MirrorMask (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Dave McKean

Writers (WGA):

Neil Gaiman (story) &
Dave McKean (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

An extraordinary dream quest to rescue a world out of balance.

Plot:

In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Dream | Fantasy World | Queen | Grandmother

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Stephanie Leonidas	...	Helena / Anti-Helena
Jason Barry	...	Valentine
Rob Brydon	...	Morris Campbell / Prime Minister
Gina McKee	...	Joanne Campbell / Queen of Light / Queen of Shadows
Dora Bryan	...	Aunt Nan
Stephen Fry	...	Librarian
Andy Hamilton	...	Small Hairy
Simon Harvey	...	Sphinx
Lenny Henry	...	Cops 1-4
Robert Llewellyn	...	Gryphon
Eryl Maynard	...	Mrs. Bagwell
Eve Pearce	...	Future Fruit Lady
Nik Robson	...	Pingo / Bing (as Nik Robinson)
Victoria Williams	...	Nurse
Rick Allen	...	Man In a Box
Gina D'Angelo	...	Heir of Insanity Woman
Simon Schofield	...	Heir of Insanity Man
Silvia Fratelli	...	Mimbre
Lina Johansson	...	Mimbre
Emma Noris	...	Mimbre (as Emma Norin)
Peachi Pangea	...	Pyrotechnic Artist
Mark Tate	...	Stilt Walker
Richard Thompson	...	Tat - The Strongman / Gorilla
Robin Thompson	...	Magician
Iain Ballamy	...	Circus band - band leader and soprano sax
Chris Batchelor	...	Circus band - trumpet
Stian Carstensen	...	Circus band - button accordian
Martin France	...	Circus band - drum kit
Stuart Hall	...	Circus band - violin and banjo
Dave Powell	...	Circus band - sousaphone
Trifon Trifanov	...	Circus band - alto sax
Peter Borroughs	...	Red Troll
Rusty Goffe	...	Yellow Gnome
Kerry Jay	...	Music Box Dancer
Fiona Reynard	...	Receptionist
Nick Dainton	...	Politician / Monkeybirds
Nick Jackson	...	Male Giant / Mr. Shoe-Thing / Monkeybirds
Mark Perry	...	Politician / Monkeybirds
Kate Robbins	...	Female Giant / Mrs. Shoe-Thing / Chicken
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stuart St. Paul	...	Ticket Buyer (uncredited)

Directed by
Dave McKean

Writing credits (WGA)
Neil Gaiman		(story) &
Dave McKean		(story)
Neil Gaiman		(teleplay)

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	executive producer
Lisa Henson	....	executive producer
Simon Moorhead	....	producer
Michael Polis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Iain Ballamy

Cinematography by
Tony Shearn		(as Antony Shearn)

Film Editing by
Nicolas Gaster

Casting by
Louis Hammond

Production Design by
Dave McKean

Art Direction by
Zöe Trodden		(supervising art director)

Costume Design by
Robert Lever

Makeup Department
Michelle Davison-Bell	....	hair designer
Michelle Davison-Bell	....	makeup designer
Sam Smart	....	hair stylist
Sam Smart	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Tessa Beazley	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Janine Bevan	....	third assistant director
Oli Blanc	....	second assistant director
Jo Lea	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Guy Bernard	....	construction manager
Paul Frost	....	production buyer
Justin Hayzelden	....	stand-by props
Greg Mason	....	painter
Ashley Murray-Fowler	....	carpenter
Gwen Murray	....	art department trainee: FT2
Gary Nutkins	....	trainee carpenter
Stuart Walpole	....	stand-by props
Kate Wicks	....	production buyer
Jason Wood	....	property master
James Wright	....	carpenter

Sound Department
John Crossland	....	boom operator
Pete Freshney	....	boom operator
Dan Green	....	adr recordist
David Hunt	....	sound effects editor
Hugh Johnson	....	sound designer
Hugh Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melissa Lake	....	foley artist
Gareth Llewellyn	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Paul Miller	....	boom operator
Stefan Mørk	....	dialogue editor
James Perry	....	adr recordist
Ian Sands	....	production sound mixer
Larry Sider	....	supervising sound editor
Barnaby Smyth	....	foley supervisor (as Barnaby Smith)
Barnaby Smyth	....	sound designer (as Barnaby Smith)
Joakim Sundström	....	supervising sound editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
David Turner	....	sound technical coordinator

Special Effects by
Jamie Niman	....	character animator

Visual Effects by
Kevin Baguley	....	digital coordinator
Dave Barnard	....	post production technical supervisor
Pete Coogan	....	managing director: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jocelyn Deborne	....	systems administrator
Daniel Gerhardt	....	animator
Daniel Gerhardt	....	digital effects artist
Pawel Grochola	....	animator
Pawel Grochola	....	digital effects artist
Arjun Gupte	....	animator
Arjun Gupte	....	digital effects artist
Peter Guyan	....	systems engineer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Alexis Hall	....	lead animator
Alexis Hall	....	lead digital effects artist
Trevor Harvey	....	animator
Trevor Harvey	....	digital effects artist
Richard Hince	....	head of motion capture: Artem Digital
Sean Hince	....	motion capture supervisor
Eliot Hobdell	....	render wrangler
Katja Hollmann	....	digital lab supervisor: Lipsync Post
Christian Jelen	....	animator
Christian Jelen	....	digital effects artist
Jordan Kirk	....	animator
Jordan Kirk	....	digital effects artist
Ellie Koorlander	....	animator
Ellie Koorlander	....	digital effects artist
Sian Lawson	....	biomechanist
Paul Lee	....	animator
Paul Lee	....	digital effects artist
Katy Lemon	....	scanning and recording: Lip Sync Post
Dave McKean	....	compositor
Dave McKean	....	texture artist
Max McMullin	....	CGI producer
Max McMullin	....	CGI supervisor
Matt Middleton	....	digital effects artist
Matt Middleton	....	lead animator (as Matthew Middleton)
Matt Middleton	....	lead digital effects artist (as Matthew Middleton)
Jamie Niman	....	animator
Jamie Niman	....	digital effects artist
Mike J. Nixon	....	lead animator (as Michael Nixon)
Mike J. Nixon	....	lead digital effects artist (as Michael Nixon)
Evelina Persson	....	animator
Evelina Persson	....	digital effects artist
Mark J.G. Smith	....	render wrangler
Martin Stacey	....	animator
Martin Stacey	....	digital effects artist
Ross Stansfield	....	animator
Ross Stansfield	....	digital effects artist
Toby Taplin	....	lead animator
Toby Taplin	....	lead digital effects artist
Dave Walker	....	animator
Dave Walker	....	digital effects artist
Keith Mottram	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post production: Lip Sync Post (uncredited)

Stunts
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Bell	....	electrician
Steve Blythe	....	electrician
Steve Blythe	....	generator operator
Roy Elson	....	rigger
Avelino Fernandez	....	electrician (as Avalino Fernandez)
Kate Filby	....	second assistant camera: re-shoots
Mike Gianotti	....	electrician
Colin Ginger	....	crane operator
Michael Green	....	first assistant camera
Gwilym Hoosen-Owen	....	electrician (as Gwilyn Hoosen-Owen)
Vanessa Kellas	....	still photographer
Jody Knight	....	grip
Nathan Mann	....	first assistant camera
Jem Morton	....	key grip
Pete Murray	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Nutkins	....	second second assistant camera
Sigge Rosen Rawlings	....	video assistant operator (as Siggi Rosen-Rawlings)
Mark Spencer	....	still photographer
Bill Vanderkris	....	grip
Aaron Walters	....	best boy
Gavin Walters	....	gaffer
Colleen Webley	....	second assistant camera
Dave Wells	....	daily grip trainee
Tony Shearn	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Brown	....	costume assistant
Yvonne Duckett	....	costume assistant
Debbie O'Brien	....	costume assistant (as Debbie O'Brian)
Nathalie Pateman	....	costume assistant
Jane Spicer	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Ruth Coulson	....	first assistant editor
Keith Mottram	....	post-production conforming editor: HDTV

Music Department
Iain Ballamy	....	music arranger
Iain Ballamy	....	music mixer
Iain Ballamy	....	music producer
Igor Outkine	....	musician
Ashley Slater	....	music mixer
Ashley Slater	....	music producer
Ashley Slater	....	music programmer
Ashley Slater	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Mickey Atkins	....	driver: minibus
John Hogben	....	location driver
Bill Lilburn	....	location driver
Fred Russell	....	location driver
Micky Webb	....	location driver (as Mickey Webb)

Other crew
Tim Adnitt	....	copyist
Jane Ballamy	....	coordinator: circus performers
Brittan Brown	....	post-production accounting services
Valentina Coccia	....	production coordinator
Victor Gallucci	....	stand-in
Nicole Goldman	....	unit publicist
Louise Green	....	assistant accountant
Kathy Hughes	....	script supervisor
Kevin Kelly	....	assistant: Lisa Henson
Nikki Lucas	....	juggling double: Stephanie Leonidas
Anton Mackman	....	juggling double: Rob Brydon
Andy Matthews	....	stand-in
John O'Quigley	....	operator: filmstream s-2 storage
Bill Riddlaw	....	unit nurse
John Sargent	....	financial controller
Lara Sargent	....	first assistant accountant
Michael Scanlon	....	floor runner
Heather Taylor	....	script supervisor
Martin Vance	....	unit nurse
Martin Warnes	....	unit nurse
Mark Williams	....	copyist
Daniel Grant	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jim Henson Productions
• Destination Films
• Jim Henson Company, The
• Samuel Goldwyn Films

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
• Blitz (2008) (Croatia) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Jim Henson Pictures
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Artem Digital Ltd. (motion capture)
• Hourglass Productions (digital animation and effects)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (additional rendering)
• Lip Sync Post
• ReelEye Company (lens supplied by) (as Reel Eye Company)

Other Companies

• Artem Digital Ltd.  motion capture by
• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  cameras and lenses supplied by
• ARRI Media  grip equipment
• Big Box Studios  additional sound recording (as Big Box Studios, London)
• Digital Film Lab  film scanning and recording
• Lip Sync Post  film scanning and recording
• Mayflower Studios  sound re-recorded at (as The Mayflower Studios)
• Midnight Transfer  tape transfer
• On Sight  high definition equipment
• Sherman Laboratories  mask created and supplied by
• Soho Images  film laboratory
• Take 2 Film Services  grip equipment
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound post-production
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound re-recording (as Videosonics, London)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:PG | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Ireland:12A | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:(Banned) | Italy:T | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Germany:12 | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Black Island Studios, Alliance Road, Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Jim Henson Productions

Trivia:

When Helena reaches for the copy of "The Complete History of Everything" in the library, the book directly beside it is entitled "Muppets in Space," using the font from "Farscape" (1999). "Farscape" is another Jim Henson Company production set in space. This joke is often mistaken for Muppets from Space (1999), the 1999 film.

Quotes:

Valentine: Look. An Idiot.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'MirrorMask' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Close to You

Like Nothing You've Ever Seen

I'm another of those who saw this at Sundance, and all the things I enjoy about Gaiman and McKean's graphic novels were on display: the quiet humor, the intelligence, the delightful weirdness, the astounding visual vocabulary. Except that in this case, the words are spoken by good actors, and all those visuals get up off their feet and move.

It's hard to describe the impact of watching a McKean painting move and talk. There might be those who quibble about the movie looking too animated, but of course that's exactly the point: to create a world and make it dance. The end result, visually at least, is like nothing you've ever seen before, and absolutely worth seeing for that reason alone.

Some of the people I talked to after the screening also loved the visuals but felt the story was a bit dull, that they had seen it all before. Well, it's true that the story does wear its influences on its sleeve--a little "Alice in Wonderland" here, a little "Time Bandits" there, a lot of "Wizard of Oz" over here, not to mention a resemblance to Gaiman's own "Coraline." But I'm just as familiar with those stories as anyone else, and the resemblances never interrupted my enjoyment of "MirrorrMask"--after all, it's what you do with a story that determines its success. And from moment to moment, there was enough innovation and cleverness, enough delight and wonder, to make the movie a positive delight.

I can imagine kids sitting in the audience with their eyes agog; and I can imagine their parents sitting next to them, just as agog for a whole different set of reasons. "MirrorMask" may or may not be too wild to be a full-out commercial success; but I predict it's going to have a long, long shelf life. I know I'll be buying the DVD as soon as it's available, so that I can show it to people and say "Wait till you see this."