Geek Dave's not bad, he's just drawn that way...
2. Gary K. Wolf, the author of the 1981 novel "Who Censored Roger Rabbit?", from which the film was adapted, revealed that Roger was originally supposed to be a sidekick to comic strip character Dick Tracy. The idea was eventually scrapped in the novel and was not included in the film either.
3. The voice of Roger Rabbit was performed by actor Charles Fleischer, who took his role very seriously. He insisted on wearing a full rabbit costume, including gloves, suspenders, and a bowtie, to get into character while recording his lines. His dedication proved fruitful, as his distinctive, zany voice has become iconic in the realm of animation.
4. A testament to the film's innovation and creativity is its blending of live-action and animation. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was the first film to have cartoons and live actors interact seamlessly, a significant feat given it was made well before digital technology became commonplace in movie production. Technicians used robotic arms to create the illusion that the animated characters were manipulating real-world objects.
5. Bob Hoskins, the actor who played Eddie Valiant, had to develop a new acting style for his role, given that he was largely acting opposite characters who were not actually there during filming. After the film, Hoskins said he started hallucinating cartoon characters, a testament to his immersion in this groundbreaking project.
6. Despite the film's PG rating, there are some rather dark and violent scenes. This was a conscious decision made by director Robert Zemeckis and the other filmmakers, who wanted to bring a level of grittiness and realism to the narrative. It was an effort to break away from the traditional perception of animated films as merely children's entertainment.
7. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was also the first and, to date, the only film that features characters from both Disney and Warner Bros. This rare crossover saw icons like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny sharing screen time, something that was made possible due to the close relationship between Spielberg and the studios.
8. It is less known that the film also featured characters from several other studios, including Betty Boop from Fleischer Studios, and Woody Woodpecker from Walter Lantz Productions. This diversity of characters added a unique intertextuality to the film, celebrating the golden age of animation.
9. Although Jessica Rabbit is one of the most famous characters from the film, her sultry voice was not prov.ided by her body actor, Kathleen Turner. Instead, it was performed by Amy Irving, who was Spielberg's wife at the time.
10. Finally, despite its humor and cartoony aesthetics, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was one of the most expensive films ever made at the time. With a budget of around $70 million, it was a significant risk for the production companies. Fortunately, their investment paid off. The film grossed over $329 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 1988. Moreover, it won four Academy Awards and continues to be praised for its groundbreaking integration of live-action and animation.
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