No Time for Nuts

In 2004, Fox Studio's little film GONE NUTTY was released in the theaters with the film ICE AGE. GONE NUTTY was a cute little film starring that little mouse-like creature as he tries to fetch an acorn and it was highly original--hence an Oscar Nomination for Best Animated Short. Now, two years later, another installment of the short film was released in conjunction with ICE AGE II and once again, the short film is quite cute and funny---however, it's not exactly original--being in many ways just a continuation of GONE NUTTY. In light of this, I am very surprised that it also received an Oscar nomination--especially when Pixar's nominated film for the 2007 Oscars was so much more original (it, too, did not win--this honor went to a rather flat Norwegian film THE DANISH POET).

So if you watch it, be prepared for more of the same--more laughs, more action, more excellent CG animation and more of the same plot. Very good but also not exactly new.

I love time-travel stories and this was wildest I've ever seen. The only problem was that it was only a seven-minute cartoon. Man, this was so good and so much fun, I'd love to see a feature-length film done by the guys who make this fabulous "Scrat" cartoons. These additions to the "Ice Age" feature movies are just terrific.

Here, Scrat the squirrel discovers a time machine buried in the ice near where he lives. He discovers that by hitting the machine in one spot, he instantly (and his favorite acorn) travels to a new time and era.

The story accelerates as it goes on, with Scrat getting into one disastrous situation after another quickly hitting the machine to get away. It's amazing how many places he travels in such a short cartoon but all of them are not only funny but beautifully drawn. As with Ice Age, the animation is absolutely spectacular.

I think there are just two "Scrat" cartoons, one accompanying the DVD of each Ice Age film, but I could watch hundreds of these. They are so well done, it's hard to describe. I agree with those who say this should have won an Oscar. I saw the winning one and this is superior, entertainment-wise.

Our saber toothed squirrel finds a device that drives him through time. He is present for several major historical events. He has one interest. He wants his paws on that elusive acorn. Unfortunately, for him, he doesn't think before acting. There are so many cute bits going a mile a minute.

Just like the other short, but with a twist to it.

Scrat was wandering around the snow to find something glowing in the snow. Which is a machine of some sort. He has no idea what it was an presumed that it was an acorn. But after tampering with it, he made his acorn disappear within thin air, as well as him. And before he knew it he's traveling through time. And time travel can be dangerous and rough for a squirrel like Scrat.

This short contains some great visuals and plenty of humor to give you at least a chuckle. It still has THE Chris Wedge as the voice of Scrat. And it still proves that acorns always put him in the heap of trouble.

Another guaranteed short for all the Scrat/Ice Age/Blue Sky Fans. Found exclusively on the second Ice Age movie DVD.

Same tone with the other series. A poor squirrel and his precious nut :)