Any time the Olympics comes around, I think about Animalympics. It occurs to me that a lot of Dumm readers might be too young to know about this brilliant and largely forgotten animated feature from 1980. I don’t think it’s ever even been released on a Region 1 DVD.
I’m sure that, before 1980, plenty of people had secret yens for Bugs Bunny in drag, but I theorize that this movie was hugely important in the development of an entire subculture of people who are sexually attracted to cartoon animals. I feel pretty sure that, if not for Animalympics, we wouldn’t have furries as we know them. But that’s not why you should watch it. Watch it because:
The character designs, animation, and the gags are all top notch. It has a fantastic cast, including Harry Shearer, Billy Crystal, and Gilda Radner, and music from the guys in the classic yacht rock band 10cc. And the interstitial optical-effect titles will make you very nostalgic for the era (if you’re old like me), and they’re hilarious in their own right. Plus, you will cry at the end.
If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out on youtube. It looks like there’s a good quality version HERE, in 8 parts.
> I feel pretty sure that, if not for Animalympics, we wouldn’t have furries as we know them.
You’ve never seen the Disney “Robin Hood” then, have you.
I reckon you’re right, but I think Animalympics pushed it way, way further.
This goes to show that even a movie with great animation and a great voice cast can still be utterly boring.
Hey, I actually remember seeing this on the Disney Channel a long time ago. Yeah, i think this definitely helped push furries to where they are today.
Wow. I’d completely forgotten this even existed! I think I saw it on TV around the time of the 1988 Olympics.
i love this! no one knows about it! used to watch it all the time. thanks for the HQ link.
I sued to watch this OBSESSIVELY! I haven’t seen it in years but I can still vividly remember the warthog training sequence, the Whale in the swimming competition and the Pig vs. Ostrich fencing duel. Oh MAN this brings me back! Thanks for the link!
I blame a lot of the animated cartoons from the 80′s and 90′s for my furry yearnings (and I’m guessing the same for several people). And yes, I remember this movie. I certainly remember the scene of of the French goat awakening to his desire for Olympic gold as one of the most mesmerizing scenes in the movie.
ANIMALYMPICS was released on DVD in Germany, a few years ago — with both German and English-language dialogue tracks! It does require a Region-2 or Multi-Region-capable DVD player for viewing, though.
It’s still available for sale from Amazon Germany (german-language site only; but if you have an account with Amazon.com, it works there, too.)
http://www.amazon.de/Die-Dschungel-Olympiade-Steven-Lisberger/dp/B000VOEF2Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1343745747&sr=1-1
Brilliant animation, it looks like they had so much fun making it! Brad Bird did some animation too!