Have you ever watched a movie about chickens planning a daring escape and thought “wow this is actually kinda profound”? Well that’s exactly what Chicken Run does – it turns a farmyard breakout into one of the most charming animated adventures ever. As a massive fan of stop-motion animation (and secretly wanting my own chicken farm), I’ve watched this film more times than I’d like to admit!
So what exactly is Chicken Run about? Let’s dive into this eggcellent adventure! (Sorry, couldn’t resist a pun there.)
The Plot: Chickens With a Plan
Chicken Run takes place in the 1950s-60s Yorkshire countryside at Tweedy’s Farm – though calling it a “farm” is generous. It’s more like a chicken prison camp complete with fences and barbed wire. The chickens are kept in coops that resemble POW (prisoner-of-war) camps, with two guard dogs patrolling the grounds to prevent escapes.
The film centers around a group of British chickens who face a terrifying reality: if they don’t produce enough eggs, they get the chop (literally) and become dinner. Leading the resistance is Ginger, a determined hen who has tried numerous escape attempts, always ending up in solitary confinement after being caught.
The stakes get even higher when the evil Mrs. Tweedy, frustrated by the farm’s poor profits, decides to pivot from egg production to chicken pies She purchases a massive pie-making machine, and suddenly the chickens aren’t just fighting for freedom – they’re fighting for their lives!
Hope arrives in the form of Rocky Rhodes, a cocky American rooster who crash-lands on the farm after escaping from a circus. Since Rocky appears to fly (a skill chickens desperately need to escape), Ginger convinces him to teach them all how to fly. Little do they know, Rocky’s actually hiding a secret – he was shot from a cannon as part of a circus act and can’t actually fly at all!
When the chickens discover Rocky’s deception, they’re devastated. But inspiration strikes when Fowler, an elderly rooster, reminisces about his days in the Royal Air Force. Ginger realizes they don’t need to learn to fly – they need to build a plane!
What follows is a race against time as the chickens gather materials and build their aircraft while Mrs. Tweedy prepares her pie machine for mass production. After plenty of setbacks, heart-pounding moments, and some chicken-flavored romance between Rocky and Ginger, the chickens pull off their daring escape.
By the end, they find paradise – a bird sanctuary island where they can live in peace, raise their chicks, and enjoy their hard-won freedom.
The Characters: A Flock of Personalities
The film has a stellar cast of characters that really bring this chicken tale to life:
- Ginger – The determined leader of the chickens who never gives up on freedom (voiced by Julia Sawalha)
- Rocky Rhodes – A smooth-talking American rooster who becomes the chickens’ only hope (voiced by Mel Gibson)
- Mrs. Tweedy – The cruel, profit-obsessed farm owner and main villain (voiced by Miranda Richardson)
- Mr. Tweedy – Mrs. Tweedy’s submissive husband who always suspects the chickens are “organized” (voiced by Tony Haygarth)
- Fowler – An elderly rooster who constantly reminisces about his RAF days (voiced by Benjamin Whitrow)
- Babs – A dim but sweet chicken who loves knitting (voiced by Jane Horrocks)
- Bunty – A practical, no-nonsense hen and champion egg-layer (voiced by Imelda Staunton)
- Mac – The brainy Scottish chicken who serves as Ginger’s second-in-command (voiced by Lynn Ferguson)
- Nick and Fetcher – Two rats who trade with the chickens and provide comic relief (voiced by Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels)
Why Chicken Run Is More Than Just a Kids’ Movie
On the surface, Chicken Run is a fun animated comedy about escaping chickens. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find some pretty meaty themes:
1. Freedom vs Oppression
The whole movie is basically a metaphor for fighting against tyranny. The chickens’ struggle against the Tweedys represents the universal desire for freedom and self-determination. It’s no accident that the film draws visual inspiration from prison escape movies like “The Great Escape.”
2. Teamwork and Community
The chickens only succeed when they work together, combining their various skills. Ginger’s leadership, Mac’s brains, Fowler’s technical knowledge – they all play crucial roles in the escape plan.
3. Never Giving Up
Ginger attempts escape after escape, never losing hope despite repeated failures. Her perseverance is what ultimately saves the flock.
4. Female Empowerment
Most of the chickens are hens, and they’re portrayed as capable, determined, and resourceful. Ginger especially stands out as a strong female lead who drives the action forward.
Behind the Scenes: How Chicken Run Was Hatched
Chicken Run has a pretty fascinating production history that makes me appreciate the film even more:
- It was Aardman Animation’s first feature-length film, released in 2000
- The movie was directed by Nick Park (of Wallace & Gromit fame) and Peter Lord
- The idea was first conceived in 1995 as a parody of “The Great Escape”
- The film took incredible patience to make – animators could only complete about 1 minute of footage per week!
- Each chicken puppet required 3-4 weeks to make
- To animate just ONE second of film, the puppet had to be moved and photographed 24 times
- The movie was a huge success, grossing over $224 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film ever
Fun Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
I love sharing little tidbits about movies that most people don’t know, so here are some of my favorite Chicken Run facts:
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The Kiss That Wasn’t – Notice how we never actually see Rocky and Ginger kiss on screen? That’s because the animators thought bird beaks kissing would look weird, so they used clever camera angles to hide it.
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Ginger Almost Had a Brother – In early drafts, Ginger had a brother named Nobby who was cut to make the film “less cute.”
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Oscar Category Creator – Chicken Run is credited with helping create the Best Animated Feature Oscar category. The film was snubbed by the Academy but was actually a fan favorite to win Best Picture!
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Nick Park’s Childhood Inspiration – The director actually had pet chickens when he was younger, which inspired the characters.
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Recording Across the Pond – While most of the cast recorded their lines in Bristol, England, Mel Gibson was the only actor to record his lines in America.
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Cheese Connection – Nick Park and Peter Lord wrote the script while staying at a bed and breakfast in Wensleydale, UK – famous for the cheese that would later be popularized by Park’s Wallace & Gromit character!
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Almost Different Stars – Eddie Murphy, David Arquette, and Ethan Hawke were all considered for Rocky, while Drew Barrymore, Winona Ryder, and Linda Cardellini were considered for Ginger.
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Taekwondo Chickens – One of the animators was a taekwondo instructor, which inspired the training sequences where the chickens learn martial arts moves.
The Legacy Lives On: Chicken Run 2
After nearly 23 years, fans finally got their wish with a sequel called “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” which was released on Netflix in December 2023. The sequel follows Ginger and Rocky as they deal with a new threat while raising their daughter Molly.
Some casting changes occurred – Zachary Levi replaced Mel Gibson as Rocky, and Thandiwe Newton took over from Julia Sawalha as Ginger. The sequel was directed by Sam Fell rather than Nick Park and Peter Lord, though it still maintained Aardman’s distinctive stop-motion style.
Why We Still Love Chicken Run
There’s something so endearing about these plasticine poultry that keeps us coming back to this film decades later. Maybe it’s the charming British humor, the incredible attention to detail in the animation, or just the timeless story of the underdog (or under-chicken?) triumphing against the odds.
I think what makes Chicken Run special is how it manages to be both a kids’ movie and a genuinely entertaining film for adults. The slapstick humor works for younger viewers, while the sharp dialogue and film references entertain the grown-ups.
Plus, who doesn’t love rooting for a group of chickens outsmarting their evil farmer captors? It taps into that universal desire we all have to overcome obstacles and find freedom.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Watch (or Rewatch) Chicken Run
If you’ve never seen Chicken Run, what are you waiting for? And if it’s been a while since your last viewing, it might be time for a revisit. The film holds up remarkably well, with animation that still impresses despite technological advances in the years since.
At its heart, Chicken Run is about ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things when they work together – and that’s a message that never gets old.
So grab some popcorn (maybe skip the chicken nuggets for this one), gather the family, and enjoy this classic tale of poultry in motion. Trust me, these chickens will have you cheering for their freedom and maybe even looking at your chicken dinner a little differently!
Have you seen Chicken Run? What’s your favorite moment from the film? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
P.S. And remember… in the immortal words of Ginger: “We’ll either die free chickens, or die trying!”
Plot[]
In the countryside of Yorkshire during the 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy run a failing British chicken farm in Yorkshire; the chickens are caged in the style of a World War II prison camp with a high fence and barbed wire, and two dogs patrol the grounds. Chickens that fail to produce enough eggs are slaughtered for food. Frustrated at the generated by the farm, Mrs. Tweedy comes up with the idea of converting their farm into the automated production of chicken pies. One chicken, Ginger, has had long visions of escaping with the help of her hen friends Babs, Bunty, and Mac, and two black-marketer rats, Nick and Fetcher, who help to acquire from the Tweedys to aid Gingers plans. However, she is always caught and put into solitary confinement. While thinking of a new plan, Ginger witnesses a Rhode Island Red cockerel fly over the fence and crash into one of the coops, spraining his wing. Ginger and the other chickens help to hide him from the Tweedys and care for his wing, learning that his name is Rocky. Ginger is particularly interested in Rockys ability to fly and begs him to help train her and the other chickens to do the same. Rocky is coy, but proceeds to try to help train the chickens, unable to fully demonstrate due to his broken wing. Meanwhile, Mr. Tweedy begins assembling their pie-making production line, and the chickens food ration is doubled to fatten them. After Ginger and Rocky get into an argument, Rocky holds a morale-boosting dance party during which it is revealed that his wing is healed. Shortly after, Mr Tweedy finishes assembling the machine, and puts Ginger in it for a test run. Rocky infiltrates the machine to save her, the two eventually escape and sabotage the machine, buying the chickens more time to escape the farm. The next day, Ginger, much to her devastation, discovers that Rocky has left, leaving behind part of a poster that reveals he is in fact part of a “chicken cannonball” act with no ability to fly on his own. Just when all hope is lost, Ginger is then inspired by elderly rooster Fowler’s stories of his time in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to assemble an aircraft to flee the farm. All the chickens, with help from the rats, secretly assemble the required parts for the plane from their coops while racing against Mr. Tweedys repairs. While travelling the countryside, Rocky sees a billboard for Mrs. Tweedys Chicken Pies and is inspired to go back to help. With the machine now fixed, Mrs. Tweedy insists that Mr. Tweedy gathers all the chickens, but the chickens are ready to escape. They knock Mr. Tweedy out and tie him up long enough to complete the assembly of their plane. As the plane approaches the take-off ramp, Mr Tweedy is able to knock over the ramp before being knocked out; Ginger races to reset the ramp, but a now-alerted Mrs Tweedy attacks her. Mrs Tweedy is subdued by Rocky, who leaves with Ginger by holding onto the runway lights, which have been snagged by the departing plane. Whilst taking off, Mrs. Tweedy chases them down and catches onto a Christmas light strand snagged in the wheels. Mrs. Tweedy climbs the strand, intent on chopping Gingers head off, while Ginger races to sever the strand. Ginger manages to trick Mrs. Tweedy into cutting the strand with her hatchet, sending her straight into the safety valve of the pie machine and plugging it, causing the machine to build pressure in its gravy line and explode, destroying the machine and the barn. Mr Tweedy reminds her of his warnings that the chickens were organized and, now fed up with his wifes aggressive and abusive behaviour towards him, pushes the barn door down on top of her. The chickens celebrate their victory after defeating the Tweedys while Ginger and Rocky kiss each other. Later, as the film concludes, the chickens have found a quiet island, which they call Chikin Sanctuary, where they can enjoy their freedom and raise their chicks, while Ginger and Rocky have developed a romantic relationship. Nick and Fetcher decide to start their own chicken farm for eggs but disagree on whether the chicken or the egg came first.
Summary[]
The plot centers on a group of British chickens who see a smooth-talking Rhode Island Red named Rocky as their only hope to escape from certain death when the owners of their farm decide to move from selling eggs to chicken pies.
Why Chicken Run is the greatest film ever made
FAQ
What is the meaning behind Chicken Run?
Chicken Run and its sequel have been noted for their depiction of feminism, revolution, Marxism, veganism and fascism. According to Florentine StrzeIczyk, Chicken Run points to the way that masculinity and femininity are mediated in popular film genres. It also received attention for its female-led cast.
Is Chicken Run disturbing?
Frightening & Intense Scenes
Many of the characters are in peril throughout the movie. Mrs. Tweedy could be terrifying to young audience, especially her face whole she’s being angry. Generally a really dark film that can scare viewers, but generally a movie kids can watch.
What story is Chicken Run based on?
Chicken Run is not based on a single book or true story but is an original story loosely inspired by the 1963 war film The Great Escape. The directors, Peter Lord and Nick Park, pitched the idea as “The Great Escape with chickens,” using the prison camp setting of the movie as a metaphor for the plight of chickens on a farm destined for slaughter.