The Power of Zhu (found original English audio of CGI animated film; 2012)
Amazing Adventures of Zhu (originally known as The Power of Zhu) is a Canadian-American CGI animated film based on the ZhuZhu Pets and Kung Zhu lines of electronic toy hamsters. The second in a planned series of three ZhuZhu Pets animated films with the next film being The Secret of Zhu that featured the voices of Brad Garrett and Ken Jeong[1][2] with animation done by MoonScoop and Prana Studios and distribution by Universal Pictures.[3], it was directed by Bob Doucette, produced by MoonScoop and the Dream Garden Company, and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Although the film was originally produced in English, it has never seen a release neither in the United States, nor any other English-speaking country until the discovery of the movie.
Cast
- Keegan Connor Tracy as KZ, Female Passenger #2
- Trevor Devall as Azer, Guuz, Distress Call Voice #3
- Brian Drummond as Bun Zhu, Ivan Karotz, Temple Guard
- Cole Howard as Abrems
- Jan Rabson as Zhu Fu, Ninja, Pilot
- Luc Roderique as Serge
- Vincent Tong as Yama, Distress Call Voice #1
- Sam Vincent as Tekla, Distress Call Voice #2
Background
It was part of a 4 film deal with Universal Pictures and Cepia LLC that featured Quest for Zhu, Journey to Glo-E, and The Secret of Zhu. Only the first film was released. The film was originally announced in a 2011 press release, along with its predecessor, Quest for Zhu, and was set to release direct-to-DVD in the United States in 2012, but this never materialized.[4] According to producer Ciara Anderson's LinkedIn page, it was later set to release on DVD in 2014, but this too never occurred.[5]
Sometime in 2013-14, a Portuguese dub of the full film was broadcast in Brazil on premium movie channel Telecine Fun, under the translated title As Incríveis Aventuras de Zhu. Additionally, the film was broadcast in France. On July 31st, 2015, ZhuZhu Pets manufacturer Cepia LLC filed suit against Universal Pictures for having secretly distributed the film in these countries "without Cepia's knowledge or approval."[6]
Availability
Although the Portuguese dub of the film can be found online, including on MEGA, little of the original English version has been publicly released. Before the full film was found, the only known footage with English audio includes a short trailer on the Quest for Zhu DVD (when the film was known as The Power of Zhu) and a 2-minute clip uploaded to YouTube by the film's composer, Michael Tavera.
Discovery
Around late 2020/early 2021, Davidish obtained an English DVD copy from an unknown employee at Cepia, the employee is left unknown as disclosing the name would result in legal disputes as stated by him. The English version of the full movie was uploaded to YouTube by him later on, though it resulted in a block.
Boost Team reuploaded the original upload for the movie around April 2021, crediting Davidish for said footage of movie.
Videos
See Also
- Bunny Maloney (partially lost French animated TV series and English dub; 2009)
- Journey to Glo-E (partially lost direct to video CGI animated based on a line of glow-up teddy bears; 2013)
- The Secret of Zhu (partially lost unreleased third direct-to-video CGI animated film based on the Zhu Zhu Pets; 2013)
External Links
Full original Uncut version of the English dub with the Gonna Make you sweat Music video, full End Credits and Textless backgrounds. : https://archive.org/details/power-of-zhu_202410
References
- ↑ Hulu 2 - ZhuZhu Pets Secret of Zhu
- ↑ "Cepia - Zhu Zhu Pets"
- ↑ "Universal Pictures and Cepia LLC join forces for first-ever ZhuZhu Pets® global Marketing and Distribution DVD and TV Alliance"
- ↑ 2011 press release announcing the film. Retrieved 14 Nov '18
- ↑ Ciara Anderson's LinkedIn page. Retrieved 14 Nov '18
- ↑ Hollywood Reporter article. Retrieved 14 Nov '18