Blinky Bill the Movie

2015 Australian film

17 September 2015 (2015-09-17)

Running time

93 minutesCountriesAustralia
Ireland
IndiaLanguageEnglishBox office$4.3 million^[1]

Blinky Bill the Movie is a 2015 animated adventure comedy film based on the Blinky Bill character created by Dorothy Wall for a children's book series in 1933. The film was produced by Flying Bark Productions and partly distributed and co-produced by Assemblage Entertainment and Telegael.^[2]

Plot

In the town of Greenpatch, a courageous young koala named Blinky Bill tells a story about his father, Mr. Bill while embarking on a journey across the wild, and dangerous Australian outback in the hope of finding him.

Blinky's dad had created their home of Greenpatch, where every animal could feel safe and live in peace. Blinky has been influenced by the legend of his father, who is on an adventure to the Sea of White Dragons. When Mayor Cranklepot attempts to dominate Greenpatch and become the ruler, Blinky realises that he must go in search of his father. Throughout his adventure he befriends a girl koala named Nutsy, a lizard named Jacko, and a few other creatures who assist Blinky on his quest. He discovers that being a hero is complicated and requires teamwork.

Voice cast

Ryan Kwanten as Blinky Bill, a mischievous young koala
Rufus Sewell as Sir Claude, a villanious British shorthair who wants to get revenge against Mr. Bill.
Toni Collette as Beryl and Cheryl, two emus
David Wenham as Jacko, a frill-necked lizard
Deborah Mailman as Mrs. Bill, Blinky's mother
Richard Roxburgh as Mr. Bill, Blinky's father
Robin McLeavy as Nutsy, a koala raised in a zoo
Barry Otto as Mayor Wilberforce Cranklepot, a goanna who rules Greenpatch
Barry Humphries as Walter, an elderly wombat who is friends with Mr. Bill.
Tin Pang^[6] as Jorge, a featherless sulphur crested cockatoo
Cameron Ralph^[7] as Splodge, a kangaroo and Robert, a lyrebird
Charlotte Rose Hamlyn as Marcia, a marsupial mouse who is one of Blinky's best friends
Billy Birmingham as Tony and Richard, a pair of kookaburras who narrate a cricket game
Steve Cooper^[8] as Hans, a man who owns a roadhouse in the outback.
Tracy Lenon, Ben Wanders, Elif Acehan, and Gabrielle Joosten as the zookeepers.
Fin Edquist as postman Platypus
Stephanie Mountzouris as bilbies
Byron Schepen as crocodiles (uncredited)

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film received generally positive reviews, earning a 73% approval rating, based on reviews from 11 critics.^[9]

The book Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema interpreted the Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 43%, taking to imply that audiences and fans of the original book and the 1990s/2000s animated series had negative reactions to the film.^[10]

Accolades

Award	Category	Subject	Result
Asia Pacific Screen Awards	Best Animated Feature Film	Jim Ballantine & Barbara Stephen	Nominated
Kids' Choice Award	Favorite Voice in an Animated Film	Ryan Kwanten^[11] Robin McLeavy^[12] David Wenham Rufus Sewell Toni Collette Richard Roxburgh Deborah Mailman^[13] Barry Otto Barry Humphries^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]	Won
Screen Music Awards	Feature Film Score of the Year	Dale Cornelius^[18]^[19]	Nominated
Tumbleweeds Film Festival			Nominated

Television series

The film was followed by a 26-episode TV series, The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill that aired on Seven Network in 2016.^[20]

References

^ "The Blinky Bill Movie (2014)". Box Office Mojo. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
^ "Assemblage Delivers 'Blinky Bill the Movie'". Animation Magazine. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
^ Ryan Kwanten: I went on a road trip to find myself after playing Blinky Bill Ryan Kwanten roles the title character Blinky Bill after the voice of Kludd in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.
^ Blinky Bill: The Movie cast members Deborah Mailman voice of Blinky's mum Betty Bill in the movie.
^ Blinky Bill: The Movie cast members Barry Otto voice of Wilberforce Cranklepot nicknaming Cranky in the movie.
^ MAKING OF BLINKY BILL THE MOVIE: EDITING Tin Pang a Trailer Editor.
^ MAKING OF BLINKY BILL THE MOVIE: VOICE RECORDING Cam Ralph roles the voice of Robert the Lyrebird and Splodge the Kangaroo in the new Blinky Bill movie.
^ MAKING OF BLINKY BILL THE MOVIE: STORYBOARDING Steve Cooper senior storyboard artist making the new movie.
^ "Blinky Bill The Movie". Rotten Tomatoes. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ Aveyard, Karina; Moran, Albert; Vieth, Errol (26 December 2017). Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538111277. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ Blinky Bill The Movie - Bonus Clip: Ryan Kwanten on His First Memory of Blinky Bill (HD)
^ Blinky Bill The Movie - Bonus Clip: Robin McLeavy on Blinky Bill's Adventure (HD)
^ Blinky Bill - Deborah Mailman Interview Deborah Mailman interview about the new movie Blinky Bill.
^ Blinky Bill The Movie - Character Featurette Interviews with Ryan Kwanten, Robin McLeavy, David Wenham, Toni Collette, Barry Humphries
^ Blinky Bill The Movie: Favourite Aussie Food Interviews with Ryan Kwanten, Robin McLeavy, David Wenham, Toni Collette, Barry Humphries
^ Blinky Bill The Movie: Behind the Magic Interviews with Ryan Kwanten, Robin McLeavy, David Wenham, Toni Collette, Barry Humphries
^ Blinky Bill The Movie: Favourite Aussie Animals Interviews with Ryan Kwanten, Robin McLeavy, David Wenham, Toni Collette, Barry Humphries
^ Blinky Bill the Movie soundtrack by Dale Cornelius
^ The Making of Blinky Bill: Orchestra Recording
^ Milligan, Mercedes (17 July 2015). "'Blinky Bill' Reboot Set for 2016". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2015.