Lackadaisy (film) explained

Lackadaisy
Director:Fable Siegel
Screenplay:
  • Tracy Butler
  • Fable Siegel
Story:Tracy Butler
Producer:Tracy Butler
Starring:
Cinematography:Sara Fisher
Editing:Fable Siegel
Music:
  • Sepiatonic
  • M Gewehr
Studio:Iron Circus Animation
Distributor:Iron Circus Animation
Runtime:27 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$330,256[1]

Lackadaisy is an American independent animated period crime-heist short film based on the webcomic Lackadaisy by Tracy Butler. It is directed by Fable Siegel, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Butler, and follows the rivalry between the titular speakeasy and Marigold gang, two bootlegging groups who are smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. The short film was released to YouTube on March 29, 2023, and was crowdfunded through a Kickstarter campaign.[2] It was met with widespread acclaim for its animation, voice acting, music, characters and historical accuracy.

Plot

In a feline-populated St. Louis, during the Prohibition of 1927, bootlegger Roark "Rocky" Rickaby performs his violin while reciting his poetic memoir to the Mississippi River. After finishing his recital, Rocky joins up with his cousin Calvin "Freckle" McMurray and their close friend Ivy Pepper to dig up a coffin loaded with whisky from one of their suppliers. By the time they load the bottles into their car, they are ambushed by the rival Marigold gang, consisting of former Lackadaisy member Mordecai Heller and the Cajun Savoy siblings: Nicodeme and Serafine. In the ensuing chase, Freckle disables Marigold's car with his Tommy gun, but Mordecai forces them off the road and into the Sable mining quarry.

The trio takes shelter and Ivy repairs the car while Freckle holds off Mordecai. Rocky wanders the quarry and manages to rig a steam shovel into driving itself while maniacally hurling dynamite to drive the Marigold gang away, accidentally causing a flood by destroying a water tower. However, everyone manages to escape. Mordecai aims at the group as they drive away, but decides not to fire after noticing Ivy at the wheel.

At the Lackadaisy speakeasy, the owner Mitzi May expresses her laments to the portrait of her deceased husband Atlas as she recalls how big their business used to be. She meets with her employees and her guest, Sedgewick "Wick" Sable, the owner of the quarry. She asks him for financial help, though he politely refuses to maintain his public image to the community. Rocky, Freckle, and Ivy return with only three bottles intact from the fight. Opposed to Rocky's efforts for approval, Mitzi reluctantly expresses displeasure with the short amount recovered, but states she is happy they came back safely. Rocky and fellow musician Zib play music while Ivy performs a dance with Freckle, during which Mitzi reminisces about how thriving the club was in Atlas' time.

In a post-credits scene, Mordecai calls his superior Asa Sweet, and reports his and the Savoys' failure to recover the supply, and that one of their suppliers has crossed them to sell to Lackadaisy. Sweet suggests that they may need to tie up this loose end before the government catches wind of their operation.

Voice cast

Production and release

In 2020, the short film was crowdfunded through a Kickstarter campaign.[3] The campaign was originally intended to raise $85,000 for the creation of a ten-minute short, but scored four times its intended budget.[4] According to the creators, more than 160 "skilled artists across the world" became part of the short film's production.

The trailer was released to YouTube on January 16, 2023,[5] followed by the short film proper on March 29.[6] On July 11, it was announced that the film would receive its first theatrical screening followed by a live Q&A with the creators at the Secret Movie Club theater in Los Angeles on August 2.[7]

Reception

The short film has received widespread critical acclaim. Before its premiere, Samantha King of Screen Rant said it would "capture the hearts of...comic...[and] animation fans" and capture the charm and style of the original webcomic.[8] Mercedes Milligan of Animation Magazine described it as "highly anticipated",[9] Rob Bricken of Gizmodo as looking "incredible"[5] and Madeline Carpou of The Mary Sue describing it as "adorable and fun".[10] After the premiere of the film, Jamie Lang of Cartoon Brew described the "very charming" effects left from the animation process, and the "significant aesthetic differences" between the webcomic and film.[11] BJ Colangelo described it as "ridiculously impressive", praising the character designs and animation, calling it "the next big thing in adult animation", and arguing that studios would be "foolish" to pass up the film becoming a series.[12]

Legacy

Music video

On August 5, 2023, a lyric/music video based on the short film, titled "Liquid Gold" by England-based artist PARANOiD DJ featuring Michael Kovach, Belsheber Rusape and Lisa Reimold, was released.[13]

Web series

Following the short's success, a crowdfunding campaign for an animated web series began on the BackerKit platform in late July 2023, and a teaser for the show's first season was released to YouTube.[14] [15] The series reached its $1,000,000 goal a week into the campaign, with enough money to fund a full 5-episode first season.[16] [17] By the end of the campaign in late August 2023, Iron Circus had received $2,008,728 from over 16,000 backers, resulting in the addition of 3 mini-episodes, as well as Blu-ray sets containing the first season, as well as the pilot/short film.[18] The series is currently in production, set to debut in 2024.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Iron Circus animated LACKADAISY movie is here. Simons. Dean. Comics Beat. March 29, 2023. June 14, 2023. June 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230603183900/https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-iron-circus-animated-lackadaisy-adaptation-is-here/. live.
  2. Web site: McMillan. Graeme. Iron Circus Comics Moves Into Animation With 'Lackadaisy'. The Hollywood Reporter. March 16, 2020. March 16, 2020. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200323170506/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/iron-circus-comics-moves-animation-lackadaisy-1284611. live.
  3. Web site: Horne. Karama. Hit webcomic Lackadaisy's Kickstarter pounces on $280K for animated short, hopes for series. SYFY. April 16, 2020. June 14, 2023. April 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230417192722/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/lackadaisy-webcomic-crowdfund-campaign-animated-short-series. live.
  4. Web site: Shaunette. Morgan. Lackadaisy Webcomic Gets Moving in Animated Pilot Episode. CBR. April 3, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413024309/https://www.cbr.com/lackadaisy-animated-pilot/. live.
  5. Web site: Watch: Fan Favorite Webcomic 'Lackadaisy' is Now an Animated Short. Bricken. Rob. Gizmodo. January 16, 2023. April 3, 2023. April 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230403211032/https://www.awn.com/news/watch-fan-favorite-webcomic-lackadaisy-now-animated-short. live.
  6. Web site: Alexa. Laurén. Watch: Fan Favorite Webcomic 'Lackadaisy' is Now an Animated Short. Animation World Network. April 3, 2023. April 12, 2023. August 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230824172837/https://www.awn.com/news/watch-fan-favorite-webcomic-lackadaisy-now-animated-short. live.
  7. Web site: Massone. Marcello. Lackadaisy Animated Short Film Lands First-Ever Public Screening. CBR. July 11, 2023. July 26, 2023. July 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230726145820/https://www.cbr.com/lackadaisy-first-ever-public-screening/. live.
  8. Web site: King. Samantha. LACKADAISY Movie Clip Introduces the Hit Webcomic's Feline Speakeasy (Exclusive Preview). Screen Rant. March 23, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413020643/https://screenrant.com/lackadaisy-movie-webcomic-short-film-trailer/. live.
  9. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. Exclusive Clip: 'Lackadaisy' Short Delivers Rum-Runner Action on March 29. Animation Magazine. March 22, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411211947/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/03/exclusive-clip-lackadaisy-short-delivers-rum-runner-action-on-march-29/. live.
  10. Web site: Carpou. Madeline. This Movie Had Me at "Prohibition-Era Gangsters, but Cats!". The Mary Sue. January 26, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413020643/https://www.themarysue.com/this-movie-had-me-at-prohibition-era-gangsters-but-cats/. live.
  11. Web site: Lang. Jamie. Crafting A Viral Sensation: 'Lackadaisy' Director Fable Siegel Shares Behind-The-Scenes Stories And Artwork. Cartoon Brew. April 12, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230412181435/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/lackadaisy-director-fable-siegel-interview-art-227758.html. live.
  12. Web site: Colangelo. BJ. Incredible Indie Animated Lackadaisy Pilot Deserves The Hazbin Hotel A24 Treatment. SlashFilm. April 7, 2023. April 12, 2023. April 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413020643/https://www.slashfilm.com/1251172/animated-lackadaisy-pilot-deserves-hazbin-hotel-a24-treatment/. live.
  13. Web site: PARANOiD DJ - Liquid Gold ft. Michael Kovach, Belsheber Rusape & Lisa Reimold. YouTube. August 5, 2023. August 5, 2023. August 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230805035954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkxW26M_ZJE. live.
  14. Web site: Lackadaisy Announces Crowdfunding With Season 1 Teaser Trailer. McCullough. Hayley. Comic Book Resources. July 28, 2023. July 28, 2023. July 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230728180912/https://www.cbr.com/lackadaisy-crowdfunding-season-1-teaser-trailer/. live.
  15. Web site: LACKADAISY Season 1 Teaser - YouTube. YouTube. July 25, 2023. July 25, 2023. July 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230725164405/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfO8ABZBf9k. live.
  16. Web site: Lackadaisy Webcomic Hits A Million Dollars Fundraising After One Week. Johnston. Rich. Bleeding Cool. August 1, 2023. August 1, 2023. August 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230801140840/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/lackadaisy-webcomic-hits-a-million-dollars-fundraising-after-one-week/. live.
  17. Web site: A Five-Episode Season Of 'Lackadaisy' Is On The Way After Producers Raise More Than $1M In A Week. Lang. Jamie. Cartoon Brew. August 3, 2023. August 3, 2023. August 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230803200217/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/lackadaisy-new-episodes-million-dollar-funding-231163.html. live.
  18. Web site: 'Lackadiasy' Wraps Crowdfunding Campaign With More Than $2M Raised. Lang. Jamie. Cartoon Brew. August 25, 2023. August 25, 2023.
  19. Web site: Lackadaisy: What Comes Next. Books, Plushes, and Animation! - Project FAQ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806204521/https://www.backerkit.com/c/iron-circus-comics/lackadaisy-bookset-and-plushes/faqs . August 6, 2023 . August 6, 2023 . BackerKit.

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