LOS ANGELES – From the creators of the hit "Ice Age" series comes "Rio," a 3D comedy adventure about taking a walk on the wild side.
Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, and enjoys a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he's the last of his kind, but when they learn about another macaw who lives in Rio de Janeiro, they head to the faraway and exotic land to find Jewel, Blu's female counterpart. Not long after they arrive, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a group of bungling animal smugglers. Blu escapes, aided by the street smart Jewel and a group of wisecracking and smooth-talking city birds. Now, with his new friends by his side, Blu will have to find the courage to learn to fly, thwart the kidnappers who are hot on their trail, and return to Linda, the best friend a bird ever had.
"Rio," from Blue Sky Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Animation, is the biggest, most ambitious animated film for the studios. It is rich with scope and grandeur, and alive with character, color, music, emotion and fun. The story unfolds amidst a colorful jungle, a beach paradise, a sprawling metropolis – and the celebration to end all celebrations, known as Carnaval. "Rio" is more than a point on a map; it's a magical place, a state of mind, and an attitude.
"Rio" was born from the imagination of filmmaker Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed or directed the animated hits "Ice Age," "Robots," "Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs." After completing work on the second "Ice Age" film – and during pre-production on "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" — Saldanha came up with the idea that would ultimately blossom into "Rio." He wanted to write a love letter to his hometown of Rio – with a story about a nerdy, highly domesticated bird who goes on the adventure of a lifetime in that wondrous world.
"I spent years working on the 'Ice Age' films and had a great time in that world and living with those wonderful characters,”" Saldanha explains.
"'Rio' is an even more personal journey for me," adds producer John C. Donkin: "Carlos' passion for the project, and to take us into this world he envisioned, was contagious. Everything you'll see on screen began with that passion."
Also see: Rio Premiere Red Carpet Photos
- Comment
