I Go Pogo (film)

I Go Pogo (also known as Pogo for President) is a 1980 American stop motion comedy film written and directed by Marc Paul Chinoy based on the comic strip Pogo by Walt Kelly.

I Go Pogo
Publicity poster for 'I Go Pogo'
Directed byMarc Paul Chinoy
Written byMarc Paul Chinoy
Produced byMarc Paul Chinoy
StarringSkip Hinnant
Jonathan Winters
Vincent Price
CinematographyRobert W. Starbird
Edited byMichael Usher
Music byHolly Amber Church
Production
companies
Stowmar Enterprises
Possum Productions Inc.
Distributed byFotomat Video
Release date
  • 1980 (1980)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million

Plot

Pogo the Possum attempts to run for president with the help of his fellow animal friends.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in January 1980. [1] Kerry H. Stowell, president of Stowmar Enterprises, a film studio in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia that produced the feature-length picture on a budget of $2 million.[2][3] The film was the first feature-length animation shot with a new technique called "flexiform," which involves the manipulation of three-dimensional plasticine figures[3] Marc Paul Chinoy, an animator on TV commercials and letter segments on Sesame Street, introduced Stowell to the technique and became her partner in producing educational and industrial films. [4][3] Shooting on the picture took about a year, but planning for it had taken more than a year before that with the two discussing possible applications for the "flexiform" technique when the two agreed on adapting Walt Kelly's Pogo comic strip[3] The two contacted Kelly's widow,Selby Kelly, regarding the rights and after showing her the studio she was impressed enough that she broke off her negotiations with NBC and MGM regarding an animated TV adaptation.[4][3] Kelly remained involved throughout production approving the models and suggesting changes.[4] During the writing process, Chinoy used Kelly's strips as a guideline and didn't invent any new situations that didn't directly tie back to the source material.[4]

Release

The film had been intended to be released three months before the 1980 United States presidential election with a $1 million marketing budget as well as a write-in campaign for "Pogo for President", but 21st Century Film Corporation never delivered on their promise and instead released the film on videocassette via Fotomat's video rental service.[5]

References
  1. "We Have Met the Movie and It Is Pogo!". The Washington Post. January 13, 1980. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  2. "Bringing Walt Kelly's Pogo To the Screen". The New York Times. November 25, 1979. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. "Possum Politics". The Washington Post. October 27, 1980. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  4. "Doesn't Everybody Go Pogo?". The Washington Post. September 5, 1980. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  5. Scapperotti, Dan (1980). "I Go Pogo". Cinemafantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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