Before he went animation overload with The Polar Express, Beowulf, and Disney’s A Christmas Carol, there was a time when director Robert Zemeckis was content to just blend traditional animation with live-action. On June 24, 1988, Disney, under its Touchstone Pictures label, released Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, a comedy noir set in a world in which cartoon characters interact directly with human beings. Bob Hoskins stars as a toon-hating private detective who investigates a murder involving the famous cartoon character Roger Rabbit (voice of Charles Fleischer). Christopher Lloyd co-stars as Judge Doom, while Kathleen Turner provides the voice of Roger’s cartoon wife, Jessica.
With the help of executive producer Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment, who provided additional financing, the film would go on to be both a financial and critical success and win three Academy Awards. And in its own indirect way would help fuel what would be Disney’s Renaissance with films like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
Regrettably, when Disney released its 2012 slate of catalog titles noticeably absent from that list was Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Well, it looks like that mistake will be corrected in 2013 with the release of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 25th Anniversary Edition. Now if that bit of news doesn’t make you want to grab a slice of carrot cake and sing “The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down,” well I got nothing else for you. Except maybe this promo trailer. Enjoy.
