Who Framed Roger Rabbit

It’s 1947 Hollywood, and Eddie Valiant, a down-on-his-luck detective, is hired to find proof that Marvin Acme, gag factory mogul and owner of Toontown, is playing hanky-panky with femme fatale Jessica Rabbit, wife of Maroon Cartoon superstar Roger Rabbit. But when Acme is found murdered, all fingers point to Roger, and the sinister, power-hungry Judge Doom is on a mission to bring Roger to justice. Roger begs the Toon-hating Valiant to find the real evildoer, and the plot thickens as Eddie uncovers scandal after scandal, realizing that the very existence of Toontown is at stake. WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, with its cutting-edge blend of live action and animated characters, is deliciously outrageous fun.

Director Robert Zemeckis’s witty comedy-mystery is a dazzling mix of live-action and animation, incorporating beloved cartoon characters from Disney and other studios. Nominated at the Oscars for its art direction, cinematography, and sound, it won for its film editing, sound effects editing, and visual effects. Richard Williams also received a Special Achievement Award from the Academy for his animation direction.

WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT is a landmark movie to those in the animation industry. It came as a much-needed shot in the arm at a time when TV cartoons had reached a low point and feature-length animated films were bombing at the box office. Soon after the feature was released, The Simpsons and The Ren & Stimpy Show reinvigorated TV animation, while Disney saw such theatrical hits as THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989) and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991). WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT is invariably credited with starting the “animation boom” of the period. – Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

ONE SHOW ONLY! Sunday, July 19th @ 10:30AM in Avalon X