Shark Tale

By: Corona's Coming Attractions
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Genre:
Animated/Family.

Studio:
DreamWorks Pictures.

Production Company:
Unknown.

Project Phase:
Released.

Type of Animation:

Computer Generated Imagery.

Whose Voices Are In It:
Will Smith (Oscar); Angelina Jolie (Lola); Robert De Niro (Don Lino); Renee Zellwegger (Angie); Martin Scorsese (Sykes); Jack Black (Lenny); Michael Imperioli (Frankie); Peter Falk (Don Brizzi); Vincent Pastore (Willie); Kevin Pollack (Luka); Doug E. Doug (BernieErnie).

Who's Making It:
Eric "Bibo" Bergeron, Vicky Jenson (Directors); Michael Wilson, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift (Screenwriters).

Premise:
The sea underworld is shaken up when the son of the shark mob boss is found dead and a young fish named Oscar is found at the scene. Being a bottom feeder, Oscar takes advantage of the situation and makes himself look like he killed the finned mobster. Oscar soon comes to realize that his claim may have serious consequences.

Release Date:
October 1, 2004.

Comments:
Damian Shannon and Mark Swift were also responsible for the script for New Line's FREDDY VS. JASON.

Originally DreamWorks staked out a November 5, 2004 opening for the movie. In the spring of 2003 Disney/Pixar announced it had slated its next CGI film, THE INCREDIBLES, to open on the same date as SHARKSLAYER, putting the two family-oriented animated movies in head-to-head competition. In August 2003 DreamWorks announced it had pushed up its release to October 1, 2004 and will shortly be changing the title of the film.

Scoop Feedback:

June 5, 2003... It's no secret around Hollywood that there's a strong rivalry between the animation sections of Disney and DreamWorks. DW's president of animation, Jeffrey Katzenberg, used to be Michael Eisner's right-hand man at the Mouse House a decade ago before Katzenberg left to form his own movie studio. And once again, tensions between the two companies are heating up again.

DreamWorks CG underwater adventure, SHARKSLAYER, had been taargeting a November 5, 2004 release date and everyone working in the biz knew it. But with the release of Disney's trailer for THE INCREDIBLES, their new CG superhero flick, everyone's learned of Disney's intent to release their picture on the same day that SHARKSLAYER opens.

On a purely business level, Disney's decision to release INCREDIBLES on this day can be perceived as a slap to the face to DreamWorks. Both are expensive animated projects using computer generated imagery to produce their visuals, and both will undoubtedly have large merchandising and promotional deals with third party companies all seeking the eyes of the general public. What it all comes down to is which film will get bragging rights as the number one picture at the box office the first weekend of their release.

Either studio could blink and shuffle the intended release date for their movie, but that decision could be perceived by the public as a sign of weakness in the material. SHARKSLAYER has a impressive cast list of voice talent including Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie and Renée Zellweger, while the vocal talent for THE INCREDIBLES hasn't been released. Still, FINDING NEMO which starred the voices of Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres, not exactly A-list mega celebrities, debuted at number one at the box office this past weekend. Pixar and Disney don't seem to be worried. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter.]

August 18, 2003... DreamWorks blinked.

Even though the studio had publically announced plans to release its new CGI animated movie SHARKSLAYER on November 5, 2004, Walt Disney Pictures decided it wanted a showdown. After DreamWorks took out ads staking the 11/05/04 release date for its movie, Disney counterattacked by proclaiming its intention to release its new CGI toon THE INVINCIBLES on the same day. Suddenly that Friday in November had shaped up to be another battle in the DreamWorks/Disney cartoon rivalry war.

But things have changed. DreamWorks has decided to shift the release of SHARKSLAYER from November 5 to October 1, 2004, leaving plenty of breathing room between films. Surely Disney wouldn't dare changing the date of THE INCREDIBLES now, would they?

In other news, DreamWorks has also announced its intentions to find a new title for SHARKSLAYER. Studio execs now feel that the "slayer" portion of the title doesn't best represent the film's comedic angle and so a new moniker is being devised. The film's new title should be announced in a week or two. [Variety.]

June 10, 2004... Today's Variety reports that DreamWorks will be employing popular television morning show journalists to provide the voice for a fish reporter in SHARK TALE. The chaarcter is called Katie Current and, as you may have already surmised, will be voiced by TODAY co-host Katie Couric in the animated film. At least, Couric will be the owner of the voice heard for domestic audiences; down in Australia, the character voice will be supplied by morning personality Tracy Grimshaw.

DreamWorks' CGI SHARK TALE, which opens on September 30 in Australia and October 1 in North America, also stars the voices of Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Smith plays Oscar, a fish that, through a twist of fate, is believed to be the killer of the shark son of a mob boss. Taking credit for the deed and basking in the fame that goes with it, Oscar is soon put to the real task when the other finny mobsters come to even the score.

It's unknown if any other TV morning show celebs in different regions of the world will record tracks for the character. Is there a version of GOOD MORNING RUSSIA? [Variety.]

July 16, 2004... Moviefone has got your exclusive online look at the new trailer for SHARK TALE, DreamWorks' new animated film due out on October 1. Now's your chance to see what the fishy counterparts to Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger, Jack Black and Robert De Niro would look like under the C...GI.

Go grab it!

After Its Release:

October 3, 2004... If you build it using CGI, they will come. That seems to be what happened this weekend when DreamWorks' new computer animated film SHARK TALE debuted strong, taking in an estimated $49.1 million dollars in its first three days. The colorful aquatic imagery grabbed the youth and adult markets, propelling the film to the number one spot on the box office charts and giving it the best October opening ever (last year SCARY MOVIE 3 opened to $48.1 M.)

October 10, 2004... In its second weekend of release DreamWorks' SHARK TALE again emerged as the number one film at the box office, taking in an estimated $31.7 million dollars this weekend. The film dropped a remarkable 33% between its opening and second weekends, an amazing accomplishment considering that most films drop between 45-55% in their second week. It also helps that there is no competition for SHARK TALE at the movies right now, and the next new family oriented fare won't arrive until the first week of November.

Official Web Site:

www.sharkslayer.com