web counter
 

They're Apparently So Ugly, They're Cute

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (11)

home_group_summerpromo.jpg

A few years back, on a visit to Dublin, I spotted in a bookstore Ricky Gervais’ series of children’s books, called Flanimals. Illustrated by Rob Steen, it’s about 50 species of animals that are so ugly that they’re actually cute. I was pretty excited about finding the books; they weren’t available in the United States at the time. But I read them in the bookstore (they’re children’s books; they’re short) and came to the conclusion that, besides the illustrations, they were really pretty horrible books. I mean: Really not very good. Flat and uninteresting, which is probably why they weren’t published in the United States at the time (it was before the American version of “The Office.”)

Nevertheless, Illumination Entertainment will create a 3D animated movie based on the characters, which will be exec-produced by Gervais, who will also provide the voice of one of the Flanimals. According to Variety, Gervais’ character is a pudgy, perspiring purple creature, who goes on a mission to change the world. “It will be great to play a short, fat, sweaty loser for a change,” Gervais said. “A real stretch.” The script will be written by Matt Selman (“The Simpsons”).









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Oliver Stone Signs On for Wall Street 2 | The Informers Review →









Comments

So is this going to be aimed at adults?

Gervais is not what I would call children oriented.

/marketing will be a bitch

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 29, 2009 11:06 AM

The one on the far right is sitting in my 2nd block right now.

Posted by: superEdna at April 29, 2009 11:16 AM

Ok, the picture you have up looks like the drawings Lane Meyer/Hoops McCann did. If they make a movie based on THOSE, I'm in.

Posted by: dammitjanet at April 29, 2009 11:17 AM

I thought they were an off-shoot of the mucus family in the commercials.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 29, 2009 11:26 AM

No, that wasn't a good book. I think it was supposed to be funny.

Posted by: Jay at April 29, 2009 11:53 AM

I thought they were an off-shoot of the mucus family in the commercials.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 29, 2009 11:26 AM
---
Which reminds me, someone is selling these:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/6708/

You know there's a movie deal in the works. That Ebola, he's so cute!

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 29, 2009 11:56 AM

Bucdaddy:

What? Just the regular old flu is represented? I'll bet they're really sorry they didn't do a swine flu plush toy.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 29, 2009 12:14 PM

I'm sure they've pushed up the production schedule. A cute, cuddly swine flu virus would be just the thing to brighten everyone's day as Uncle Juan breathes his last ...

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 29, 2009 12:27 PM

Ok, the picture you have up looks like the drawings Lane Meyer/Hoops McCann did.

I love you for making me remember those. Also, I've always wanted there to be an animated movie about the evil bunnies. They were awesome.

Posted by: Sharon at April 29, 2009 12:41 PM

I had a look at the "additional images" and I'll give them this: the individual toys do actually resemble what those pathogens look like under a microcope. Ebola is a good shape for a filovirus, mad cow is close to a prion shape, etc.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 29, 2009 12:43 PM

Ooh! Thanks so much for that link, tcfkaBucdaddy! I got the Shigella one years ago, but had no idea that they had expanded their line so much...I think I need that toxic mold one.

Posted by: Phaeolus at April 29, 2009 5:27 PM