The Chipmunk Adventure facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Chipmunk Adventure
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Janice Karman
Produced by	Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
Written by	Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman
Starring	Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman Dody Goodman Susan Tyrrell Anthony De Longis Frank Welker Ken Sansom Nancy Cartwright
Music by	Randy Edelman
Editing by	Tony Mizgalski
Studio	Bagdasarian Productions
Distributed by	The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date(s)	May 22, 1987 (1987-05-22)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Money made	$6.8 million

The Chipmunk Adventure is an animated movie from 1987. It is based on the popular TV show Alvin and the Chipmunks. The movie was directed by Janice Karman and written by her and Ross Bagdasarian Jr..

The story follows the Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore) and the Chipettes (Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor). They go on an exciting hot air balloon race around the world. But this race is actually a secret plan for a diamond smuggling operation!

Story of the Adventure

When their guardian, David Seville, goes to Europe for work, the Chipmunks stay home with their babysitter, Ms. Miller. One day, the Chipmunks and Chipettes play an arcade game called Around the World in 30 Days. Alvin and Brittany start arguing about who would win a real race around the world.

Two international diamond smugglers, Claudia and Klaus Furschtein, overhear them. They have valuable diamonds to deliver but need secret messengers. Claudia tricks the kids into becoming their unknowing helpers. She offers a $100,000 prize for a real race around the world between the Chipmunks and Chipettes. Alvin even tricks Ms. Miller into thinking Dave wants them to meet him in Europe so they can join the race.

The Race Begins

The two teams start their journey in hot air balloons. Each team gets a different route and twelve dolls that look like them. They need to trade these dolls at certain places for dolls that look like the other team. What they don't know is that their dolls are filled with diamonds, and the dolls they receive contain cash!

The Furschteins' butler, Mario, is secretly working for Inspector Jamal. Jamal sends two of his men to get the dolls, but they keep failing.

Exciting Stops Around the World

The Chipmunks' first stop is Mexico City, where they join a fun festival. In Bermuda, the Chipettes go scuba diving to make their first exchange. Brittany almost gets eaten by a shark!

The teams keep traveling and exchanging their dolls in many countries. Jamal's men try to get the dolls but always mess up. The Chipmunks and Chipettes even meet in Athens. They try to outdo each other with a musical performance at the Acropolis. Dave almost sees them there!

Danger and Discoveries

Jamal gets frustrated and asks a young sheikh for help. The sheikh's men capture the Chipettes in Giza. The prince wants to marry Brittany and gives her a baby penguin. The girls sing a song to charm the cobras guarding their dolls. They escape in their balloon and fly to Antarctica to take the baby penguin back to its family.

The girls realize they went off course. Claudia sends her thugs after them. The girls escape again but then find the diamonds and cash inside the dolls! They realize they've been tricked and decide to find the boys.

Meanwhile, the Chipmunks take a shortcut through a jungle. They are captured by a native tribe. Theodore is named their "Prince of Plenty," and Alvin and Simon are forced to be his servants. They soon learn they are going to be sacrificed by being dropped into a pit of crocodiles. They perform the song "Wooly Bully" to entertain the natives and buy time. Luckily, the Chipettes arrive and rescue them!

The End of the Adventure

Claudia finds out Mario is giving information to Jamal. It turns out Jamal is an Interpol Inspector! The children land at Los Angeles International Airport just as Dave's flight arrives. The Furschteins chase them and make them surrender by falsely saying they kidnapped Ms. Miller.

Dave sees them being taken away and joins Jamal in the chase. Ms. Miller, who is driving the wrong way on a one-way street, accidentally runs the Furschteins off the road! They are arrested by Jamal, and the children are reunited with Dave. Alvin and Brittany immediately start arguing about who won the race, which makes the adults laugh.

Voice Actors

Here are the talented people who lent their voices to the characters:

• Ross Bagdasarian Jr. as Alvin, Simon, and David Seville
• Janice Karman as Theodore Seville and as the Chipettes: Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor Miller
• Dody Goodman as Ms. Miller
• Susan Tyrrell as Claudia Furschtein
• Anthony De Longis as Klaus Furschtein
• Frank Welker as the Furschteins' dog Sophie, the baby penguin, the native chief, and other voices
• Ken Sansom as Inspector Jamal
• Nancy Cartwright as the Arabian prince

Other voices were provided by Charlie Adler, Philip L. Clarke, Patrick Pinney, and George Poulos.

Making the Movie

After his Alvin and the Chipmunks TV show became very popular, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. wanted to make a full-length movie. In 1985, Disney had to let go of many animators after their movie The Black Cauldron didn't do well. Bagdasarian quickly hired some of these talented animators to work on his film.

Bagdasarian and his wife Janice Karman decided to pay for the movie themselves. They had earned a lot of money from the TV series. They worked with several studios in other countries, which caused some delays. By late 1986, they were behind schedule and running out of money. This meant they had to cut some parts from the movie. For example, a scene where the Chipmunks went to Russia was removed.

Movie Music

The music for The Chipmunk Adventure was created by Randy Edelman. The songs were performed by The Chipmunks and The Chipettes. Many songs in the movie were sung by both groups. On April 1, 2008, the soundtrack was re-released as a bonus CD with the movie's DVD.

Songs from the Movie

Here are some of the songs featured in The Chipmunk Adventure:

• "Chipmunk Adventure Theme" – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi/Cuanto le Gusta" – The Chipmunks
• "Off to See the World" – The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
• "Weekend in France, Italy, England, Amsterdam, Greece..." – David Seville and the Chipmunks (heard as instrumental music)
• "The Girls of Rock and Roll" – The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
• "Flying with the Eagles" – The Chipmunks and the Chipettes (a short instrumental part)
• "Getting Lucky" – The Chipettes
• "Mexican Holiday" – The Chipmunks (heard as instrumental music)
• "My Mother" – The Chipettes
• "Wooly Bully" – The Chipmunks
• "Diamond Dolls" – The Chipettes
• "Underwaterture" – Randy Edelman (music for the underwater scene, not released on a record)
• "Come On-a My House" – Dody Goodman (sung briefly by Miss Miller, not released on a record)
• "A Matter of Fact" – Electric Light Orchestra (used in the "Wooly Bully" scene)
• "Witch Doctor" – Dody Goodman (sung briefly by Miss Miller, not released on a record)

Release Information

The movie was first shown to people in the film industry at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, a year before it came out.

The Chipmunk Adventure was originally planned for Christmas 1986. However, it was released on May 22, 1987. It earned $2,584,720 on its first weekend and made a total of $6,804,312 in North America.

Watching at Home

The film was released on VHS tapes in 1988, 1992, and 1998. On May 23, 2006, it came out on DVD. This DVD version was digitally improved from the original film and had 5.1 surround sound. A special edition DVD with the soundtrack CD was released on April 1, 2008. The movie was released on Blu-ray for the first time on March 25, 2014.

See also

In Spanish: The Chipmunk Adventure para niños