The Cat in the Hat is a big step forward for Warner Bros. Animation’s theatrical plans, and could indicate a willingness to bring a certain loony spirit back to the big screen. Written and directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, the film is set to be the opening chapter in a planned Seussian cinematic universe. The film boasts a stacked cast, with Bill Hader playing the тιтular cat and Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, America Ferrera, Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Paula Pell, тιтuss Burgess, and Giancarlo Esposito filling out the supporting cast.
The Cat in the Hat‘s first teaser suggests that the film will be tackling multiple worlds, depicting the adventures of the Cat both in the “real world” depicted in the book as well as showcase a new colorful vision for the realm of Seussian characters. The teaser goes a long way towards setting up a very fun family-centric adventure for audiences, with Bill Hader anchoring another wacky animated world. However, there’s also a level of artistic ambition to Bill Hader’s The Cat in the Hat that’s a very promising direction to see Warner Bros. Animation taking.
The Cat In The Hat’s Teaser Opens Up A Whole New World
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
The Cat in the Hat seems to be expanding on the original book in some clever ways. The teaser depicts a bureaucracy known as the Insтιтute of Insтιтution of Imagination and Inspiration LLC, which employs imaginary creatures to travel to the real world. The тιтular Cat in the Hat is one such worker, entertaining a bored pair of siblings.
The film looks great, with a more brightly colored and fantastical approach to the Cat’s world standing in stark contrast to the more traditional-looking CGI setting of the “real world.” This highlights the clear emotional approach to the film, which seems to be expanding upon the original story.
While the full plot of the film remains under wraps, the teaser suggests that the Cat’s enthusiasm and big swings will get him in trouble in his world. Meanwhile, the Cat faces some natural challenges trying to connect with the kids under his chaotic care.
The teaser leans into the comedy elements, whether that be the slapstick of the Seuss world of the more grounded comedy (like the Cat being hit with pepper spray). It’s a fun embrace of comedy that doesn’t seem to lose the wonder baked into the characters from the on-set. That can be an inherently a big challenge in adapting Dr. Seuss for the screen.
Some adaptations have been hailed as classics for generations, while others have become pop-culture punchlines. The most infamous may even be the last big cinematic swing at the character, Mike Meyer’s live-action The Cat in the Hat.
However, this new film seems to be embracing more than just the imagery of the original book, but the spirit of the characters and story. This is crucial to any adaptation, especially one that seems to be taking so many liberties with the source material.
The Challenge Of Bringing The Cat In The Hat To The Big Screen
“We Really Tried To Bring In What People Love About The Original Book.”
Initially set to be produced at Illumination, The Cat in the Hat ended up in development limbo until Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the characters and recruited an impressive team. Ahead of the teaser’s release, The Cat in the Hat‘s directors Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, along with Bill Hader, spoke with members of the press (including Screen Rant) about the project.
According to Rivinoja, “The Cat in the Hat is a very beloved character. He’s classic and iconic, and everyone has a relationship to him… he’s a wish-fulfillment character. We call him this agent of chaos, and it’s just sort of what every kid loves and wants… We tried to bring in what people love about the original book.”
This approach to a chaotic world of cartoonish energy is clearest in the teaser’s visits to Cat’s world, showcasing a bright setting full of natural slapstick and whimsy. These are the moments that have me the most excited for the film. The teaser features fast-paced visual gags, bizarre little touches, and the simple fun of a Seuss-style rhyming game.
“Our world is based on many different worlds where we traverse through in our adventure.”
That concept stems from their approach to adapting the original book, which only focused on the Cat showing up to entertain a pair of siblings on a rainy day. Carloni explained that “Erica and I took advantage of [the fact] that this is the only Seuss book where a magical, whimsical Seussian character enters the real world to meet children.”
“We decided to try and embrace that and enhance that every time the Cat enters from his world into the real world. We navigate into this fantastical world, we created entirely different looks, entirely different aesthetics, entirely different animation styles. Our world is based on many different worlds where we traverse through in our adventure.”
This might be the best way to have the film conform to the standard stylistic approach that defines many modern blockbuster animated films (especially from studios like Illumination) while still finding room to lean into the iconic elements of Dr. Seuss’ illustrations. It’s a good balance that fits the story and enhances the presentation.
What The Cat In The Hat Means For The Future Of Warner Bros. Animation
Our Takeaway From The Cat In The Hat’s First Teaser
Dr. Seuss is tricky to bring to the big screen, as the original children’s books are both vivid and open-ended, short and sweet, but with a clear sense of thematic depth. There are clear ideas at the core of many Dr. Seuss’ books, even as the stories are fairly straightforward.
Expanding those concepts into a feature-length film can be incredibly tricky. The most successful was the one produced by MGM as a TV special in 1966, which embraced both the reduced run-time and the Looney sensibilities of iconic animation director Chuck Jones. The Cat in the Hat seems to be taking some cues from the way Jones approached Seuss’ world.
While the CGI setting of the main plot looks familiar to anyone who has seen a recent mainstream animated film, the land of the Seuss-ical creatures is gorgeous. The motion is smooth, the designs fluid, and the world vast in a way that makes it very appealing. The Cat’s world is the most exciting aspect of the film.
Hader acquires himself well to the Cat, bringing the sort of peppy wrecking ball energy that made Flint Lockwood such a fun protagonist in the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The character, especially in the Seuss world, moves with a fluidity that leans into the bigger comedy moments. Beyond that though, there’s a clear reverence for the Cat
Hader recalled how Dr. Seuss “were the first books I remember reading on my own. It’s a habit I had of taking the books into bed. I remember collecting them in a binder, having them all… I just felt like I was in really good hands, you know, with these guys and the script.”
Warner Bros. Animation is poised to reestablish itself in the cinematic animated landscape, with The Cat in the Hat being creatively ambitious in its worldbuilding. The biggest question is how well The Cat in the Hat brings that unique Seuss energy to life, and the teases of the Cat’s world especially give us hope.
