We were introduced to this animated version of Little Red Riding Hood many years ago, and it's remained a firm family favourite ever since. Rather than the traditional telling, this fairytale parody takes the form of a whodunnit as the police try and get to the bottom of the events in granny's cottage. Along the way we meet Nicky Flippers, a (frog) police inspector, a journalistic wolf, a hyperactive squirrel who really needs never to be let near coffee, a singing goat, and a bouncy bunny, amongst other fun characters.
Starting their investigation from the moment at which the woodcutter, Red, Granny and the Wolf are all in the cottage, and trying to find out how they got there and why, the police question different people in turn, getting their version of events.
At the same time, we learn that there has been a spate of recipe thefts, forcing all the goody shops in the forest to shut down. The Wolf is investigating these and trying to discover the identity of the Goody Bandit; Red is trying to protect Granny's recipes; the Woodcutter is a schnitzel-stick seller with a dream... and somehow they all come together.
Although the film was made on a low budget, there's a great cast of voices - Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton in the three main roles. I'm terrible at recognising people but even I know these names!
The film is great fun, and takes various twists and turns along the way. It's beautifully done, with a fantastic sense of humour, and never takes itself or the genre too seriously. There are nods to standard animation tropes - a flock of birds carrying Red's cape at one point, exaggeratedly burly baddies - and of course some great songs (what family-friendly animation would be complete without an earworm or two?!), but so much originality. I strongly recommend it for anyone who wants a light-hearted police procedural, a children's film, or just something fun!
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