Wallace and Gromit is a beloved British animated franchise created by Nick Park. The franchise revolves around the quirky inventor Wallace and his silent but intelligent pet dog Gromit. Throughout the series, Wallace and Gromit find themselves in various misadventures and encounters with eccentric characters. One of the notable adventures of Wallace and Gromit is "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit." This feature-length film follows the duo as they run a humane pest control business called "Anti-Pesto" in the fictional town of Tottington Hall. Their mission is to rid the town of rabbits that are causing havoc in the vegetable gardens before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition.
“We feel that there is a difference between a traditional mascot and our chief,” Arner said. “He’s not out there antagonizing another mascot and he’s not visible during contests. His role is to perform traditional, authentic Native American dance.”
Iowa s Board in Control of Athletics implemented the policy in 1994 in response to complaints about teams offensive and stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans through mascots, names and logos. Iowa s Board in Control of Athletics implemented the policy in 1994 in response to complaints about teams offensive and stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans through mascots, names and logos.
Their mission is to rid the town of rabbits that are causing havoc in the vegetable gardens before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition. However, things take an unexpected turn when Wallace's latest invention, the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic, unintentionally transforms a rabbit into a giant "Were-Rabbit" that starts terrorizing the villagers' prized vegetables. As the town's panic grows, Lady Tottington, a wealthy but kind-hearted woman who prefers humane solutions, hires Wallace and Gromit to capture the creature.
NU neutral in nickname controversy
When the Northwestern baseball team hosts Illinois this weekend, it will take on a team with a Native American mascot.
But Iowa didn’t play a scheduled game Tuesday against the Bradley University Braves, citing a university policy not to play non-conference games against teams with Native American mascots.
Though the Peoria, Ill., school got rid of its mascot in 1989, Bradley President David Broski said the Braves nickname will remain for at least three to five more years.
Iowa’s Board in Control of Athletics implemented the policy in 1994 in response to complaints about teams’ offensive and stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans through mascots, names and logos. The policy applies only to non-conference games. Iowa plays the Fighting Illini every year.
Minnesota and Wisconsin also have rules regarding teams with such mascots.
NU Director of Athletics Mark Murphy said NU doesn’t have a policy similar to Iowa’s and has no plans to create one.
NU softball traveled to Peoria to play Bradley on April 27.
“I don’t feel that just because you play someone in a game, you are a supporter or not a supporter of a particular issue,” Murphy said. “It seems like a pretty strong statement. How much attention and what good it does is hard to say.
“My feeling is those are issues that those schools need to deal with.”
The Fighting Illini take their name from the Illiniwek, a loose confederation of Algonquin tribes that lived in the area that is now Illinois.
The school’s symbol, Chief Illiniwek, performs a ritual dance at home football, basketball and volleyball games, said Cassie Arner, Illinois associate sports information director.
“We feel that there is a difference between a traditional mascot and our chief,” Arner said. “He’s not out there antagonizing another mascot and he’s not visible during contests. His role is to perform traditional, authentic Native American dance.”
Chief Illiniwek has stirred a large amount of controversy recently on the Urbana-Champaign campus. In a March poll of 13,000 students, 69 percent voted in favor of keeping the Chief. Protesters against and students in favor of Chief Illiniwek held demonstrations in April.
Murphy said he faced similar issues when he was the athletic director at Colgate. Though the Red Raiders acquired their nickname from the football team’s red pants, the school adopted a Native American mascot in the 1950s. Colgate stopped using the mascot in the 1970s, and the word “red” was dropped from the team’s name in 2001 because of complaints from students.
NU baseball coach Paul Stevens said he did not want to pass judgement on Illinois’ tradition because it’s a sensitive issue.
“There’s a lot of pride in the University (of Illinois) in attendance in these scenarios,” Stevens said. “As far as Paul Stevens is concerned, I’m at Northwestern and we’re the Wildcats. I don’t agree with any kind of racial prejudice in any shape or form.”
Chief Illiniwek has stirred a large amount of controversy recently on the Urbana-Champaign campus. In a March poll of 13,000 students, 69 percent voted in favor of keeping the Chief. Protesters against and students in favor of Chief Illiniwek held demonstrations in April.
As the story progresses, Wallace and Gromit face numerous challenges and narrow escapes, all while building quirky contraptions to capture the Were-Rabbit. The film is filled with clever humor, inventive gadgets, and endearing characters. "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" showcases the trademark stop-motion animation style of Wallace and Gromit, for which the franchise is renowned. The attention to detail and the wit infused into the characters and their expressions make the film visually stunning and highly entertaining. Released in 2005, the film garnered critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It further solidified Wallace and Gromit's place in popular culture and their status as beloved characters among audiences of all ages. The success of "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" led to a spin-off series featuring Wallace and Gromit, including short films and additional adventures. The franchise continues to be cherished for its unique blend of humor, heart, and creativity. In conclusion, Wallace and Gromit's "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is a delightful and whimsical animated film that showcases the charm and inventiveness of the franchise. It remains a beloved part of the Wallace and Gromit universe and a testament to the creativity and storytelling prowess of Nick Park and the Aardman Animations team..
Reviews for "The curse of the were-rabbit: A deeper look into the folklore behind Wallace and Gromit's latest challenge"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wallace and Gromit Curse". I had heard so many great things about this movie, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. The plot was weak and the jokes fell flat. I found myself checking my watch and waiting for it to end. Definitely not as entertaining as I had hoped.
2. Mark - 3 stars - "Wallace and Gromit Curse" was okay, but it didn't impress me as much as the previous movies in the series. The animation was great, as always, but the story felt recycled and predictable. The humor lacked the cleverness and wit that I loved about the previous films. It's still an enjoyable watch for fans of the series, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.
3. Lisa - 2 stars - I couldn't get into "Wallace and Gromit Curse" at all. The characters felt flat and the dialogue was uninspired. The whole storyline just didn't grab my attention and I found myself feeling bored. It didn't live up to the charm and creativity of the previous Wallace and Gromit adventures. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating animated film.
4. Mike - 2 stars - I was really let down by "Wallace and Gromit Curse". The plot felt convoluted and the pacing was off. It lacked the charm and quirkiness that I loved about the previous films in the series. The humor seemed forced and I didn't find myself laughing as much as I expected. Overall, it was a forgettable experience for me.