Friday, November 23, 2012

Niko 2 - lentäjäveljekset / Niko 2 - Little Brother, Big Trouble

Niko 2 - flygarbröderna. FI/DE/DK/IE © 2012  Anima Vitae / Cinemaker Oy / Ulysses Films / Tidal Films / A. Film Production. P: Antti Haikala, Petteri Pasanen, Hannu Tuomainen. D: Kari Juusonen. Co-D: Jørgen Lerdam. SC: Marteinn Thorisson, Hannu Tuomainen. Character and location design: Mikko Pitkänen. Kuvakerronta [visual storytelling]: Luca Bruno, Peke Huuhtanen, Antti Ripatti. Hahmovastaavat [character supervision]: Mikko Pitkänen, Olli Rajala, Jussi Dittmer, Kustaa Vuori. Hahmomallinnus [character models]: Ralf Baumann. Furs and feathers: Jussi Dittmer, Kustaa Vuori. Matte paintings: Piñata. Character loop AN: Luca Bruno. Lighting & Compositing Supervisor: Kustaa Vuori. FX: Kustaa Vuori (supervisor), Aki Rissanen. Leading AN: Peter Bohl, Raoul Cacciamani, Kenneth Vandel. AN: John Coomey, Dave McEvoy, Antti Ripatti. Credits for character design, furs and feathers, lighting, compositing, matte paintings. PD: Mikko Pitkänen. AD: Kustaa Vuori, Florian Westermann. M: Stephen McKeon. Lyrics in Finnish: Annamari Metsävainio. Songs: "Kun kohdattiin" (Steve McGrath / Jørgen Lerdam and Moe Honan) perf. Kari Ketonen, Jukka Rasila, Pertti Koivula, Petri Manninen. "Happy Christmas!" (Stephen McKeon) perf. Aileen Mythen. "Kulkuset, kulkuset" ("Jingle Bells", James Lord Pierpont) perf. Kari Ketonen, Jukka Rasila, Pertti Koivula, Petri Manninen. S: Patrick Drummond. ED: Antti Haikala. Supervising technical directors: Olli Rajala, Jani Kuronen. Stereoscopic supervision & final camera: Jere Virta. Lab: Arri. Original casting and voice direction: Moe Honan. Finnish voice version produced by Werne. Finnish dialogue translations: Ari Parviainen. Finnish voice talent: Eric Carlsson (Niko), Juhana Vaittinen (Jonni), Mikko Kivinen (Julius), Vuokko Hovatta (Wilma), Juha Veijonen (Raavas), Elina Knihtilä (Oona), Riku Nieminen (Lenni), Mathilda Leppälahti (Saaga), Aarre Karén (Topias), Katariina Kaitue (Valkoinen Susi). 77 min. Released by Nordisk Film in 3D and 2D. Viewed in 2D in the Finnish language version without subtitles at Tennispalatsi 4, Helsinki, 23 Nov 2012.

A well made 3D digital animation which I unfortunately caught in 2D. 

Official synopsis: "The reindeer cub Niko has lived all its life with its mother Oona. One day as Niko returns from a weekend with its dad and the flying corps of Santa Claus Oona has news: she has met a reindeer called Lenni, and it is going to move in with its son Jonni. Niko has trouble adapting to its new role as a big brother. Matters are made worse by the cuteness of Jonni and the fact that it is really nice and adores its new big brother. But for Niko Jonni is like any annoying little brother. In the heat of the play Jonni gets kidnapped by the White Wolf. Niko and Julius embark on a secret rescue mission to the realm of the eagles, and Niko gets to face truths of growing up, family, and friendship". (My translation).

Memorable features in this animation: - Focus on the theme of the blended family: for the first time I pay attention to this theme emphasized in an animation. - Much of the comedy is provided by the chorus of the eagles. - Topias, the ageing, almost blind reindeer, gives a lesson to Niko that it is not good to be alone. - The harridan is a typical central female figure in contemporary Finnish cinema, and in this movie it's Katariina Kaitue's turn to play it as the voice of the White Wolf. - The voice acting mode is a bit too much of the old Särkkä school to my taste.

The visual quality: very bright and sharp and digital.

The cast in the end credits:

NIKO / ERIK CARLSON
JULIUS / MIKKO KIVINEN
WILMA / VUOKKO HOVATTA
TOPIAS / AARRE KARÉN
OONA / ELINA KNIHTILÄ
LENNI / RIKU NIEMINEN
JONNI / JUHANA VAITTINEN
RAAVAS / JUHA VEIJONEN
VALKOINEN SUSI / KATARIINA KAITUE
POMO / PERTTI KOIVULA
SPEDE / KARI KETONEN
EETU / JUKKA RASILA
TANE / PETRI MANNINEN
HIRVAS / PEIK STENBERG
ARMAS / KARI HIETALAHTI
ULJAS / RISTO KASKILAHTI
OINAS / MIKA ALA-PANULA
VIEKAS / JAAKKO SAARILUOMA
TERVAS / KARI HIETALAHTI
RAUTIAS / RISTO KASKILAHTI
SAAGA / MATHILDA LEPPÄLAHTI
KOTKA 1 / JAAKKO SAARILUOMA
KOTKA 2 / MIKA ALA-PANULA
NALLE / ELLA PYHÄLTÖ
TAUSTALAUMAT / KARI TAMMINEN, WERNE WALLA
JOULUPUKKI / VEIKKO HONKANEN

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