Vision Films, Inc.

Adventures of Mark Twain, The

Restored to High Definition, recently released by Magnolia in Dec. 2012. The imagination of Mark Twain meets the magic of Will Vinton, in this fantastical journey of Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher and Huck Finn as they travel through time in search of Halley's Comet. This year marks the 175th Anniversary of Twain's birth, and the 125th Anniversary of Twain's pinnacle work Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the 100th anniversary of his death.

STARRING: Director: Will Vinton Producer: Will Vinton Executive Producer: Hugh Tirrell Writer: Mark Twain and Susan Shadburne Animators: Barry Bruce, Joan Gratz,, Don Merkt, Will Vinton, Craig Bartlett, Bill Fiesterman, Mark Gustafson, Bruce McKean, Tom Gasek, Doug Aberle, Matt Wuerker Music: Billy Scream James Whitmore (Shawshank Redemption) as the voice of Mark Twaln

DIRECTED BY: Will Vinton

PRODUCED BY: Hugh K. Tirrell

GENRE(S): Animation, Family

RUNTIME: (86 Min)
YEAR: 2012

Adventures of Mark Twain, The

Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher, and Huck Finn stow away with Mark Twain on an incredible journey to meet with Halley’s Comet – a journey that takes them through a variety of Twain’s stories and characters, including “The Diary of Adam and Eve”, “Huckleberry Finn”, “The Mysterious Stranger”, “The Famous Jumping Frog of Caliverous County” and “Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven”.

“The Adventures of Mark Twain” was the first all claymation feature film ever created where every aspect of the film is made of plasticene clay. According to film critic, Michael Medvid, this film is “the most original and audacious animated film since “Fantasia”’! And in the opinion of it’s Director, Will Vinton, it is unlikely such an endeavor and “labor of love” will ever be attempted again. “It’s the zenith of claymation!”

DVD EXTRAS:
* Director's Commentary
* Story of Claymation (16:44)
* Behind the Scenes (14:57)
* Selected Music Tracks
* Still Image Gallery including Production Art
* Interviews with key staff (53:38)

WILL VINTON'S SHORTS
• Closed Mondays (8:00) (Academy Award® Winner)
• The Great Cognito (4:00) (Academy Award® Nominee)
• A Christmas Gift (8:16)
• The Famous Jumping Frog (4:00)
• Dinosaur (13:00)
• Legacy (6:00)
• Mountain Music (8:00)
• Go Down Death (8:00)

Adventures of Mark Twain, The

Reviews

Jun 10, 2013
James Gartler - Animation World Network
The Adventures of Mark Twain is a feature-length animated gem by the father of Claymation himself, Academy Award® winner Will Vinton. Combining elements from Twains various writings – including The Mysterious Stranger, The Diary of Adam and Eve and Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven – with lavish clay animation, the picture tells the story of how fictional rascals Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher met their eccentric maker and stowed away on his flying airship, destined for a rendezvous with Halley’s Comet. It’s a uniquely ambitious work which managed to completely fall off the public’s radar following its release in 1985. Now available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray packed with special features and crew interviews, Twain is getting a second chance to find its audience, to the relief of its director. Reflecting on his one-of-a-kind creation, Vinton recently opened up about working in the “Kiddie Ghetto,” his take on Pixar’s aesthetics, the possibilities of a Claymation comeback and the truth behind whether or not that aforementioned clip was actually considered too disturbing for broadcasting.
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Jun 07, 2013
Mark Dawidziak - The Twain Forum
Something of a lost gem, the wonderfully clever movie was acclaimed by critics but baffled most audiences when it hit movie theaters in 1985. Timing is everything in show business, and The Adventures of Mark Twain, as this bewitching DVD / blu-ray release reminds us, was both slightly and light-years ahead of its time. The year after its release, Vinton hit with his California Raisins commercials, which became an international Claymation phenomenon.
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