I've just put together that one person is responsible for three of my absolute favorite animated movies of all time:
The Incredibles
The Iron Giant
The Family Dog (this was an animated short that appeared on Amazing Stories like 20 years ago, and my family has the entire episode memorized. Seriously. Every word.)
The man's name? Brad Bird. Super genius, apparently. If you haven't seen The Iron Giant, this is one worth owning, a fun and lovely story of boy-meets-giant-robot. Great family flick. And if you know much of my husband, you'll see the particular appeal a giant robot story has for us.
Now if we could somehow scheme to add rapunzel's revenge to his list of stellar productions...
Tee hee. Although he may insist on calling it "THE Rapunzel's Revenge."
The Iron Giant was good. I haven't seen it in a while but I think I remember that when I first saw it I cried. It was sweet. And the Incredibles is just so funny! Hooray for Mr. Bird!
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 27, 2007 at 03:24 PM
And don't forget Ratatouille, that one was so fun.
Ah, I wish he *would* do Rapunzel's Revenge...
Posted by: Erin | July 27, 2007 at 03:44 PM
Ohhhhh I liked The Iron Giant. And I just read a book by Ellen Dee Davidson (Stolen Voices), where the main character is a fifteen-year-old girl named Miri. It was science fiction and quite good.
Do you know when RR is coming out?
Posted by: Q | July 27, 2007 at 03:49 PM
fall '08! (I wish it were tomorrow)
Posted by: shannon hale | July 27, 2007 at 03:59 PM
I'm sure we all do! But I guess I'll have to settle for B1000 in the short term (September!)
Posted by: Q | July 27, 2007 at 04:51 PM
I cried so hard when I saw The Iron Giant in theaters (I think I was 4 or 5 at the time.) And The Incredibles is just incredible. Such a great family film.
Seriously? Fall '08? I was thinking more like Spring '08, but I suppose we can't have everything in life...
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | July 27, 2007 at 05:49 PM
Again, Calliope 1 of 9, we cried at the same thing (though we were smaller). I cried in Iron Giant, too. Incredibles is always fun to watch. But Peter Pan will always be amazing.
Poop about RR. I was hoping for tomorrow, I really was. Oh, well, the wait makes it all worthwhile.
Posted by: Burning | July 27, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Calliope-I definitely should have figured that one out. I'm a Greek mythology nut. I'm just slow. That's cool though. The Muses are one of my favortie things to read about.
Posted by: Burning | July 27, 2007 at 06:38 PM
Man. The first few pages of RR were so cool. I remember when I was just toodling around the bookstore waiting for my turn and then all of a sudden I noticed them. It was nifty. But it ended at just the wrong moment. Total cliffhanger! I have to wait a year? What?!?
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 27, 2007 at 07:13 PM
The Incredibles = Best movie ever!!!
It was really good-- I loved it. I think I've seen The Iron Giant, and enjoyed it. It wasn't one of the best movies ever, but I enjoyed it, nonetheless.
Fall '08?! Yay! That sounds so far off, but it's only about a year from now. And time flies... oh my goodness, I'll be almost done my high school career when RR comes out!!! :o)
Posted by: Mads | July 27, 2007 at 07:27 PM
I love the incredibles! and brad bird actually did the voice of Edna himsel in that movie. more genius there.
Posted by: hwalk | July 27, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Yes, I have The Incredibles and Iron Giant, and I enjoyed them :) Sorry to say that I (don't think I) watched The Family Dog. But it's nice to memorize movies with others, so you can laugh at each other when you recite ;)
Posted by: Bohae | July 27, 2007 at 10:07 PM
I have The Incredibles and I love it! Have never seen The Iron Giant or Family Dog. But it's scary how there are some movies you can recite word for word. I have some of those.:)
Posted by: Leanna | July 27, 2007 at 10:33 PM
The Incredibles is great until the five thousandth time you watch it. then not cool.
Are you having a B1000 party? Because if it were in January when I was already going to the Kings English in Utah that would really work out fantabulously...
Posted by: Faith #2 | July 27, 2007 at 10:47 PM
I have to see the Iron Giant. I don't remember seeing it at all. But since we're talking about movies ... anything by Hayao Miyazaki is incredibly beautiful.
Posted by: Anne | July 27, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Did Hayao Miyazaki do Spirited Away? I loved that movie. And what was the other one? Princess Mononoke or Castle in the Air (or something like that)? Maybe I'm confused.
Posted by: Burning | July 28, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Yes, Miyazaki did Spirited Away and the other two, I believe, though it's Castle in the Sky. He did a lot of those movies and he is amazing.
I love the Incredibles! And it's amazing how Brad did Edna's voice - when I first found out, after watching the movie the first time and watching the credits to see if Wallace Shawn had played the boss, we saw "Edna Mode - Brad Bird," and I looked at my sister and said, "What?!"
But it was pretty funny. I can't WAIT for RR, it couldn't come soon enough.... :(
Posted by: Gretta | July 28, 2007 at 11:06 AM
If I'm not mistaken, I would like to think that it was OUR family that introduced YOUR family to "the Family Dog". And you are right, it is still one of cleverest stories created of all time. I think you have to be a dog person to truly appreciate ALL the details in the short.
I love your work and love following your blog from so far away [Tampico, Mexico, remember?]
Best regards to you all, Carol Moss and Husband President
Posted by: Carol Moss | July 28, 2007 at 11:24 AM
"Duck and Cover."
Posted by: Alauna | July 28, 2007 at 11:55 AM
I've heard great things about Iron Giant, but haven't seen it - will have to check that out.
(Also, just saw another 'Becoming Jane' preview - I am SO excited about this! Want to plan a local group viewing? We could bring our Austenland books with us? :)
Posted by: kirsten | July 28, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Ooh Kirsten I would go if it was near me.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 28, 2007 at 01:29 PM
IRON GIANT is one of the few movies where the movie is better than the book. Generally it is the reverse, but both IRON GIANT and SHREK qualify.
Posted by: Dante | July 28, 2007 at 01:52 PM
Shannon,
I loved your "Princess Academy" and "Goose Girl". I'm really disappointed, though that you have sensuality and swearing in your new Austin book. I love clean reading and I was hoping to have you on the top of my list to suggest to people. As you continue to write, please keep your stories clean. They are so much more enjoyable that way. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Eleisha Clayton | July 28, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Eleisha, why can't you still recommend her? Just make it clear (as all of us have done) that Austenland is an ADULT novel. It's not a bad book, quite the contrary it's fantastic. It's just different than her others.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 28, 2007 at 03:58 PM
"When I snap my fingers, your dog will be transformed into a quivering ball of canine terror!" Ah ha ha ha! And I thought my family were the only ones with that memorized. For Christmas last year I gave my mom Amazing Stories Season One on DVD, which features not only the Family Dog, but also The Babysitter (in which the Haitian voodoo babysitter transforms two little brats into good children) and Santa Claus (in which Santa triggers the home security system and is arrested). Classic, classic television. Love that Brad Bird! "Duck and Cover" indeed!
Posted by: Jessica | July 28, 2007 at 03:59 PM
I just heard an interview with Brad Bird about Ratatouille! My Dad will be amazed that you like Brad Bird too. I've never watched The Family Dog, but my Dad owns it. Now I'll HAVE to watch it.
I love the Incredibles!
Posted by: Felicity | July 28, 2007 at 04:21 PM
Ha! I just watched "The Family Dog" it is pretty hilarious.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 28, 2007 at 04:31 PM
Iron Giant and the Incredibles are both, well, incredible. I'll have to look into this "Family Dog" business. Isn't Brad Bird the one who did the voice of Edna Mode? Based on that merit, I love him tons.
Posted by: Gretchen | July 28, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Eleisha- I quite agree with Enna Isilee. Austenland is an adult book, and lots of adult books contain sensuality and swearing. Besides, Shannon writes to please her inner reader, not outside demands...
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | July 28, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Hold on, Enna Isilee.
Where did you find the first pages of RR? Was it next to the register or was it at the back of a book or where was it? I WANT THEM!
Posted by: Q | July 28, 2007 at 06:37 PM
(apology for double post)
Eleisha-- I like clean reading too, but at the end of the day, Shannon is going to write what she wants to. I'm positive that though she did put swearing and some sensuality in Austenland, she did it for very good reasons.
I'm sorry, I sound like I'm attacking you. I don't mean to.
Posted by: Q | July 28, 2007 at 06:51 PM
Q-the pages of RR were at this little table that was near the place where Shannon was signing books I think. That was where I saw them at least.
Posted by: Leanna | July 28, 2007 at 07:40 PM
I believe they were only at the Austenland party.
And you're quite right Calliope.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 29, 2007 at 07:39 AM
Drat. That means I can't get them.
Posted by: Q | July 29, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Oh...I can't wait for B1000 OR RR. Just earlier today I finished reading a book by Eva Ibbotson called "A Countess Below Stairs." Has anyona read it or like that author? The book is great. It is romantic and the characters are so real. Wanting what you can't have, even if you are the reason why you can't, is so human.
Posted by: Ellenboro | July 29, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Standing in line to purchase “Harry Potter” last Friday night at Barnes and Nobles, I saw “Austenland” for the first time. Seeing Shannon Hale’s name on the cover, (loved “Goose Girl” and “Princess Academy”) I was intrigued. I’ve been a Jane Austen fan since English Lit. in high school (10 year reunion past). The physical chemistry in Austenland was appropriate and necessary for mature and experienced audience that it was indented for. Hence the reason I usually read and prefer young adult fiction. Young adult literature should be innocent and Shannon does an awesome job at that in her young adult books! Stay away from adult fiction until you are married or at a place in your life where you can appreciate human chemistry. You’re perspective changes with maturity and experience. Now that I’ve got Harry Potter done I am going back to get Austenland and finish that.
Posted by: sday | July 29, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Hello! I read 'Enna Burning' and 'Princess academy' quite some time ago and just have to say,.....they were fabulous. The adventure in them seemed so real and in my opinion would make great films, just because of the way they are set up, in terms of plot lines and locations and things. I could easily see those books turning into movies. I wonder if any of the big time producers are looking into that as we speak?......
Posted by: Katie | July 30, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Oh, I should watch Iron Giant. My family owns it and my mom says that it's a very sweet movie. Dang, I haven't yet been able to go to the theaters to see Brad Bird's latest work, the latest Pixar film! Hopefully soon.
Posted by: Callie the Strongbad Fan | July 30, 2007 at 07:12 PM
Katie- they'd be great movies, but Hollywood shouldn't do them. Just my preference. And you should read River Secrets, it's the best of them all.
Posted by: faith #2 | July 30, 2007 at 11:11 PM
That was a great post, sday! Adult fiction is called that because it is written (obviously) for adults. So yes, younger people can read it and even enjoy it but that doesn't mean we will get everything that happens and may not really identify with the characters. I know I didn't enjoy Austenland as much as I did Shannon's other books because the characters were experiencing things that I haven't. And if the more mature stuff in Austenland bothers you, don't read it! :)
Posted by: australiangirl | July 30, 2007 at 11:15 PM
I agree faith. I would probably die if any of Shannon's books (perhaps with the exception of AL and RR) were made into movies. And that's not the good kind of dying. Sometimes movies can inspire people to read the book, but [most] other times it doesn't work out like that. The people who actually love the book are dissapointed that they movie totally screwed up and people who haven't read the book just don't really care anyway. In fact, if TGG was made into a movie I bet people would think it was just based on the fairy tail, not the book. Gah. Take a look at Ella Enchanted. Or A series of Unfortunate events. Or Shrederman. Or Eragon.
Phht. Sorry. I'm a bit passionate on this subject. I'll stop now.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 31, 2007 at 10:32 AM
.....HAPPY 27 BIRTHDAY HARRY POTTER!!!
Posted by: Jayne | July 31, 2007 at 06:01 PM
Happy Birthday Harry!
Posted by: Leanna | July 31, 2007 at 08:35 PM
ELLENBORO-I love Eva Ibbotson. She also wrote "The Star of Kazhan" (kids book) and "A Song for Summer." A Song for Summer made me bawl like an injured child, but it was great. A Countess Below Stairs is still my favorite, though. She also wrote some others, I can't find them at Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, or Borders. But I will.
Posted by: Burning | August 02, 2007 at 09:31 AM
hi in would like to congratulate your stories! gud luck
Posted by: michelle | September 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
NO WAY!!!!!! YOu met stephenie Meyers?!?!?! Funny how my two favorite authors are in a picture together. I agree with you on Robert Patterson. I love him. your books would be amazing movies. YOu should think on that.
Posted by: Twight/Bayern crazy fan | December 04, 2008 at 01:39 PM