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Re-Animated (2006) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Re-Animated (2006) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2006 · 85 mins · English
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Directed by
Bruce Hurwit
Starring
Tom Kenny, Ellen Greene, Fred Willard, Neil Flynn, Dylan Smith, Paul Reubens

It was Cartoon Network’s first original live‑action/animated feature. The film follows a boy who, after a disastrous amusement‑park accident and a subsequent brain transplant, begins to perceive cartoon characters coexisting with the real world, blending live‑action scenes with animated figures.

Comedy Family Animation Cast, crew & box office
On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (7)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Character & meaning questions
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Re-Animated
  9. 9 Every angle
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7 main characters · contains spoilers

Re-Animated Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Re-Animated (2006), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jimmy Roberts (Dominic Janes)

    A 12-year-old who is bullied at school, Jimmy longs for acceptance. After Milt Appleday's brain is transplanted into him, he gains charisma and becomes president of Appleday Pictures, yet struggles to balance school, friendships, and his new public persona.

    • 🧑 Protagonist
    • 💡 Creative
    • 🤝 Loyal

  • Milt Appleday (Fred Willard)

    The late cartoon creator whose brain resides in Jimmy, fueling his imagination and driving the company’s ambitions. His presence influences Jimmy’s decisions and the direction of Appleday Pictures, even as he remains physically absent.

    • 🎨 Creator
    • 🧠 Brain
    • 🎭 Mentor

  • Golly Gopher (Paul Reubens)

    The mascot character who believes in Jimmy's potential and pushes him toward regaining fame for Appleday Pictures. Golly embodies showmanship and theatrical flair while navigating the tension between entertainment and sincerity.

    • 🎭 Mascot
    • 🗣️ Entertainer

  • Crocco (Brian Posehn)

    The dangerous antagonist who corrupts Crocco's Train and schemes to decapitate Jimmy to seize control of Appleday's legacy. His manipulation highlights the darker side of entertainment and technology.

    • 🗡️ Villain

  • Robin (Eunice Cho)

    Craig's sister and Jimmy's ally, she sees through manipulation and pushes Jimmy to consider the human cost of fame. She risks danger to uncover the truth and advocate for friends over prestige.

    • 🧭 Moral Compass
    • 👩‍🎓 Friend

  • Captain Roberts (Rachel Quaintance)

    A figure of authority connected to the corporate or security side of Appleday's operation. She provides a stabilizing influence amid the story's chaos and media spectacle.

    • 🧭 Authority
    • 🛡️ Responsibility

  • Tux (Tom Kenny)

    The talking mascot character who acts as Jimmy's link to Appleday's world. Tux embodies the whimsical, imaginative side of cartoons and helps guide Jimmy through peril.

    • 🤖 Sidekick
    • 🗺️ Guide

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 23:03

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6 characters · 10 connections · contains spoilers

Re-Animated Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in Re-Animated: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
JRJimmy RobertsDominic JanesMAMilt AppledayFred WillardRRobinEunice ChoCCraigGGGolly GopherPaul ReubensYYancy

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 23:03

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Setting

Where and When Does Re-Animated Take Place?

The setting of Re-Animated (2006): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary

The story unfolds in a modern-day setting, anchored by a middle school class trip and current media culture. Events move from a playful park visit to high-stakes drama, including a medical transplant and a televised surrender of control to a young protagonist. The world features modern technology, celebrity interests, and the personal costs of pursuing fame.

Location

Gollyworld, Appleday Pictures Studio, On-premises Hospital, Jimmy's Home

Gollyworld is a carnival-like amusement park built around Milt Appleday's cartoons, where Jimmy's class trip unfolds and he first encounters the living characters. The park features attractions such as Tux's Arctic Adventure and Crocco's Train, which drive the story toward danger and discovery. The on-premises hospital is the setting for the brain transplant that fuses Jimmy with Appleday's creative nucleus, while Appleday Pictures Studio becomes the stage for Jimmy's TV debut and the corporate machinations behind the Appleday legacy. Jimmy's home grounds the narrative in family dynamics and the consequences of fame.

  • 🎡 Amusement Park
  • 🏥 Hospital
  • 🎬 Film Studio
  • 🏡 Home

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 23:03

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3 major themes

Re-Animated Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Re-Animated (2006) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Friendship

    Friendship is tested as popularity and public image collide with genuine connection. Jimmy's relationships, especially with Robin, reveal that loyalty and trust matter more than being the center of attention. The story centers on choosing authenticity over applause and the healing power of true friends.

  • Creativity

    Creativity is a powerful force that can inspire and elevate, but it also invites manipulation. The brain transplant amplifies Jimmy's imaginative potential while exposing him to commercial exploitation and risky misuses of artistic power. The narrative probes how creators balance innovation with responsibility.

  • Ethics

    Power over living art and entertainment raises ethical questions about control, exploitation, and the duty to others. The plan to weaponize the brain transplant and retrofit Crocco's Train spots the danger of greed eclipsing care. The story asks what the right use of creative power should be, and who gets to decide.

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 23:03

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Character & theme questions

Re-Animated Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Re-Animated (2006): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Re-Animated set?

Re-Animated primarily takes place at Gollyworld, a carnival-like amusement park built around Milt Appleday's cartoon legacy. The story also unfolds at Appleday Pictures Studio, where corporate decisions are made, an on-premises hospital where the brain transplant occurs, and Jimmy's family home where personal dynamics play out.

  • gollyworld
  • appleday pictures
  • setting
  • amusement park
  • film studio
Q2

What time period is Re-Animated set in?

Re-Animated is set in contemporary modern times. The story is anchored by a middle school class trip and takes place within current media culture, featuring modern technology and celebrity interests.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern
  • setting
Q3

What are the main themes of Re-Animated?

Re-Animated explores three core themes: Friendship, which centers on choosing authenticity over applause and the healing power of true friends; Creativity, which examines how artistic power can inspire but also invites manipulation; and Ethics, which questions control, exploitation, and the duty creators have to others when wielding creative influence.

  • themes
  • friendship
  • creativity
  • ethics
  • messages
Q4

Who is Jimmy Roberts in Re-Animated?

Jimmy Roberts is a 12-year-old boy who is bullied at school and longs for acceptance. After a disastrous amusement park accident, he receives a brain transplant containing the creative nucleus of late cartoon legend Milt Appleday, which grants him charisma and makes him president of Appleday Pictures while forcing him to balance his new public persona with genuine friendships.

  • jimmy roberts
  • main character
  • protagonist
  • bullied kid
Q5

Who is Milt Appleday in Re-Animated?

Milt Appleday is the deceased cartoon creator whose brain is transplanted into Jimmy. His creative genius fuels Jimmy's imagination and drives the company's ambitions, influencing decisions at Appleday Pictures even though he remains physically absent. He represents the legacy of cartoon creativity and the responsibilities that come with artistic power.

  • milt appleday
  • cartoon creator
  • brain transplant
  • legacy
Q6

Who is Golly Gopher in Re-Animated?

Golly Gopher is the mascot character of Appleday Pictures who believes in Jimmy's potential and pushes him toward regaining fame for the company. He embodies showmanship and theatrical flair while navigating the tension between entertainment and sincerity, serving as a guide in the cartoon world.

  • golly gopher
  • mascot
  • showmanship
  • guide
Q7

Who is Crocco in Re-Animated?

Crocco is the main antagonist who corrupts Crocco's Train and schemes to decapitate Jimmy in order to seize control of Appleday's legacy. His manipulation highlights the darker side of entertainment and technology, representing greed that eclipses care for others.

  • crocco
  • antagonist
  • villain
  • threat
Q8

What does Re-Animated say about fame?

Re-Animated delivers a 'be careful what you wish for' message about fame. The story shows how popularity and public image collide with genuine connection, ultimately revealing that loyalty and trust matter more than being the center of attention. Jimmy must choose between his new public persona and authentic friendships.

  • fame
  • popularity
  • authenticity
  • message
Q9

Who is Robin in Re-Animated?

Robin is Craig's sister and Jimmy's ally who sees through manipulation and pushes him to consider the human cost of fame. She advocates for friends over prestige and risks danger to uncover the truth, representing loyalty and the voice of conscience in the story.

  • robin
  • ally
  • friend
  • support character
Q10

What role does Tux play in Re-Animated?

Tux is the talking penguin mascot who acts as Jimmy's primary link to Appleday's cartoon world. He embodies the whimsical, imaginative side of cartoons and helps guide Jimmy through the perils of the story, serving as a whimsical mentor figure.

  • tux
  • mascot
  • guide
  • mentor
  • cartoon world
Q11

What ethical questions does Re-Animated raise?

Re-Animated explores ethical questions about power over living art and entertainment, including issues of control, exploitation, and creative responsibility. The film probes what the right use of creative power should be, who gets to decide how it's wielded, and whether commercial ambitions justify risking others' wellbeing.

  • ethics
  • power
  • control
  • exploitation
  • responsibility
Q12

What kind of world does Re-Animated depict?

Re-Animated depicts a world where cartoon characters coexist with reality, blending live-action with animation. It's a whimsical, playful universe where imagination has tangible power, but also where creative forces can be weaponized for greed. The tone remains lighthearted despite cartoonish dangers, reflecting a 'be careful what you wish for' narrative.

  • world
  • cartoon reality
  • animation
  • live-action
  • tone

Movie threads

More Movies Like Re-Animated, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Re-Animated tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies that mix live-action and animation like Re-Animated

Whimsical stories where animated characters burst into the real world. If you enjoyed the unique blend of real-life and cartoons in 'Re-Animated', you'll love these movies. This list features family-friendly adventures and comedies where animated characters interact with live-action worlds, creating a fun and surreal viewing experience. Find similar stories of imagination colliding with reality.

  • surreal
  • imaginative
  • whimsical
  • lighthearted
  • youthful
  • fantastical
  • Tone: whimsical, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with an ordinary protagonist stumbling into an extraordinary situation, discovering a hidden world of cartoons or magic that coexists with our own. The plot typically revolves around the protagonist learning to navigate this new reality, often involving a quest or a challenge that tests their character, ultimately reinforcing themes of friendship and staying true to oneself.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core visual and narrative gimmick: the seamless integration of animation into a live-action setting. This creates a distinct whimsical and playful tone, a fast pace driven by surreal events, and a light emotional weight perfect for family audiences seeking imaginative escapism.

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The Addams Family

2019
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales movie poster

The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales

2018
Fat Albert movie poster

Fat Albert

2004
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie movie poster

Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie

2025
A Fairly Odd Summer movie poster

A Fairly Odd Summer

2014
Happily N'Ever After movie poster

Happily N'Ever After

2007

Coming of age stories about fame and friendship like Re-Animated

Young protagonists navigate the sudden highs and lows of unexpected popularity. For viewers who liked the theme of chasing fame in 'Re-Animated', this collection features movies about young characters dealing with sudden popularity. These stories explore the downsides of fame and the importance of friendship, often with a lighthearted and fast-paced approach. Discover similar tales of learning what truly matters.

  • youthful
  • lighthearted
  • quirky
  • imaginative
  • adventurous
  • coming of age
  • Tone: lighthearted, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, upbeat
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a young character acquiring a unique power or opportunity that rapidly brings them fame and admiration. This initial excitement is soon followed by a crisis where the protagonist realizes their newfound status is hollow or has negative consequences, leading to a climax where they must choose between fame and their core values, ultimately prioritizing genuine relationships.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by a shared 'be careful what you wish for' character arc focused on the allure and pitfalls of fame. They typically feature a fast pace to mirror the rollercoaster of sudden popularity, a straightforward narrative complexity suitable for younger audiences, and a light emotional weight that ensures the lessons are delivered in an entertaining, not heavy-handed, way.

Re-Animated movie poster

Re-Animated

2006
Family Troubles movie poster

Family Troubles

1943
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue movie poster

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

1990
College Road Trip movie poster

College Road Trip

2008
Everyone's Hero movie poster

Everyone's Hero

2006
Dadnapped movie poster

Dadnapped

2009
Big Fat Liar movie poster

Big Fat Liar

2002
Getting There movie poster

Getting There

2002

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Every angle

Re-Animated (2006) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Re-Animated in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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