Chicken Run is one of the first movies that introduced me to stop-motion animation. This film was released in the mid-2000s, and I took another decade to watch it. Immediately captured by the freedom struggle of farm chickens and their headstrong leader – Ginger, Chicken Run has silently stayed on my favorites list.
Two decades after Chicken Run, Aardman Animations has created Dawn of the Nugget, a sequel that starts precisely where the first movie ended – free chicks on an island.
The lives of Ginger and Rocky have changed since they got romantically involved after their adventurous escape. They have Molly now to take care of, who has wildly taken after her mother.
The side characters like Babs, Mac, Bunty, and Fowler retain their original character descriptions from the first film. The rats, Nick and Fetcher, still fetch items from the human world.
Dawn of the Nugget is about Molly and her introduction to the sense of freedom and adventure.
The film retains the core story structure of the first Chicken Run and gives it a “welcome to the future” twist.
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Like mother, like daughter
The prequel didn’t have chicks. The hens were fed for eggs, and that’s that. The fight and flight to freedom earned them the right to hatch eggs, and viewers saw the yellow chicks grow.
The Aardman animators have done a phenomenal job shaping Molly in Ginger’s image. Her entry as a blue-eyed toddler evolves into her childhood with a new set of teeth. It finally settles with a rebellious teenager who has taken chiefly after her mother.
A stop-motion enthusiast knows the painstaking process of puppet fabrication with movable units for eyebrows, mouth, hands, etc. The studio has created three puppets to show Molly’s transition and coming of age without compromising her emotional appeal to the audience.
The two states
Like Chicken Run, the Dawn of the Nugget also involves a chicken farm to bring trouble to the otherwise peaceful fowl life.
In its futuristic avatar, there are new ways to lure chickens, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, electrocution wires, robot ducks, and personal guards who dress like army personnel.
The farm continues to be “otherworldly” to the chickens, who must fight to retain their hard-earned freedom. Dawn of the Nugget challenges the safety of their sanctuary, and this time, it’s a “break-in.”
A craftsperson’s perfection
What I find appealing about stop-motion animation is the set where every character must be moved timely, frame by frame, under the guidance of human intuition.
In my humble opinion, Chicken Run’s final aircraft was a very creative take to denote their freedom. The sets and their scale make people forget that stop motion uses actual puppets and hand-crafted sets to shoot.
Carrying the same legacy in Dawn of the Nugget, the viewers are greeted with similar craftsmanship at the chicken’s sanctuary, the new and advanced chicken farm, and the clever usage of everyday items accessible to a chicken who has decided to go to war.
Final Thoughts
“We got our happy ending. We’re living in it.” – Ginger
Chicken Run is the highest-grossing stop-motion film to date. Dawn of the Nugget introduces the next phase of our beloved farm chicken – independence, parenting, and fondly looking at their glory days as they enjoy their secluded freedom.
While the core story doesn’t change dramatically from its prequel, the film delivers in keeping up with the times, animation, sets, and creativity.
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