Meet the Lovable Characters of 'Meet The Robinsons'

posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 in Movies

To bring the remarkably diverse characters of Meet the Robinsons to life, the filmmakers recruited a group of actors from all walks of life – ranging from Oscar® nominees to behind-the-scenes animators who are rarely heard on screen. This time-traveling blast of a comedy event jets audiences to an inventive, unexpected techno realm of tomorrow where the wildest dreams come true . . . including those of Lewis, a young inventor in search of a home.


Comments director Steve Anderson: "I'm so excited about the cast that we have. We have people from all kinds of backgrounds, who are experienced in comedy, in television, in theatre, in cartoons and especially improv and because of that, they were able to create characters in a truly bigger-than-life sense. They have taken these wonderful characters even beyond what we imagined."

The cast includes Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett, who portrays Mildred, the sweet and patient caretaker at the 6th Street Orphanage that has always been home to Lewis, ever since Mildred first found him on her doorstep as an infant. Bassett loved the story's comic-tinged take on the wonders of family. "I really appreciated this story about a little boy who's looking for a family and about how there's many ways to make family," she says.

The tough-guy charisma of Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Tom Selleck was a perfect match for the vast optimism and fearless genius of Cornelius Robinson, the accomplished inventor and beloved head of Robinson Enterprises, which turns out world-altering gadgets by the score. "He might be animated but Cornelius Robinson is just a great character – a brilliant, optimistic family man who has proved that just about anything is possible if you put your mind to it," says Selleck.


Also joining in on the fun is popular comedian, trained animator and children's book author Harland Williams who plays one of the Robinsons' most complicated – and not just mechanically complicated – family members: the household robot Carl. "Carl is this zany robot, who is kind of insecure, yet also over-confident at the same time. He creates a lot of drama and excitement in everybody's life," Williams explains.

Speaking of excitement, more of the film's hilarious hijinx come from Dr. Lucille Krunklehorn, an inventor whose latest gizmo is a caffeine patch that gives her the jolt of twelve cups of coffee. Needless to say, she hasn't slept in days! Playing Dr. Krunklehorn is multiple Emmy® Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Laurie Metcalf, who has recently been seen in a recurring role on the popular TV hit Desperate Housewives and whose animated work includes playing Andy's mom in the classic Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Meanwhile, the literally whiz-bang role of intergalactic pizza man Uncle Art went to Adam West, the veteran star of screen and television best known for his long-running role as television's Bruce Wayne/Batman. West was knocked out by the screenplay's humor. "I thought it was so witty and a wonderful family story," he says. As for playing a man who promises to deliver a pie anywhere in the galaxy in a half an hour, West says: "These characters are so inventive and interesting, they're going to be loved by a lot of people."


To play Wilbur Robinson, the kid from the future who changes Lewis' life forever, the filmmakers cast teenaged Wesley Singerman, who has previously voiced the iconic Charlie Brown for several television productions. Singerman could not resist having the chance to meet the Robinsons once he read the screenplay. "Their story is non-stop hilarious. It's got action, it's got love, it's got comedy. It's awesome," he sums up.

Filipino-American Joe Mateo, who co-wrote Meet the Robinsons and did duties as one of the film's storyboard artists, also provided the voice of the Robinsons' family pet T-Rex, Tiny. Finally, also joining the cast was director Steve Anderson himself, who took on the pivotal role of the pathetic bad guy, the appropriately named Bowler Hat Guy, who nearly disrupts the entire future. Anderson decided to tackle the role on screen when the voice he developed during the storyboarding process took on a life of its own. "I'm not sure where that voice comes from," Anderson admits. "I think some of it comes from the anger and frustration I feel during morning commutes in traffic! I've always found anger and frustration funny, as I think the root of a lot of comedy is angst."

Opening soon across the Philippines, Meet the Robinsons is distributed by Buena Vista International through Columbia Pictures.

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