The Snowman 3D,” and produced and co-wrote the screenplay for “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” which was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Feature. He created and executive produced “Santa vs. “Barnyard” is not Oedekerk’s first foray into animation. “As big as me!” Oedekerk was a little stunned to see this image that had before existed only in his head and he bought it on the spot. In an art gallery in Laguna Beach, California, Oedekerk spotted a comic, life-sized sculpture of a cow – standing on two legs. And then, one day, he saw one of the characters he had been dreaming of. But his idea about this alternate universe of animals never left his imagination. Years passed and Oedekerk became one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood he had even begun directing his own hit films. And it wasn’t too long before I thought, `Boy, that could really make a cool movie.’”

It was just this funny little thought but it stuck with me. Since I am overtly visual I had this image of me leaving the room and the dog standing up on two legs and saying, `Man, it’s about time that dude left.’ And he strolls over to the cat and they go back to playing poker. “And everywhere I went, it just kept looking at me. “I was at a friend’s house and his dog was looking at me,” he remembers. The idea for “Barnyard” was born nearly two decades ago, well before Steve Oedekerk had made his mark in show business.

It has also proven to be an efficient business model for feature film animation production that other studios have come to emulate. With a long history of championing creator-driven animation on both the big and small screen, Nickelodeon contracted Oedekerk’s Omation Studios to facilitate production of the feature film, following the same successful production model it had done for both “Rugrats” movies, “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” and “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.” This model would allow Nickelodeon to stay nimble and on the cutting edge of new CGI technology, while ensuring that the creators’ original vision for the film would stay in tact. When Nickelodeon began looking for a follow up to its Academy Award-nominated CGI film “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” they only had to look at Steve Oedekerk’s bulletin board, where Oedekerk had posted a lineup of characters from “Barnyard.” “The characters were irreverent and fun, but would also be able to tell a powerful coming-of-age story dealing with real family dynamics and issues,” said Nick Movies executive vice president Julia Pistor. The result is a film that pushes the boundaries of computer-generated 3D animation to a new level - it is certain to be admired as much for its technical achievements as it is enjoyed by appreciative, laughing audiences. More than two hundred artists and technicians labored for nearly four years to produce “Barnyard” at Oedekerk’s Omation Studios, a state-of-the-art facility in San Clemente, California. Without Ben to keep everyone in line, absolute mayhem breaks loose and it isn’t long before the farmer begins to get to the bottom of the animals’ secret… and the scheming coyotes begin to think that the farm could be theirs for the taking. When Ben is no longer able to lead, Otis tries to keep order but the role of leader does not come as naturally for him. When Otis explains to Ben that being on watch isn’t “his thing.” Ben responds: “Otis, a strong man stands up for himself, a stronger man stands up for others.” He’s outside, guarding the fence and protecting the farm from the coyotes. On this night, there’s even a pretty new cow, Daisy – Otis hams it up for her, and she can’t help but be attracted to his fun-loving personality. As soon as the Farmer hits lights out, the barn is transformed into Party Central. Much to Ben’s chagrin, Otis’s main project comes to life every evening. (It’s a position that Ben takes seriously: “As long as I’m still kickin’,” he says, “no animal will be harmed inside that fence!”) Ben wants Otis to grow up and take responsibility. Each morning, Ben leads a meeting to take care of farm business and to issue warnings about their common enemy, the coyotes. Otis’s dad, Ben, is the cow who makes sure the farm is running on all cylinders. Otis is in a state of arrested development and quite happy that way. He and his best friends – Pip the mouse, Freddy the ferret, Peck the rooster, and Pig the pig – are world-class pranksters and always in the mood for a laugh. But when the farmer is out of sight, the lookout sheep shouts “Clear!” and all of the barnyard animals spring up on two legs, walk, talk, watch TV, and orchestrate outrageous practical jokes.įor Otis the cow, that last one is the most important. Tagline: What happens in the barn stays in the barn.ĭown on the farm, the farmer thinks he’s in charge, keeping all the animals safe and sound.

Barnyard the origanal party animals