The family-favorite Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is currently available on digital, and fans can look forward to the release on Blu-Ray, and DVD on December 12, 2023. To celebrate, Director, Cal Brunker, and Writer, Bob Barlen, dive deep into the creative process behind the film’s standout features, from the transformation sequences that captivate young audiences to the action scenes that are a visual treat for all ages, in our exclusive interview.
A Fresh Take on Transformation Sequences in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
Cal Brunker introduces a novel approach to the transformation sequences that distinguish the Paw Patrol Mighty Pups from its cinematic predecessors. The innovative use of bold colors and silhouettes offers a new visual experience that is both striking and memorable.
“So for the gear up, there were two things. One, we really wanted to be different than the first movie where we could see everything clearly and they were all standing around getting their suits on. So this one, we took a new graphic approach, which was let’s try and do it almost in silhouette with just each color, bold as the pups as they get their suits on and let’s really saturate those colors. So it feels like green, we’re in Rocky, orange, we’re in Zuma and we kind of go through them like that.” – Cal Brunker
-Cal Brunker, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Director
Building Anticipation with Lighting and Teasers
Cal Brunker emphasizes the importance of suspense in a transformation sequence. By gradually unveiling the vehicles, they create a buildup of excitement, akin to a teaser for a new car model, which keeps the audience engaged and eager for the full reveal.
“And then we also played with that lighting idea of when we reveal the vehicles for the first time, this door opens and the light kind of crawls across the surface of the vehicles almost like a car commercial or something where they’re teasing the new model. And one of the things that we find is always great on a gear up sequence is you don’t want to show too much all at once. You want to tease this out so the audience can really enjoy it. So that was the whole kind of idea behind it. It is give a bit of information at a time and let that excitement and anticipation of the big reveal build.” – Cal Brunker
-Cal Brunker, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Director
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’s Action Sequences with a Deeper Narrative
Bob Barlen speaks to the intricate process of creating action sequences that are not just visually impressive but also essential to the film’s narrative. The leap from TV to the big screen allowed the creators to enhance the action, ensuring that each set piece was both spectacular and integral to the story’s progression.
“One of the things that when we’re designing right from the start, I mean from the script through the storyboards in the previous, these action sequences are imagining something that will be great on the big screen as well as will play great at home. And it’s one of the things of with the feature film format, we’re able to step it up and kind of push things further than maybe you’re able to on TV.”
–Bob Barlen, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Writer
Skye’s Empowering Journey and the Power of Teamwork
Bob Barlen highlights the joy of writing for Skye’s character, whose empowering journey is central to the film. Tracking her development from feeling small to harnessing incredible powers—and then facing their loss—provides a compelling narrative arc that resonates with the audience.
“I think from a writing standpoint, you know, Skye’s superpowers were the best to write for just because, you know, as the lead character in the film, really sort of were following her journey throughout the thing. And so the you know, tracking that story of her feeling small and getting the powers and then having these incredible powers only to lose them. You know, I mean, it was great to write the powers, but just to track her story and track her journey all the way through was, you know, what made that such a great thing to to work on.”
–Bob Barlen, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Writer
The essence of teamwork is a vital part of the Paw Patrol universe, as described by Cal Brunker. The collaborative spirit is beautifully illustrated in the film, particularly through Chase’s role in distributing the crystal’s power among the pups, which underscores the film’s message of unity and cooperation.
“The other the other thing is that, you know, teamwork is such a big part of the Paw Patrol universe. And so we had this idea using Chase’s super speed. What if they only had one crystal among the group and he had to kind of quarterback that across to everybody and they could all have their moment and use their powers. But Chase’s super speed allowed him to kind of hand it off from one to the next. So that that idea came together pretty early. And and I think it’s one of the cooler set pieces in the in the movie where he kind of slow motion is diving through the lightning and stuff. That’s that’s one of my favorite shots in the movie.”
-Cal Brunker, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Director
In Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, every detail, from the vibrant transformation sequences to the thrilling action, is crafted with an eye for excitement and a heart for storytelling. It’s these elements that not only make the film visually stunning but also ensure that its message of teamwork and empowerment resonates with audiences long after the credits roll. Remember to catch the digital release now and mark your calendars for the December 12, 2023, release on Blu-Ray, and DVD.
