Happy Family: 3D animated comedy based on the novel by bestselling author David Safier about the chaotic Wünschmann family who are turned into monsters by a witch.
Film plot and background
Somehow everyone in the Wünschmann family is unhappy: mother Emma (voiced by Emily Watson) runs a bookshop that is slowly going broke, father Frank (Nick Frost) is chronically overworked anyway, while daughter Fee (Jessica Brown Findlay) is going through the most charming phase of puberty and is constantly fighting with younger brother Max (Ethan Rouse), although he actually has to take enough punishment at school due to his giftedness. To bring the family back together, Emma has an idea: together they visit the family festival in Madison Square Garden. She has already bought the disguises.
Dressed up as a vampire, Frankenstein’s monster, a mummy and a werewolf, the Wünschmanns meet a real witch at the family festival. Without further ado, they are cursed by old Baba Yaga (Catherine Tate) and transformed into the monsters whose costumes they are currently wearing. In order to change back, the Wishing Men chase after the witch. But they soon discover that behind Baba Yaga there is a much nastier monster who has his own plans for the enchanted family. They can only break the curse if they finally manage to be happy together.
“Happy Family” – Backgrounds
You can hardly tell from the comedy that the family-friendly 3D animated film “Happy Family” is a genuine German production. Yet the story about the hapless Wünschmann family is developed in the studios of the animation company Ambient Film, which is also responsible for the CGI effects of films like “The Animals Conference” or “Tarzan 3D”. Under the direction of director Holger Tappe (“Urmel aus dem Eis)”, Ambient Film’s Hanover studios are creating animation fun that will go around the world.
In order to survive on the worldwide market, author David Safier (“Jesus Loves Me”, “Two Angels for Cupid”, ‘”Berlin, Berlin”) had to make a few changes to his book. Together with screenwriter Catharina Junk (“The Dark Side of the Moon”), bestselling author David Safier revised his own novel and moved the action to New York, for example, to appeal to an international audience. Oh, and only the readers of the novel can enjoy a sex scene with Dracula – it was deleted for the family-friendly film from 6 years of age.
“Happy Family” – Voice actors
For the English version of “Happy Family” some great dubbing actors could already be won. Above all, the cast of Emily Watson (“The Companions”) shows that “Happy Family” has what it takes to be a blockbuster. In the German version, mother Emma is voiced by Ulrike Stürzbecher (“The Gardener of Versailles”), father Fank by Tobias Meister, daughter Fee by Marie Christin Morgenstern (“Minions”) and son Max by Maximilian Ehrenreich (“Mein Sohn der Klugscheißer”).
In addition, German fans can look forward to two very special guest appearances. Hape Kerkeling (“Kung Fu Panda 3”) will be heard as Count Dracula in love, while comedian Oliver Kalkofe (“Planes”) will speak as his sidekick Renfield.
