The Loch Ness Monster’s Tearful Song
THE BALLAD OF NESSIE (CINEMA)
Walt Disney
Release date: April 15th 2011
Certificate (UK): U
Running time: 5 minutes 17 seconds
Director: Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters
Cast: Billy Connolly
If you’re off to see Winnie The Pooh in cinemas, do make sure you get there on there on time because you wouldn’t want to miss this little short film, showing just before the main feature.
Directed by Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters, who also worked on the Goofy short film, How to Hook Up Your Home Theatre (2007), The Ballad of Nessie, is a new take on the Loch Ness Monster legend many of us are likely to be familiar with.
Set in the “bonny blue highlands” of Scotland, we meet the friendly and wide-eyed Nessie and her best friend, a rubber ducky called MacQuack. Both happy and content until one day they’re tossed out by a greedy land developer named MacFroogle, who wants to build a mini-golf empire on top of Nessie’s home.
Poor Nessie packs her bags and takes MacQuack with her as she searches high and low for a new place to call home. A place where she can enjoy the fresh air, bathe in the water and play with MacQuack, but being as large as she is, Nessie finds it hard to fit in and no one seems to want her around.
It’s reminiscent of the stories by Dr. Suess, yet it’s filled with so charm and fun, allowing it come into its own, even at the tear filled ending.
The Ballad of Nessie is also a wonderful return to the Disney hand-drawn style animation. No CGI, no 3D, just a colourful story, enthusiastically told by none other than Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. It would be great if Disney continues to make more like this; it’s not only easy on the eyes but it also warms the heart.
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