Heidi 4 Paws
Encyclopedia
Heidi 4 Paws is a feature length children's film that retells the classic story of Heidi
using dogs in all the acting roles. Heidi 4 Paws was syndicated
to public television stations in the United States through American Public Television
and WTTW
Chicago
in November/December 2008.
Based on the timeless story of the little Swiss orphan by Johanna Spyri
, Heidi 4 Paws closely follows the original 1880 best-selling novel, but with a canine twist. The young Heidi is sent to live with her reclusive Grandfather high in the Alps. Just as Heidi adjusts to her new life in the mountains, she is taken away by her social worker. Heidi finds herself living in the big city with Clara Sesehound, who has been made an invalid after a debilitating illness. Although Heidi comes to love Clara, her quest to return to the mountains dominates her stay. In the end, she is able to reunite with her beloved Grandfather. When Clara later comes to visit, the final miracle of Heidi's story is revealed when Clara regains her ability to walk.
Heidi 4 Paws is the first in an intended series of eight films that retell classic stories with live action dogs playing all the roles.
, and the family film Babe
, writer/director Holly Goldberg Sloan (Angels in the Infield
, and The Big Green
) created the 4 Paws brand as a way to revitalize classic literature for a new generation.
Working with three partners, Tim Goldberg, Tim Ellis and Chuck Sloan, Goldberg Sloan made Heidi 4 Paws independently, without financial support from a major studio. The film took over four years to make, and features a blend of live-action photography, 3D animation and visual effects.
Heidi
Heidi is a Swiss work of fiction, published in two parts as Heidi's years of learning and travel and Heidi makes use of what she has learned.It is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care, in the Swiss Alps...
using dogs in all the acting roles. Heidi 4 Paws was syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
to public television stations in the United States through American Public Television
American Public Television
American Public Television is the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States.-History:...
and WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in November/December 2008.
Based on the timeless story of the little Swiss orphan by Johanna Spyri
Johanna Spyri
Johanna Spyri was an author of children's stories, and is best known for her book Heidi. Born Johanna Louise Heusser in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland, as a child she spent several summers in the area around Chur in Graubünden, the setting she later would use in her novels.-Biography:In...
, Heidi 4 Paws closely follows the original 1880 best-selling novel, but with a canine twist. The young Heidi is sent to live with her reclusive Grandfather high in the Alps. Just as Heidi adjusts to her new life in the mountains, she is taken away by her social worker. Heidi finds herself living in the big city with Clara Sesehound, who has been made an invalid after a debilitating illness. Although Heidi comes to love Clara, her quest to return to the mountains dominates her stay. In the end, she is able to reunite with her beloved Grandfather. When Clara later comes to visit, the final miracle of Heidi's story is revealed when Clara regains her ability to walk.
Heidi 4 Paws is the first in an intended series of eight films that retell classic stories with live action dogs playing all the roles.
Origins
Inspired by the 1930s MGM shorts, Barkies, children's television series such as WishboneWishbone
Wishbone may refer to:* The wishbone, a Y-shaped bone found in birds* Wishbone suspension, an automobile suspension design.* Wishbone , an children's educational television show...
, and the family film Babe
Babe
Babe is generally a slang term of endearment, but may also refer:-Entertainment:* Babe, the title character of the Dick King-Smith book The Sheep-Pig** Babe , a 1995 Australian film based on the book...
, writer/director Holly Goldberg Sloan (Angels in the Infield
Angels in the Infield
Angels in the Infield is a 2000 Disney television film, Directed by Robert King. A follow on to the 1994 film Angels in the Outfield, and the 1997 film Angels in the Endzone, this motion-picture is about a group of angels trying to help a baseball team win a championship game, while at the same...
, and The Big Green
The Big Green
The Big Green is a 1995 Walt Disney Pictures film starring Steve Guttenberg and Olivia D'Abo, written and directed by Holly Goldberg Sloan...
) created the 4 Paws brand as a way to revitalize classic literature for a new generation.
Working with three partners, Tim Goldberg, Tim Ellis and Chuck Sloan, Goldberg Sloan made Heidi 4 Paws independently, without financial support from a major studio. The film took over four years to make, and features a blend of live-action photography, 3D animation and visual effects.
Characters
- Heidi: A yellow Labrador puppy, Heidi is a precocious orphan who is abandoned into the care of her gruff Grandfather.
- Grandfather: A crusty sheepdog, Grandfather is an Alpine hermit whose life is changed by the love of his little grandpuppy, Heidi.
- Peter the Goatherd: A Whippet, Peter the Goatherd is in charge of caring for Grandfather’s goats, Daisy and Dusky. He becomes Heidi’s first real friend.
- Clara Sesehound: A cockapoo mix, Clara is a wealthy invalid who asks her father for a companion and gets more than she bargained for in Heidi.
- Grandmamma Sesehound: a kind Labrador Retriever, Grandmamma brings peace to the Sesehound household and teaches Heidi how to read.
- Detie: a nasally beagle, Detie is Heidi’s social worker.
- Sebastian: an apricot poodle, Sebastian is the butler in the Sesehound household.
- The Doctor: a lovable old terrier, the Doctor is a good family friend of the Sesehound’s whose kindness to Heidi helps to diagnose her chronic homesickness.
- Miss Rottenmeier: Clara’s strict and fussy governess who takes an immediate disliking to Heidi but when Heidi left she missed her and cright a cold.
- Mr. Sesehound: a German Shepherd, Mr. Sesehound is Clara’s often absent but well-meaning father.
Cast
- Meghan Strange - voice of Heidi
- Richard KindRichard KindRichard John Kind is an American actor known for his roles in the sitcoms Mad About You and Spin City .- Early life :...
- voice of Grandfather - Julian SandsJulian SandsJulian M. Sands is an English actor, known for his roles in the Best Picture nominee The Killing Fields, the cult film Warlock, A Room with a View, Arachnophobia, Vatel, the television series 24 and as Jor-El in the television series Smallville.-Career:Sands began his film career appearing in...
- voice of Peter the Goatherd - Kimberly BeckKimberly BeckKimberly Beck is an American actress with over sixty television and film roles to her credit.-Biography:...
- voice of Clara Sesehound - Angela LansburyAngela LansburyAngela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
- voice of Grandmamma Sesehound - Joanne Baron - voice of Detie
- Steve GuttenbergSteve GuttenbergSteven Robert "Steve" Guttenberg is an American actor and comedian. He became well known during the 1980s, after a series of starring roles in major Hollywood films, including Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby, Police Academy, and Short Circuit.-Early life:Guttenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, the...
- voice of Sebastian - Stephen ReaStephen ReaStephen Rea is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in high profile films such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto...
- voice of The Doctor - Majandra DelfinoMajandra DelfinoMajandra Delfino is an Alma Award-nominated Venezuelan-American actress and singer best known for her role as Maria DeLuca on the television series Roswell and Georgia's best friend, Jo Pye on the State of Georgia.-Personal life:Delfino was born in Caracas, Venezuela, the daughter of an...
- voice of Miss Rottenmeier - Marshall BellMarshall BellArchibald Marshall Bell is an American actor. He has appeared in many character roles in movies and television. His best-known movies are probably A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge , Stand by Me , Twins and Total Recall .-Early life:He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he lived until...
- voice of Mr. Sesehound - Mike Fishburn - voice of Mr. Usher the teacher