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Ice Age: Scrat Tales

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Ice Age: Scrat Tales
Based onCharacters
by Michael J. Wilson
Directed byDonnie Long
Voices of
Theme music composerJohn Powell[2]
ComposerBatu Sener[2]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Robert L. Baird[1]
  • Andrew Millstein[1]
ProducerAnthony Nisi[1]
Editors
  • Harry Hitner
  • Tim Nordquist
  • James Palumbo
Running time4 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)

Ice Age: Scrat Tales is an American animated series of shorts produced by Blue Sky Studios, which premiered on Disney+ on April 13, 2022. It is a spin-off of the Ice Age franchise and the first series of shorts in the franchise. It is also the final production from Blue Sky Studios to be released by 20th Century Studios following the studio's closure on April 10, 2021. The series focuses on Scrat, a saber-toothed squirrel who discovers that he has a son. It received generally positive reviews from critics with praise for its animation, humor, music, and light-hearted tone, with critics and audiences alike also considering it as a good sendoff to the studio.

Cast

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Main article: List of Ice Age characters

Production

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Development

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On February 22, 2022, which would have been Blue Sky Studios's 35th anniversary, the series was officially announced, with a release date of April 13, 2022. A teaser poster, the cast and crew, and promotional stills were also revealed and provided in press reports.[3][4][5]

Animation

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Unlike most Blue Sky Studios projects which use the studio's in-house software CGI Studio, the series was produced using Pixar RenderMan, becoming the first and only confirmed Blue Sky Studios production to utilize the software, as CGI Studio was being phased out in favor of RenderMan. In an interview, Michael Knapp added that as a result, they had to remodel Scrat by re-furring, re-materializing and re-rigging the character.[6] Production was also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing animators to work remotely.[6] Knapp also went on to state that they were aware of The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild being produced without the involvement of the studio around the same time production on the series occurred.[6]

Music

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Batu Sener composed the musical score, with John Powell composing the end titles; Sener was also a composer on the Ice Age film The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022), while Powell composed the Ice Age films The Meltdown (2006), Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), and Continental Drift (2012). The soundtrack was released on March 25, 2022, by Hollywood Records.[2]

Release

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The series was released as a Disney+ original series on April 13, 2022.[7][8][9][10][11]

"The End"

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On April 13, the same release date that had been announced for the series, an unlisted video, simply titled The End, was uploaded by a former Blue Sky Studios employee onto YouTube, whose account went under the name Finale. The short, which was separate from the series, ended the infamous running gag by featuring Scrat finally achieving his dream of eating an acorn with no catches, and then scurrying off screen, presumably to find adventure elsewhere. The short was allegedly the final piece of animation made by Blue Sky Studios before their closure in 2021, made by a small team of animators to serve as "a send off on their own terms." The scene quickly went viral on the Internet which led to widespread coverage from major news sites, as they had reported that it finally left closure to Scrat's 20-year on-screen battle, in which he ultimately accomplished his goal.[12][13][14][15][16][17]

Episodes

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Every short is directed by Donnie Long, but co-directors are credited alongside him.

No.TitleCo-directed byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Nuts About You"Michael BerardiniMichael BerardiniApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
While searching for the acorn, Scrat comes across Baby Scrat, and decides to raise him on his own, but things quickly begin to go downhill when Baby Scrat sees the acorn for the first time.
2"LoFi Scrat Beats to Sleep/Chill to"Matt MunnDonnie LongApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
Scrat tries to retrieve his acorn from a sleeping Baby Scrat, but is forced to do double work in trying to take back the acorn and put Baby Scrat back to sleep, as his loud tantrum will start an avalanche that will crush them both, even if that means having to use whatever Baby Scrat throws at him.
3"X’s and Uh-O’s"Drew WineyJames Young Jackson & Drew WineyApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
Scrat tries to teach Baby Scrat how to plant the acorn, which is actually a trap meant to capture him, but things go awry when the plan ends up backfiring.
4"Nutty Reflections"Eric PrahGalen Tan ChuApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
During their battle over the acorn, Scrat and Baby Scrat both discover a surprising secret about reflections when they come to life when no one looks at them.
5"Teeter Toddler"Jeff GaborGalen Tan ChuApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
A baby dodo steals the acorn leaving Scrat and Baby Scrat in a risky balancing act on a log.
6"Nut The End"Lisa Allen KeaneMichael ThurmeierApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
During a battle over the acorn, the acorn seemingly disappears, making them believe they can live together in harmony, but when Scrat becomes old and dies and his soul tries to go to the afterlife, he learns that the acorn vanishing was all but a trick planned by Baby Scrat and returns to his old body to seek revenge.

Reception

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Critical response

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Joel Keller of Decider found the series to be entertaining and family friendly, stating, "There are enough funny moments in Ice Age: Scrat Tales to make it worth the pretty brief time commitment, especially if you're watching it with your kids."[18] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media rated the series 3 out of 5 stars, found agreeable the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing compassion and caring across the character of Scrat, and complimented the humor of the series, writing, "Chaotic critter becomes a parent in funny, violent shorts."[19]

Awards and nominations

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Batu Sener's score was nominated for the Best Original Score in a TV Show/Limited Series category at the 13th Hollywood Music in Media Awards ceremony in November 2022, but lost to 1883's score by Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian.[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ Unlike most Blue Sky Studios productions, 20th Century Animation went uncredited for their involvement in the series.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Calimbahin, Samantha (February 23, 2022). "Scrat's Baby Revealed In Disney+ Ice Age Short Poster (They're Adorable)". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. March 22, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Burlingame, Russ (February 22, 2022). "Ice Age: Scrat Tales Poster Released by Disney+". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ^ King, Aidan (February 22, 2022). "'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Reveals Scrat's Adorable Companion in New Poster for the Disney+ Series". Collider. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  5. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 22, 2022). "'Ice Age' Lives on with 'Scrat Tales' Shorts on Disney+". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Bennett, Tara (April 13, 2022). "An Oral History of Scrat Tales: The Death and Legacy of Blue Sky Studios". Paste. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Sarto, Debbie (March 29, 2022). "Disney+ Drops 'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Trailer". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick (March 29, 2022). "Ice Age: Scrat Tales Trailer Released by Disney+". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  9. ^ Seibold, Witney (March 29, 2022). "Ice Age: Scrat Tales Trailer: Back In His Parent's Hands". /Film. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Remley, Hilary (March 29, 2022). "'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Trailer Teases a Series of Hilarious and Heartwarming Shorts". Collider. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (March 29, 2022). "'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Shorts Go Nutty on Disney+ April 13". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  12. ^ Shirey, Paul (April 13, 2022). "Scrat Finally Gets The Acorn In Last-Ever Short From Ice Age Studio". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Blue Sky Studios has closed its doors but Ice Age's Scrat finally got his acorn!". BBC Newsround. April 14, 2022. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Motamayor, Rafael (April 14, 2022). "Ice Age Character Scrat Finally Gets His Acorn As Blue Sky Studios Says Goodbye". /Film. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  15. ^ Oddo, Marco (April 14, 2022). "'Ice Age': Blue Sky Studio Let Scrat Get His Acorn in Farewell Short Film". Collider. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  16. ^ Alter, Rebecca (April 14, 2022). "Scrat Got Nut! Scrat Got Nut!". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  17. ^ Bashforth, Emily (April 14, 2022). "Ice Age's Scrat finally gets his acorn before animation studio shuts down and fans can't stop crying". Metro. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Keller, Joel (April 13, 2022). "'Ice Age: Scrat Tales' Disney Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Polly Conway (2022). "Ice Age: Scrat Tales TV Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  20. ^ "2022 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
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