Somewhat of a surprise sequel, arriving twenty-three years after the original delighted audiences, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget has a lot to prove. Picked up and developed by Netflix by much of the same creative team as Chicken Run, Dawn of the Nugget not only has to prove that the two-decade-plus wait was worthwhile, but that the stop-motion style of animation, spearheaded by Aardman themselves, still has a place on our screens.
Beginning to outlive their tranquil, settled lives on a Chicken Island, Ginger and Rocky welcome their new daughter, Molly to their idyllic community. But with the chickens now facing a new threat, they are forced to defend their freedom once more, with foes both old and new. Directed by Sam Fell, with a mixture of old, new and replaced voice actors, Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey and Imelda Staunton.
Chicken Run does not hold the title of highest-grossing stop-motion feature for no reason, it's unique and quirky sensibilities embraced by an audience who prefer their animation a little more idiosyncratic than what other studios were offering at the time. Realising that expectations for Dawn of the Nugget are high, Sam Fell and his team choose the path of least resistance, offering more of the same in this enjoyable if fleeting flick.
As is to be expected, the level of craftsmanship exhibited throughout Dawn of the Nugget is a pleasure to witness. Sam Fell revels in the playfully animated and richly detailed world, the animation is as vibrantly coloured as the previous Aardman features, rendered with a personality that the screenplay's impressive world-building enriches further. Karey Kirkpatrick, John O'Farrell and Rachel Tunnard's script's biggest strength are its wonderfully sketched characters, brought to life by an impressive voice cast whose standouts include David Bradley, Jane Horrocks and Josie Sedgwick-Davies, each finding charisma in their supporting work.
It wouldn't be unfair to say that emotionally and creatively, there is little progression between pictures, Dawn of the Nuggest perhaps resting on its laurels somewhat. More of the same is fine, but there's a safety in the formulaic approach to the sequel that prevents it from reaching the heights of the original - a little disappointing given the inventive strokes Aardman have previously demonstrated. But thankfully, due to some cracking one-liners and visual gags, there's a level of enjoyment that cannot be disputed with Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, with something for all the family to enjoy.