An American Tail Hack Job

[Solium]

Not sure if this discussion has been brought up before.

An American Tail was horribly tampered with when it made its first showing on DVD. Unlike the VHS release which appeared to be the theatrical release, the DVD version was altered quite a bit.

There are noticeable changes in sound effects, music was retract, new voice overs added, and one of the bully mice was re-recorded by another voice actor.

I suppose it was a Lucas reimagined hack job. But don't know for sure. All I do know is the DVD version of An American Tail is unwatchable because the changes are so distracting.

[Rodney]

It'd be interesting to see a side by side comparison of key scenes and sequences. I'd guess eventually someone will do just that.

[Solium]

I'm positive. I remember how excited I was when An American Tail finally made it to DVD. If you all recall it took forever for it to make it to DVD, at least in the US. Ive seen Mr. Bluths works dozens of times. (At least up to All Dogs) I was horrified with what I saw and heard. I could do a play by play I kept my VHS copy.

Now there is a three disc family pack with Tail, Land, and Balto. I wonder if that has the theatrical version of Tail. But I bet not.

[Rodney]

Now there is a three disc family pack with Tail, Land, and Balto. I wonder if that has the theatrical version of Tail. But I bet not.

I picked that up at Walmart (I think it was for $5?) while I was attending the Masterclass. I was trying to get into the Bluth style and mindset.

Unfortunately I couldn't watch them thoroughly as I had them on in the background while drawing. They looked a little different to me.

I still laughed like a kid when Gussy yelled out, "We must have a Wowie!"
"A what?"
"You know.. a large gather of people... a Wowie."
Hehehehe.
She cracks me up.

Perhaps my favorite part of the movie is that guy who sings to the flower.
"When I was but a lad... I lost my true love fair."

Wow. That captivated me.
The humor! The pathos!
I was hooked into believing these mice were real people like you and me.

[samuelvictorjones]

Wow that's interesting. I have a DVD copy, didn't notice any differences, but thats probably due to not having watched the VHS version (which I no longer have) for many a year. A side by side comparrison would definitely be interesting.

By the sound of it the changes were to the soundtrack only? (not animation cuts etc) I wonder if that was contractual (ie release forms were only signed foir specific formats) or for another reason, ie company fallout with a certain actor etc? I assume that the changes weren't anything obvious like for a racially sterotyped performance etc?

I entirely agree with all the praise for this film, its one of my favourites. I remember watching it in the cinema with my parents at a VERY young age and loving it. Nowadays i have 2 kids who botyh love it too

[Solium]

I don't remember anything being cut out. Just a lot of "audio" changes. (Voices, sound effects, music)

I will see if I can replay the DVD and tell you all specifically what was changed.

[Don Bluth]

If indeed there are any changes between the original and the DVD version of An American Tail, you will have to refer your question to Steven Speilberg and his crew as Gary Goldman and myself were not involved in that transfer. Oh, by the way, George Lucas did not participate in An American Tail, but came on board as an executive producer for The Land Before Time.

[samuelvictorjones]

Thanks for the information Don We've been talking a lot about differences in version of films, shortenning, or even censorship. It must be hard to have spent so long animating scenes to have them removed or changed (like you said last seminar about spending time and money animating sections of the screen that are then cropped out for widescreen formats) and especially strange to have a film which you have worked so hard on be in the hands of someone else to alter without consenting you first.

[Rodney]

How does that answer the question?

That "An American Tail was or wasn't a Hack Job?"
I believe that question almost answers itself.
The version I recently purchased certainly wasn't a 'hack job'.
Purchase it for $5 and you too can make a determination.

All edits are hack jobs. Literally.
The extent of the cutting will depend on who is doing the editing.
There will always be conflicting compromises and rationales for editing.

The underlying measure for me is... what key scenes and memorable moments in the movie were edited or altered. The two sequences I mention that impressed me as a kid were in fact not hacked out of the current DVD release.

Hopefully that answers your question.

[Solium]

Mr. Bluth. I stand corrected. Of course Lucas was not involved with An American Tail. Now for everyone. I made the effort to break down ALL of the changes. Yes, sadly its a "hack job".

American Tail Region 1 DVD changes:
Time approximate. I've made some notes where I am not sure if they are actual changes from the original theatrical version.


(1)
Time: 2:37
Scene: Opening credits/zooming in on village.
Changes: Off screen voice over of (mice) children and adults laughing and chatting. (Long before original chatter outside of front door)

(2)
Time:4:53
Scene: Papa telling the tale of Giant Mouse of Minsk. Shadow hand puppets on wall.
Changes: Spooky sound effect.

(3)
Time: 7:03
Scene: Fievel being pushed in the snow towards another cat. A collision is about to happen.
Change: Choo Choo train sound effect. (I presume for comedic touch)

(4)
Time: 9:57
Scene: Mama Mousekewitz rocking baby in arms on boat.
Changes: Mama Mousekewitz humming song to baby.
Notes: That may have been in the original. But it sounds different to me.

(5)
Time: 14.31
Scene: End of song, "No Cats In America"
Changes: Sound effect of port hole window slamming shut.

(6)
Time: 17:35
Scene: Monster wave.
Changes: Monster wave sound effect. Moans like a monster.

(7)
Time 19:19
Scene: Mouse Immigration Office
Changes: New voice over. Tanya says off camera, "Papa, why did you change my name to Tilly?"
Notes: That may have been in the original. I don't remember.

(8)
Time: 24:28
Scene: People standing out side of (human) immigration office.
Changes: New off screen voice over. "Come on, Come on, keep it moving, keep it moving."

(9)
Time: 24:57
Scene: Mouse selling Apples.
Changes: New off screen voice over. "I'll take one".

(10)
Time: 31:57
Scene: Fievel hears music. Crosses rope over to window next to phonograph record player.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. People laughing and talking from inside window.

(11)
Time: 32:42
Scene: Fievel on phonograph record player
Changes: New off screen voice overs. "Oh my word, a mouse!" and girls screaming in "terror" until Fievel is knocked out side the window and falls to the street.

(12)
Time: 32:58
Scene: Continue of above. Fievel falling out of window.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. "Whats going on up there?!" "Hey shut up, up there!"

(13)
Time: 52:46
Scene: Cat hand reaches out from sewer hole and grabs Fievel after Fievel thought he escaped the cats down below.
Changes: New off screen voice over. Cat devilish laugh after grabbing Fievel.

(14)
Time: 53:54
Scene: Cat prison. Panning in on scene with bird cages.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. Tiger and another cat talking. Cannot make out entire dialogue. Something to do with Tiger relieving "cat on guard" and Tiger taking his place.

(15)
Time: 1:02:51
Scene: Secret weapon spinning in place.
Changes: New sound effect. Sounds of wheels spinning in place.
Notes: If this sound effect was in the original release it sounds different on the DVD.

(16)
Time: 1:03:00
Scene: Release of the secret weapon.
Changes: New "monster" sound effect of the "Giant Mouse of Minsk".
Notes: If this was in the original the sound effect sounds different and it lasts until the cats are chased into the water.

(17)
Time: 1:04:34
Scene: Warren T Rat and his gang being hosted onto the boat.
Changes: New Warren T Rat voice over. "Hey wonder how you say, trust me in Chinese?"

(18)
Time: 1:06:40
Scene: Mice running away from burning dock.
Changes: New off screen voice over. Mouse saying, "Out of my way!"

(19)
Time: 1:07:25
Scene: Tiger listening in on Tony and Papa speaking about Fievel missing.
Changes: New voice over. Cutting to Tigers reaction he says, "Hmmmm."

(20)
Time: 1:08:32
Scene: Orphan Alley
Changes: Two of the three bully mice voices are re-dubbed with new voice actors.

Final comments: Most of these changes do nothing to improve or clarify the story. Someone decided one scene needed to have comical sound effects. Someone decided any scene that apparently had a moment of silence had to have some kind of voice over. This is a common problem with American animation. Its most noticeable with anime dubs. Someone decided cartoony spooky sound effects would enhance a scene where the music by itself could not. (A huge problem with American films in general nowadays) Finally, I have no idea why some voices were re-dubbed.