Animator turned director Ryan Crego is the dad behind Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie, which sees TV favourite Gabby, played by Laila Lockhart Kraner, and her animated pals The Gabby Cats embarking on an adventure in the big city, pitting their wits against Kristen Wiig's villainous cat lady Vera. Oh, and singer Gloria Estefan is part of the fun too as Gabby's Grandma Gigi!
Below, the director discusses family, film, and fun.
Harry Guerin: What was the light bulb moment for this story? How did you decide it was going to be a rescue mission involving Gabby and co?
Ryan Crego: (Laughs) Well, you know, there's a couple of things at play. One is my daughter's a huge Gabby fan. As a parent, taking her favourite series and finding a way to put it on the big screen was both challenging and exciting. And so, I told the story really from that perspective, as a father who's watching his young daughter grow up and all the things that are important to her.
In terms of the rescue mission and the idea [in the film] that, like, you could 'lose' play - that was all thematic, right? That's all part of this idea that, like... I'm an adult who plays a lot (laughs)! I know it can be done! Similar to Gigi, Gloria Estefan's character in the film, it's like, 'How do you do it?' It's important that we keep this lightheartedness and playfulness, that spirit with us [in life]. Not that I felt my daughter was losing that, but just there's a certain respect and understanding as a parent that these times are precious when your kids are at that age and they're really involved in imagination and all that, and wanting that to be there for her. That's sort of how it all came together for me.
What are the biggest challenges in making the jump from the TV show to the big screen, and what does the film allow you to do that the series couldn't?
I'd say the biggest challenge for us was this is a beloved show, but it also plays to a young audience, and it's a series, right? So, we needed to take that core and not change it so much, but [we had] to deliver on a much bigger, more exciting adventure that we could put in the theatres that would feel worthy of being on the big screen.
There were a number of things that we did, both making the world feel big but also elevating the style of animation, bringing in Kristen Wiig, who's just hilarious, [and] a sense of comedy and tone that felt appropriate for the whole family. The challenge was keeping it honest to the show and not changing those main characters so much. I've often compared it to... it's like the cast of a pre-school series got caught up in a bigger movie! These characters still stay the same. Cakey is still Cakey that we love, that adorable little cupcake cat, but is now lost in the big city and trying to find their way back to Gabby.
You talk about the comedy: what laughs do you think will land the best with adults who are bringing children to the film?
(Laughs) Well, I mean, the "Cakey got bakeyed" moment, it plays in all the trailers, but even if people have seen the trailer when Cakey turns around and has these two little marshmallow buns underneath the wrapper - that's the family laugh, that's for everybody.
As an adult, I think Kristen Wiig delivers on some really subtle, funny moments, particularly when she's dealing with the Kitty Rangers. We all know as adults someone showing up at your door - the annoyance of it! She plays it so well, where it's like she's trying to put on the front, the kindness that an adult should show, but we all know that she's really perturbed. I think she's just so great. Her performance is so funny. I think she delivers. She was a big part of the draw for me - 'If we have Kristen here and we can give her the platform to do different characters, I think that will be something that will excite parents to bring their kids to the theatre.' So, that's what we did!
Will you be back for a sequel?
I don't think I can say officially! I will say that I adore this franchise, and I want to be part of the storytelling and the future of it, if there is a future to it. I think it's a world that I love to play in.
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie is in cinemas from Friday 17 October.
