Mar 15, 2016

"Sausage Party" blew the roof off SXSW, Red Band trailer released

American animation is finally growing up. For the second year in a row, a major Hollywood studio will release an R-rated animated feature. For the record, this has never happened before, and whatever you think of the two releases – Anomalisa and Sausage Party – the availability of these films could have a far-reaching impact on the future of Hollywood animation – and perhaps an awakening amongst Hollywood execs that animation doesn't have to be relegated to the kiddie matinee crowd.

Sausage Party, the first American R-rated CG animated movie, had its debut public screening at SXSW tonight and the reaction on social media was strikingly good. Sony also just released the red band trailer, which you can see below. Take notice, plenty of F-bombs are dropped:

Directed by Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends) and Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens), Sausage Party is described as a film about “one sausage's quest to discover the truth about his existence.” Voice cast includes Rogen, James Franco, Salma Hayek, Kristen Wiig, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Edward Norton, and Michael Cera, among others. Nitrogen Studios in Vancouver, Canada produced the animation from a screenplay by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir.

Sausage Party will be released in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

Here's a selection of reactions from those who attended tonight's SXSW screening: