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Google PlayDreamWorks Animation is known for creating beloved animated masterpieces like Shrek, Shark Tale, and The Bee Movie, and they are aiming to deliver that and more with their latest offering, The Bad Guys. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Anthony Ramos, Craig Robinson, and Awkwafina, who voice a group of criminal animals: Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula. The crew of notorious thieves finally gets caught in the act after a lifetime of legendary heists, and they have to pretend to reform themselves as good, model citizens to avoid a prison sentence. But Mr. Wolf, who is the team’s leader, unexpectedly finds himself having a change of heart and is genuinely invested in changing his ways.
Atlanta’s Zazie Beetz and Lilly Singh also appear in supporting roles. Singh plays a local news reporter named Tiffany Fluffit, who is just as lively and energetic as the former YouTube star. Beetz is bringing Diane Foxington to life. Diane is a red fox governor, later revealed to have a past as a thief known as “The Crimson Paw,” and she is also Mr. Wolf’s love interest. Pierre Perifel is making his feature directorial debut with this film, whose screenplay is loosely based on the children’s book series of the same name written by Aaron Blabey. The story is an animated take on popular heist movies like Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Eight, where you find yourself rooting for the “bad” guys to make it.
Even though it is geared toward a younger audience, the message that there’s good and bad in everyone is universal. There’s humor, excitement, and character development in The Bad Guys that is lacking in many other films. Animated flicks have been having a moment in recent years, with successes like Coco, Encanto, Trolls, and Sing—and it’s clear that these films are no longer just for kids. Animator Alberto Mielgo took home the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for The Windshield Wiper this year and shared an important message about the movie genre in his acceptance speech. “Animation is an art that includes every single art that you can imagine,” Mielgo said. “Animation for adults is a fact. It’s happening, so let’s call it cinema.”
Complex caught up with Zazie Beetz and Lilly Singh ahead of their movie’s release and they agree, saying that not only is The Bad Guys groundbreaking visually but that the story also has a lot of depth. “I’m so happy to see that animation movies are finally starting to get the roses they deserve,” Singh says. Read the rest of our interview below and catch The Bad Guys in theaters on Friday, April 22.
