Trailer
Plot summary
Bodi, a teenage Tibetan Mastiff, is raised in the village of Snow Mountain to succeed his father, Khampa, as its guard. Khampa once drove off a wolf gang whose leader is Linnux, and he has banned music in the village. Bodi struggles with the Iron Paw, a move that demands he find the fire. When a radio falls from a plane, Bodi hears the rock legend Angus Scattergood, rebuilds a traditional dramyin into a guitar, and practices instead of patrolling. The elder Fleetwood Yak persuades Khampa to let him go to the city with a bus ticket. There Bodi reaches Rock and Roll Park and tries to join the fox bassist Darma and the goat drummer Germur, while Linnux sends his henchmen Riff and Skozz after him.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Rock Dog (2016)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- During its original theatrical run, Wanda Cinema Line withheld most Chinese theaters from showing Rock Dog, limiting its box office in China; it was allegedly due to a conflict with Huayi Brothers.
- In the US, Rock Dog opened to $3.7 million, one of the worst-ever debuts for a film playing in over 2,000 theaters, after being expected to earn $6-7 million.
- The graphic novel behind Rock Dog was darker, killing off Bodi's father early, so director Ash Brannon lightened the tone for the film.
- Rock Dog was independently produced with financial uncertainty, including a 12-week schedule cut mid-production, unlike director Ash Brannon's experience at Pixar.
- Despite the Chinese-American production, the Chinese producers were unexpectedly hands-off, giving just one half-page of notes after an animatic screening.
- Budget constraints shaped the design of Bodi: his fur was shortened to make him easier to animate, and his hat helped simplify rendering.
