MirrorMask
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| Released | January 25, 2005 |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Director | Dave McKean |
| Written by | Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean |
| Original music by | Iain Ballamy |
| Studio | Samuel Goldwyn Films LLC |
| MPAA Rating | PG |
MirrorMask is a fantasy film produced by the Jim Henson Company, combining live actors, elaborate sculpted masks, and computer generated characters and settings.
Contents |
Synopsis
The film tells the story of a girl named Helena, a child of a circus family who wants to run away and join real life. After an argument with her mother, the latter falls ill. A compulsive artist, Helena retreats, through her drawings, into a parallel dream world where she must retrieve the MirrorMask to awaken the sleeping Queen of Light.
Background
Sony, which owns the video rights for Labyrinth, asked the Jim Henson Company if they could produce a sequel for them. Since Labyrinth is partly owned by LucasFilm, it was decided they would instead make a movie similar to Labyrinth, but with no direct narrative ties. Lisa Henson then contacted writer Neil Gaiman and asked him if he and his frequent collaborator, graphic novel artist Dave McKean, would be interested in making the movie. Gaiman and McKean agreed that they would write the movie and McKean would direct it.
In February of 2002, Gaiman and McKean stayed for several days in the Henson family house in London, where they wrote the first draft of the script. Inspiration was provided by a number of original Labyrinth puppets, concept art, and a three-hour working print of the movie, featuring the original puppeteers' voices.
Most of the movie was shot against blue screen. McKean and his team of computer animators then created the sets and many of the characters, inserting footage of the live actors into the scenes.
Cast
- Stephanie Leonidas as Helena Campbell/Anti-Helena
- Jason Barry as Valentine
- Rob Brydon as Morris Campbell/Prime Minister
- Gina McKee as Joanne Campbell/Queen of Light/Queen of Shadows
- Dora Bryan as Auntie Nan
- Stephen Fry as The Librarian (voice and mouth)
- Andy Hamilton as Small Hairy (voice)
- Simon Harvey as Sphinx (voice and face)
- Lenny Henry as Cops 1-4 (voice)
- Robert Llewellyn as Gryphon (voice and face)
- Eryl Maynard as Mrs. Bagwell
- Eve Pearce as Future Fruit Lady
- Nik Robinson as Pingo and Bing
- Victoria Williams as Nurse
Additional Credits
- Executive Producers: Lisa Henson, Michael Polis, Martin G. Baker
- CGI Supervisor: Max McMullin
- Digital Animation/Effects: Hourglass Studios
- Additional Rendering: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Release
MirrorMask premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2005 with both Lisa Henson and Neil Gaiman present at all screenings. It opened in limited release in theaters on September 30th, 2005.
