while post-production work such as editing & sound mixing were done back at Mainframe Entertainment's facilities based out in Vancouver, British Columbia instead due to budget cuts which prevented them from being able to fly everyone out to LA like they had originally planned on doing.[23][24] In addition, both actors revealed during said interview that some changes were made not only to their characters' appearances but also with regards towards how Sly & Gobbo are portrayed compared to how they looked/behaved originally when the show first started airing back in 2002. For example; Sly now wears glasses whereas he didn't wear any type of eyewear before and Gobbo has lost his buck teeth completely since we last saw him plus neither one of them ever refer themselves as "The Naughty Boys" anymore either throughout the entire course of this film unlike what they used do all the time back on the show.[25][26]

Development:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie was first announced by Chorion (who owned the rights to Enid Blyton's Noddy character at the time) back in early 2005 with plans of releasing it direct-to-video sometime later that same year. According to an interview with Doug Parker(the voice of Sly), he stated that recording sessions for this movie took place at SD Entertainment's studios located in Los Angeles, California while post-production work such as editing & sound mixing were done back at Mainframe Entertainment's facilities based out in Vancouver, British Columbia instead due to budget cuts which prevented them from being able to fly everyone out there like they had originally planned on doing.[27][28] In addition, both actors revealed during said interview that some changes were made not only towards how their characters look but also when it comes down towards how Sly & Gobbo are portrayed compared to how they looked/behaved originally when the show first started airing all those years ago. For example; Sly now wears glasses whereas he didn't wear any type of eyewear before and Gobbo has lost his buck teeth completely since we last saw him plus neither one ever refers themselves as "The Naughty Boys" anymore either throughout the entire course of this film unlike what they used do all time back on the show.

Casting
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie features an all-new voice cast which consists of Tom Kenny as Noddy, Wayne Brady as Bumpy Dog, Kathleen Barr as Martha Monkey, Ian James Corlett as Clockwork Mouse & Mr. Jumbo (who also served double duty by providing additional voices), Lee Tockaras Mr. Wobblyman(who also provided additional voices) and Miss Pink Cat's butler Henri LeClair (in his only appearance within the franchise to date), Don Brown & Doug Parker both reprising their roles from previous incarnations of Sly & Gobbo respectively with Richard Newman returning once again to provide Big Ears' singing voice while Pavel Douglas takes over Michael Dobson's role in voicing him during regular dialogue sequences along with Britt McKillip taking over Joanne Ruiz's role in voicing Tessie Bear and Manny Petruzzelli replacing Justin Fletcher in voicing Master Tubby Bear plus Cree Summer makes a cameo appearance at one point near the end credits sequence where she can be heard screaming loudly when Toyland is being attacked by aliens although her character isn't actually seen or mentioned anywhere by name.

Screening:
The film was screened in some countries prior to its direct-to-video release.

Home media:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on 9 October 2006, followed by a North American release on 4 September 2012.

Reception:
Critical reception for Make Way for Noddy: The Movie was mostly negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 20% rating, based on 5 reviews; the average rating is 3.67/10.

Box office:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie grossed $74 million in box office revenue worldwide.[1]

Accolades:
Make Way for Noddy: The Movie won the 2006 Annie Award for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production.

Legacy:
A sequel to Make Way for Noddy: The Movie, titled Race For Adventure, was released on DVD in 2007.

Categories:
2006 films

2000s animated films

British children's comedy films

American children's comedy films

English-language films  Animated musical comedy Films   Computer-animated direct-to-video fils

British computer-animated films   American computer-animated films    2006 direct-to-video fils     2000s musical comedy Films      Noddy (TV series)  Enid Blyton's Noddy character    Films directed by Dave Unwin

Films scored by Robert J. Walsh

Animated films about bears    Animated films about dogs   Animated films about monkeys

Animated fils set in the United Kingdom

Animated films set in the United States

Films with screenplays by Steve Cuden