ROCK-A-DOODLE

Director Don Bluth, of AMERICAN TALE fame, recaptures his animated brilliance in ROCK-A-DOODLE and brackets it with a WIZARD OF OZ live action opening and close. In the film, Chanticleer is a rooster who calls up the sun with his cock-a-doodle, or so reads little Edmund in his story book. One day, while fighting evil owls, Chanticleer forgets to crow and sees the sun coming up without him. Ridiculed, Chanticleer leaves for the city. Edmund is injected into his storybook fantasy when a flood threatens the farm. Knowing that only Chanticleer can stop the rain by bringing up the sun, he tries to call the rooster, but comes face to face with the Grand Duke, an evil owl. Edmund is rescued by Patou, the old farm-dog and discovers that he has been transformed into a kitten. He sets off to find Chanticleer with Patou, Peepers, an intelligent mouse, and Snipes, a wise-cracking magpie.

ROCK-A-DOODLE is a very well-made, enjoyable, family film destined to make you laugh and cry. It will become a favorite among children and their parents, as it communicates messages of friendship, love, courage, repentance, and forgiveness. While there is some magic present, it is not nominalistic, but rather used as a simple plot device in the style of C.S. Lewis.