The Iron Giant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Iron Giant |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Brad Bird |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Brad Bird |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Michael Kamen |
| Cinematography | Steven Wilzbach |
| Editing by | Darren T. Holmes |
| Studio | Warner Bros. Feature Animation |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 31, 1999 (Mann's Chinese Theater) August 6, 1999 (United States) |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million |
| Money made | $31.3 million |
The Iron Giant is an animated science fiction action film from 1999. It was made by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and was the first movie directed by Brad Bird. The film is based on a book called The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.
The story takes place in 1957, during a time called the Cold War. This was when the United States and the Soviet Union were very suspicious of each other. The movie is about a young boy named Hogarth Hughes. He finds a huge robot from outer space and becomes its friend. Hogarth, with help from an artist named Dean McCoppin, tries to keep the robot safe. They must hide it from the U.S. military and a suspicious government agent named Kent Mansley.
Making the film started in 1994. Brad Bird became the director in 1996. The movie used traditional animation, but the Giant robot and other effects were made with computers. The team worked quickly with less money than other animated movies. Michael Kamen wrote the music for the film.
The Iron Giant first showed in Los Angeles on July 31, 1999. It was released everywhere on August 6. The movie did not make much money at first. This was because Warner Bros. did not promote it very well. But over time, many people watched it at home and on TV. It became a very popular movie and is now seen as a classic animated film. In 2015, a special new version of the movie was shown in theaters again.
Story of the Iron Giant
The story begins in October 1957. The Soviet Union had just launched Sputnik 1, the first satellite in space. An object from space crashes into the ocean near Maine, then lands in a forest. A nine-year-old boy named Hogarth Hughes goes to investigate. He finds a giant 50-foot robot from another planet. The robot is trying to eat power lines at an electrical station.
Hogarth soon learns the Giant is kind and curious. He becomes friends with it. One day, the Giant eats railroad tracks, causing a train to crash. Hogarth quickly leads the Giant away. He discovers the Giant can fix itself if it gets broken. Hogarth shows the Giant comic books about Superman. The Giant loves the idea of being a hero.
News of the crash brings a government agent named Kent Mansley to town. Mansley is very suspicious of anything new or different. He thinks Hogarth knows something. He rents a room in Hogarth's house to watch him. Hogarth manages to hide the Giant at a junkyard owned by Dean McCoppin. Dean is an artist who lives a bit differently from others. He agrees to help Hogarth keep the Giant a secret.
Hogarth and the Giant have fun together. But one day, they see hunters kill a deer. Hogarth has to explain to the Giant what "death" means.
One night, Mansley finds a photo of the Giant with Hogarth. He brings the U.S. Army to Dean's junkyard. Dean, warned by Hogarth, tricks them. He makes the Giant look like one of his art sculptures. General Shannon Rogard, the Army leader, is annoyed by Mansley's mistake. He gets ready to leave with his soldiers.
Later, Hogarth and the Giant are playing. Hogarth uses a toy gun, which accidentally makes the Giant's defense system turn on. The Giant almost hurts Hogarth. Dean gets angry, and the sad Giant runs away. Hogarth chases after it. Dean soon realizes the Giant was only protecting itself. He joins Hogarth to find the Giant.
The Giant saves two boys who fall from a roof. This makes the townspeople like the Giant. Mansley sees the Giant in town as he is leaving. He stops the Army and orders them to attack the Giant. The Giant has picked up Hogarth, and they try to escape by flying. But the Giant is shot down and crashes. Hogarth is knocked out.
The Giant thinks Hogarth is dead. It becomes very angry and turns into a war machine. It starts to attack the military and heads back to Rockwell. Mansley convinces General Rogard to launch a nuclear missile from a submarine. He says normal weapons are not working. Hogarth wakes up and calms the Giant. Dean explains the situation to General Rogard. The General is about to stop the attack. But Mansley suddenly orders the missile to launch. The missile is heading for Rockwell, which will destroy the town.
Mansley tries to run away, but the Giant stops him. General Rogard has Mansley arrested. To save the town, the Giant says goodbye to Hogarth. It flies into the sky to stop the missile. As it flies, the Giant remembers Hogarth's words: "You are who you choose to be." The Giant smiles and says "Superman" as it hits the missile. The missile explodes high in the air, saving Rockwell. But it seems the Giant is gone. Hogarth is very sad.
Months later, there is a memorial for the Giant in Rockwell. Dean and Annie, Hogarth's mom, start a relationship. Hogarth gets a package from General Rogard. Inside is a single screw from the Giant. That night, Hogarth sees the screw moving on its own. He remembers the Giant could fix itself. Happily, he lets the screw go. The screw joins many other parts of the Giant. They all come together on a glacier in Iceland. The Giant's head is there, and it smiles as it begins to put itself back together.
Voice Actors
- Eli Marienthal as Hogarth Hughes: A smart and curious 9-year-old boy.
- Jennifer Aniston as Annie Hughes: Hogarth's mother, who works as a diner waitress.
- Harry Connick Jr. as Dean McCoppin: An artist who owns a junkyard. He is one of the first to see that the Giant is not a threat.
- Vin Diesel as The Iron Giant: A huge robot from space. It is 50 feet tall and eats metal. If it sees a weapon, it automatically tries to destroy it. Vin Diesel was chosen for his deep, strong voice.
- James Gammon as Foreman Marv Loach: A worker at the power station. He follows the robot's path after it breaks the station. Gammon also voices Floyd Toubeaux.
- Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Karen Tensedge: Hogarth's schoolteacher.
- Christopher McDonald as Kent Mansley: A government agent who is very suspicious. He is sent to find the Iron Giant. He is the main bad guy in the movie.
- John Mahoney as General Shannon Rogard: A calm and experienced military leader. He does not like Mansley.
- M. Emmet Walsh as Earl Stutz: A sailor who is the first person to see the robot.
Also, Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, who were famous animators, voice the train's engineer and fireman at the start of the film.
See also
In Spanish: El gigante de hierro para niños
