Igor (film)

Igor is a 2008 computer-animated movie directed by Tony Leondis, with a script by Chris McKenna. Produced by Max Howard and the Exodus Film Group based in California, it holds the distinction of being the first feature-length animated film backed entirely by private equity. The animation itself was handled by Sparx Animation Studios in France and a facility in Vietnam. In the United States, MGM Distribution Co. handled the release; TFM Distribution did so in France, while The Weinstein Company managed international distribution. This film marks MGM's first fully computer-animated feature and its first full-length animated movie in twelve years (excluding direct-to-video releases), since *All Dogs Go to Heaven 2* in 1996.

The voice cast includes John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Sean Hayes, Jay Leno, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, John Cleese, Molly Shannon, and Christian Slater, with James Lipton appearing in a live-action role. McKenna conceived the story as a twist on classic evil scientist tropes. Cusack voices the title character, Igor, a hunchbacked assistant living in the kingdom of Malaria, where others like him serve mad scientists. Igor dreams of becoming an evil scientist himself, but accidentally creates a sweet-natured female monster he names Eva.

The first teaser trailer for *Igor* debuted at the 2008 New York Comic Con and was released online on May 7, 2008. The film was promoted through a video game, toys, books, comic books, and fast-food tie-ins. It premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 13, 2008, before expanding to a nationwide theatrical release five days later. Critics gave the film mixed reviews, and it earned $30.7 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. Valérie Hadida received an Annie Award nomination for her character design work on the film.

**Plot**

The once-peaceful land of Malaria was driven into poverty by an endless storm, but saved itself by turning to evil inventions. King Malbert encouraged the most wicked scientists to create doomsday devices and blackmail the rest of the world. Malaria became a dark, sinister place where evil rules, and the top mad scientists compete in an annual Evil Science Fair, assisted by hunchbacked second-class citizens called "Igors."

One such Igor aspires to be an evil scientist himself.