Yeah, that’s the strange thing about the movie and the book, and that’s how different they are from each other. The book was treated more like an actual film noir story, whereas the movie is more of film noir mixed with a cartoon, and this is one of the rare cases where the author of the book, Gary Wolf, actually loved the movie so much, that in one of the sequel books he wrote, he completely red-coned the first book by saying it was all just a bad dream that Jessica had. Life sure is strange, isn’t it?
Honestly... paul reubens as a slightly more sophisticated rodger would’ve worked well... but the final movie is still 10000x better. Also richard williams animation is literally unparalleled.
Same. Paul Reubens’ fame and reputation as Pee Wee Herman would’ve distracted audiences from seeing Roger as his own character and instead think of Pee Wee Herman but as a cartoon rabbit.
Hard to believe Darrell Van Citters was also the director for the recent re-incarnation of The Tom and Jerry Show from 2014 Tom and Jerry is my favorite cartoon and Roger Rabbit is my favorite movie that is interesting to know
the early version of roger rabbit looks a little like hokum hare from the "ninja turtles" cartoon episode "the turtles and the hare", and when peter renaday said "chipped out of granite. that's me" it reminded me of general traag who was voiced by peter renaday
They probably used a lightbox approach to see through (at least when it came to doing these pencil tests, not to say in this video they weren't doing it just for show).
@Nightmare1398 Speaking of speaking of which, the bearded man playing Eddie is none other than the voice of Splinter from the original TMNT cartoon series, Peter Renaday. Looking like Eddie straight out of the original book.
"PLEEASSSE!" Let's reconnect with the fascinating and getting closer to solving the storytelling "case" of the process to our unforgettable toon/film noir adventure.🐰👶🏼✏🎥☀️ Stay safe everyone!
If they did follow the book then the cartoon characters would've been comic strip characters and not movie stars and there would be no Judge Doom but it would have either Jessica Rabbit or Baby Herman as the villain.
0:35-0:49- Seeing this makes me wish that this was Baby Herman's characterization- the reveal of his true age is done better here and the contrast between a toddler and a sophisticated individual marks for better comedy than a tough sounding man.
I'm willing to bet that changing Baby Herman from a 36-year-old sophisticate to a 50-year-old profanity spewing cigar smoking toughie was what moved Roger Rabbit from Disney to Touchstone. BTW, the only line that was kept from the original novel was "I've got a 36-year-old lust in a three year old's dinky", which was changed to "50-year-old lust..."
The production looks WAY more small-scale here, compared to the HUGE over-budget Hollywood film it became. I wonder if THIS version came out, would it still be a huge success?
Those were experimental test scenes, not actual scenes from a movie. I think the actor was a guy from Art Props, the department that managed art supplies for artists.
The actor who was filling in for those scenes is Peter Renaday, best known as the voice actor for Master Splinter in the 1980's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He worked a lot for Disney, filling in here and there. He's also the voice of Henry the bear in Country Bear Jamboree, the voice of Captain Nemo in the 1970's exhibit, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and President Abraham Lincoln in the Hall of Presidents in Florida. :) He's still doing voice work. :)
That early design don't look anything like a Golden Age character at all, it look like a 60s Hanna-Barbera character, the final version look like a mascot character from the mid 40s
The movie had been in development for 7 years? That's quite a long time for a movie like this to be made, but this was a time before CGI animation became a thing. Another thing I hadn't known is that Paul Reubens was involved in this project. The film probably would have turned out differently had he still voiced Roger Rabbit in the final version.
While it would’ve been interesting to hear Paul Reubens (God Rest His Soul) voicing an animated character, it wouldn’t be a very unique character. Basically being just Paul Reubens, but as a cartoon character. Glad they went with a lesser known celebrity for the final voice.
+mryoyoserpico I think so, mostly because his voice would have been instantly recognizable as Pee-wee Herman's. Although his voice does fit the original design pretty well, IMO.
good catch! as a matter of fact, disney did use john as a real-life model for mr. snoops, animated by the great milt kahl. john is, in fact, the only disney character who has appeared in two completely unrelated disney animated features. he was also animated for fantasia 2000!
Darrell Van Citters is probably one of THE most underrated talents in the animation industry. What's depressing is that he didn't do very many things that gave him more recognition than he got. While I like some of the stuff he did like 'Box Office Bunny', and 'Soccermania', he's also done stuff I'm not to fond of like 'Puffy Ami Yumi'. Shame he never did anything more ambitious.
It is a shame indeed. I wouldn't think Puffy Ami Yumi is something I'd want to put in my resume (and I noticed quite a few familiar names of people I know that were stuck on that show). Of course Citters ended up forming a studio that focused on Flash/Vector-based animation, and while I suppose he made the best of that situation, it certainly felt like one he didn't need to belong in.
It's sad when you look back and videos like this and see where these guys were and think, if they only said "Yes" to them. Brad Bird could've made his Spirit film, Darrell his Roger Rabbit and so-on. It would just be this big "IF" in the back of your mind over the course of history that didn't happen.
+TheThiefArchive You've got some great archival footage I've never seen before. I came here for The Recobbled Cut, but I've been staying for the rest of the stuff. Subscribed after seeing this.
Paul Rubens was the original voice for Roger Rabbit in this early test footage. But Charles Fleshier got the role for the version of the movie we know today
That was not Donald Duck. It looked like Scrooge McDuck. And we know in the movie we saw the only time that Donald Duck was with Daffy Duck. As it turns out Who Framed Roger Rabbit marked the first Disney project where Tony Anselmo became the new voice of Donald Duck who was taught by the original voice actor Clarence Nash.
it's good, but they made her look too much like a villain. kinda like a young cruella de vil with the final version she looks more sexy and girly, as so she can play a half hearted villain type, but still come off as a loveable character.
AmericaTheEngravy sauce I don't know why, but I think Baby Herman's earlier voice works better in my opinion... less jerky and more "what do you think?"
AmericaTheEngravy sauce And I'm going to regret ever watching Family Guy after MrEnter's reviews of "Seahorse Seashell Party", "Life of Brian", and "Herpe the Love Sore".
![Early unmade version of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" [Paul Reubens, Darrell Van Citters, Disney 1983]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ME4yxyGZNS4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Early unmade version of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" [Paul Reubens, Darrell Van Citters, Disney 1983]](/img/tr.png)
What I find so interesting about this early version was that it seemed to follow the book rather then the new story they wrote for the later movie.
I'm glad they went with the final version of the movie instead of the book version, it wouldn't have translated well and roger is a real asshole in it
Yeah, that’s the strange thing about the movie and the book, and that’s how different they are from each other. The book was treated more like an actual film noir story, whereas the movie is more of film noir mixed with a cartoon, and this is one of the rare cases where the author of the book, Gary Wolf, actually loved the movie so much, that in one of the sequel books he wrote, he completely red-coned the first book by saying it was all just a bad dream that Jessica had. Life sure is strange, isn’t it?
that early version Roger Rabbit looks like the Trix Cereal Mascot to me!
It's kinda neat hearing Pee Wee voice the early version of Roger.
Richard Canipe same
you can tell there was a lot more disney influence in his design here
Minnie Mouse was originally supposed to voice Jessica?!
Russi Taylor 1944 - 2019
Crossover Animation Studios aww that sucks
I'm really glad they redesigned Roger Rabbit
I'm really glad they redesigned everything!
Honestly... paul reubens as a slightly more sophisticated rodger would’ve worked well... but the final movie is still 10000x better. Also richard williams animation is literally unparalleled.
It's a very different take on the characters.
Makes you wonder how things would have turned out.
Still, what we have is excellent
This kind of film making is a lot more interesting than "We just use CGI"
they were going to use cgi for the sequel.
maxtheaxeiswax This was more of a precursor to digital characters.
You ironically can't appreciate that with CGI most films today are are produced like Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
a lot harder tho
koots1 st
and alot more rewarding.
Would've been such a different movie if RW had directed...
The narrator is the 1980s incarnate.
This is SUPER FANTASTICALLY WONDERFUL!
0:07 I’m quite glade Charles Fleischer was chosen and went for the voice we have now
Same. Paul Reubens’ fame and reputation as Pee Wee Herman would’ve distracted audiences from seeing Roger as his own character and instead think of Pee Wee Herman but as a cartoon rabbit.
Hard to believe Darrell Van Citters was also the director for the recent re-incarnation of The Tom and Jerry Show from 2014 Tom and Jerry is my favorite cartoon and Roger Rabbit is my favorite movie that is interesting to know
the early version of roger rabbit looks a little like hokum hare from the "ninja turtles" cartoon episode "the turtles and the hare", and when peter renaday said "chipped out of granite. that's me" it reminded me of general traag who was voiced by peter renaday
And Splinter.
Pee-Wee Herman??????? :O
This is incredible
i think if a movie more accurate to the book was made, it would be rated PG-13.
5:51 THEY DIDN'T EVEN USE TRACE PAPER FOR THIS TECHNIQUE HOLY SHIT?!
They probably used a lightbox approach to see through (at least when it came to doing these pencil tests, not to say in this video they weren't doing it just for show).
very interesting, love treasures like this. wish there was one on tmnt 1990 movie.
@Nightmare1398 Speaking of speaking of which, the bearded man playing Eddie is none other than the voice of Splinter from the original TMNT cartoon series, Peter Renaday. Looking like Eddie straight out of the original book.
"PLEEASSSE!" Let's reconnect with the fascinating and getting closer to solving the storytelling "case" of the process to our unforgettable toon/film noir adventure.🐰👶🏼✏🎥☀️ Stay safe everyone!
I thought there was a TV special that teased the film mostly in shadow. Thought Harry Anderson was host.
I think they should have followed the book
If they did follow the book then the cartoon characters would've been comic strip characters and not movie stars and there would be no Judge Doom but it would have either Jessica Rabbit or Baby Herman as the villain.
I'm glad they changed Jessica from a bad guy to a good guy that genuinely loves her husband.
R.I.P. Paul Reubens (1952 - 2023) 😢
Hard to believe that's Minnie Mouse herself, Russi Taylor, as Jessica.
Right, Sam.
Is it just me or Jessica resembled April O'Neal and Cruella
I think Roger is shown as a sort of hero in early production because in the book, him being a villain is supposed to be a twist at the end
Wow. If Pee Wee played Rodger. The designs look completely different, it follows the book more, and Bob Hoskins doesn't play Eddie.
These early scripts are from the book called “who censored roger rabbit.
0:35-0:49- Seeing this makes me wish that this was Baby Herman's characterization- the reveal of his true age is done better here and the contrast between a toddler and a sophisticated individual marks for better comedy than a tough sounding man.
I'm willing to bet that changing Baby Herman from a 36-year-old sophisticate to a 50-year-old profanity spewing cigar smoking toughie was what moved Roger Rabbit from Disney to Touchstone.
BTW, the only line that was kept from the original novel was "I've got a 36-year-old lust in a three year old's dinky", which was changed to "50-year-old lust..."
Did they just predict Stevie Griffin?
Honestly I would like to see a closer adaptation of the book made.
i have thebook
I love the movie, don't get me wrong.
But it'd also be amazing to see it be more accurate to the book eventualy
The production looks WAY more small-scale here, compared to the HUGE over-budget Hollywood film it became. I wonder if THIS version came out, would it still be a huge success?
Food for thought, right?
this version appears to more closely resemble the original novel
Those were experimental test scenes, not actual scenes from a movie. I think the actor was a guy from Art Props, the department that managed art supplies for artists.
Given these are tests, we should keep that in mind while watching. BTW, great piece with Baby Herman you did here!
The actor who was filling in for those scenes is Peter Renaday, best known as the voice actor for Master Splinter in the 1980's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He worked a lot for Disney, filling in here and there. He's also the voice of Henry the bear in Country Bear Jamboree, the voice of Captain Nemo in the 1970's exhibit, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and President Abraham Lincoln in the Hall of Presidents in Florida. :) He's still doing voice work. :)
Glad to know!
That early design don't look anything like a Golden Age character at all, it look like a 60s Hanna-Barbera character, the final version look like a mascot character from the mid 40s
The movie had been in development for 7 years? That's quite a long time for a movie like this to be made, but this was a time before CGI animation became a thing. Another thing I hadn't known is that Paul Reubens was involved in this project. The film probably would have turned out differently had he still voiced Roger Rabbit in the final version.
While it would’ve been interesting to hear Paul Reubens (God Rest His Soul) voicing an animated character, it wouldn’t be a very unique character. Basically being just Paul Reubens, but as a cartoon character. Glad they went with a lesser known celebrity for the final voice.
0:32 So cute!
0:44 Who is voicing Baby Herman here? Is it Kelsey Grammar?
Source: cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-troubled-birth-of-roger-rabbit/
part of me would honestly like to see the timeline where Paul Reubens is Roger Rabbit instead of Charles Fleischer tbh...
That's Weird, Roger Rabbit Sounds Just Like Conker.
Conker's voice is easily deeper and slower.
@@DoctorPhileasFragg Not to mention, British XD
Anyone else think it's better that Paul Reubens didn't end up being roger rabbits voice?
+mryoyoserpico I think so, mostly because his voice would have been instantly recognizable as Pee-wee Herman's. Although his voice does fit the original design pretty well, IMO.
That guy looks like "Snoops" from The Rescuers
good catch! as a matter of fact, disney did use john as a real-life model for mr. snoops, animated by the great milt kahl. john is, in fact, the only disney character who has appeared in two completely unrelated disney animated features.
he was also animated for fantasia 2000!
It actually was based on him
That's a good eye, boyo
1981-1983: Gentlemen Baby
1989: Tough Baby
Where did you find this? Impressive find!
Darrell Van Citters is probably one of THE most underrated talents in the animation industry. What's depressing is that he didn't do very many things that gave him more recognition than he got. While I like some of the stuff he did like 'Box Office Bunny', and 'Soccermania', he's also done stuff I'm not to fond of like 'Puffy Ami Yumi'. Shame he never did anything more ambitious.
It is a shame indeed. I wouldn't think Puffy Ami Yumi is something I'd want to put in my resume (and I noticed quite a few familiar names of people I know that were stuck on that show). Of course Citters ended up forming a studio that focused on Flash/Vector-based animation, and while I suppose he made the best of that situation, it certainly felt like one he didn't need to belong in.
It's sad when you look back and videos like this and see where these guys were and think, if they only said "Yes" to them. Brad Bird could've made his Spirit film, Darrell his Roger Rabbit and so-on. It would just be this big "IF" in the back of your mind over the course of history that didn't happen.
+TheThiefArchive You've got some great archival footage I've never seen before. I came here for The Recobbled Cut, but I've been staying for the rest of the stuff. Subscribed after seeing this.
I miss the +(Name here) Type...
0:52 That guy looks like Thanos.
Why does Roger sound like Pee-wee Herman?
Paul Rubens was the original voice for Roger Rabbit in this early test footage. But Charles Fleshier got the role for the version of the movie we know today
i heard roger died in the original ending is that true?
@Brandon Brooks yeah and sting wrote a song for the ending where roger died
He died earlier but his doppelganger can last for 48 hours
@@robertjoe9396 ok
@Nightmare1398 BAMBI’S MOM? THE FIEND!
@@MrBlueSkyof1607 Yes Judge Doom was going to be revealed as the man who killed Bambi's mother. But the people at Disney objected to that idea.
1:48 was that donald duck
That was not Donald Duck. It looked like Scrooge McDuck. And we know in the movie we saw the only time that Donald Duck was with Daffy Duck. As it turns out Who Framed Roger Rabbit marked the first Disney project where Tony Anselmo became the new voice of Donald Duck who was taught by the original voice actor Clarence Nash.
It's funny how Peter Renaday went from this to voicing master splinter in TMNT 1987
I like Jessica's early design a lot more.
it's good, but they made her look too much like a villain. kinda like a young cruella de vil with the final version she looks more sexy and girly, as so she can play a half hearted villain type, but still come off as a loveable character.
AmericaTheEngravy sauce I don't know why, but I think Baby Herman's earlier voice works better in my opinion... less jerky and more "what do you think?"
Robert Walker
now you know where seth mcfarlane got the idea of stewie from.
AmericaTheEngravy sauce And I'm going to regret ever watching Family Guy after MrEnter's reviews of "Seahorse Seashell Party", "Life of Brian", and "Herpe the Love Sore".
Robert Walker
haven't seen them. i'll have to check them out.
Then they changed the entire thing which is good, because Roger looks very better
Early footage who framed roger rabbit 2 (2022)
Who voiced Baby Herman in the early version?
Who wishes the version of Jessica in this was in the actual movie.
I wish I could see this version of who framed roger rabbit.
I love the song who plays in the end
Odd