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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (film)

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a 2009 American animated science fiction comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, and released by Sony Pictures Releasing. Loosely based on the 1978 children's book of the same name by Judi and Ron Barrett, the film was written for the screen and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, in their feature directorial debuts. It stars the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Benjamin Bratt, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film centers around an aspiring inventor named Flint Lockwood who develops, following a series of failed experiments, a machine that can convert water into food. After the machine gains sentience and begins to develop food storms, Flint must stop it in order to save the world.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPhil Lord
Christopher Miller
Screenplay by
  • Phil Lord
  • Christopher Miller
Based on
Produced byPam Marsden
Starring
Edited byRobert Fisher Jr.
Music byMark Mothersbaugh
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
Running time
90 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million[4]
Box office$243 million[4]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs premiered at the Mann Village Theater in Los Angeles, California on September 12, 2009, and was released in the United States six days later on September 18 of that same year. It was a box office success, earned $243 million worldwide on a budget of $100 million at the box office.[4] The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its colorful visuals, humor, characters, voice acting, and score, while the simple character designs were said to be unfitting. The film has since been expanded into a franchise, with a sequel, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, released on September 27, 2013, as well as an animated television series based on the film that premiered on Cartoon Network on February 20, 2017, with none of the original cast returning.

Plot

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Aspiring inventor Flint Lockwood lives with his widowed father Tim and his pet monkey Steve in Swallow Falls, an island in the Atlantic Ocean. The island's economy is entirely based on sardine sales, which have plummeted due to the rest of the world deciding the fish are "super gross", leaving Swallow Falls residents to eat all the sardines themselves.

Flint invents the "Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator" (FLDSMDFR), a device which transforms water into food, in an effort to expand the town's diet. He knocks out his house's power when he attempts to plug in the new device, annoying Tim, who wishes Flint would give up inventing and take over the family tackle and bait business. Flint attempts to connect the FLDSMDFR to a local substation, but the device overloads, rocketing across town and into the sky. In the process, it destroys a new sardine-themed amusement park meant to revitalize the island's economy, angering Mayor Shelbourne and the other townsfolk. Afterwards, a dejected Flint meets Samantha "Sam" Sparks, a meteorologist from New York City whose big break was ruined by the incident. As they talk together, cheeseburgers suddenly begin raining from the sky; Flint realizes the FLDSMDFR is functioning successfully in the stratosphere, using the condensation from clouds to create food-based weather systems.

The town rejoices in their new food choices, and Swallow Falls is renamed Chewandswallow and becomes a food tourism destination, making Flint a local celebrity. Flint and Sam begin to fall in love after they discover they were both bullied for their appearance and love of science. However, Flint notices the food has begun to "over-mutate", becoming both larger and less molecularly stable. He attempts to warn the now morbidly obese Mayor Shelbourne that the FLDSMDFR is malfunctioning, but Shelbourne is only interested in more food and more tourism. After a tornado made up of spaghetti and meatballs threatens the town, Flint attempts to turn the FLDSMDFR off. Shelbourne accidentally destroys Flint's control panel in an attempt to stop Flint, causing the FLDSMDFR to go rogue and create a massive "food storm" across the planet.

Flint places a kill code in a USB flash drive and builds a flying car to reach and destroy the FLDSMDFR. Accompanied by Sam, her cameraman Manny, Steve, and the town's former mascot "Baby" Brent McHale, they approach the FLDSMDFR and discover it has surrounded itself with a giant meatball for protection. As they reach the interior, they lose the flash drive with the kill code and are attacked by giant animated roast chickens. Brent is swallowed by one, but subdues it and wears it as armor to fight off the others. Flint and Sam attempt to climb down to the center of the meatball, but some peanut brittle triggers Sam's peanut allergies. Sam refuses to leave Flint, and they profess their love for one another. To save Sam, Flint cuts the rope and falls down to the FLDSMDFR, while Brent takes Sam back for medical attention.

Back in Swallow Falls, the townsfolk evacuate on rafts made of giant food, while Tim stays behind to upload a kill code to Flint's phone. Flint uses the code on the machine, which reveals it has developed a mind of its own. Realizing that Tim accidentally sent the wrong file, Flint uses a Spray-on Shoe formula to jam the device, causing it and the giant meatball to detonate as he falls back to Earth. The townsfolk cheer on Flint as a hero, and Tim at last shows appreciation for his son, while Sam and Flint share a kiss.

Voice cast

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Voice actors in the film include:[5]

  • Bill Hader as Flint Lockwood, an unsuccessful but bright and determined young scientist and inventor.
  • Hader also voices the FLDSMDFR, Flint's invention
    • Max Neuwirth as the young Flint
  • Anna Faris as Samantha "Sam" Sparks, a meteorologist from New York City and later Flint's love interest
  • Neil Patrick Harris as Steve, Flint's pet vervet monkey and best friend, who communicates through a thought translator Flint invented
  • James Caan as Timothy "Tim" Lockwood, Flint's technophobic fisherman father
  • Bruce Campbell as Mayor Shelbourne, Swallow Falls' corrupt mayor, who later becomes morbidly obese after consuming massive quantities of food
  • Andy Samberg as "Baby" Brent McHale, the arrogant and dim-witted namesake of the Baby Brent Sardines cannery
  • Mr. T as Officer Earl Devereaux, Swallow Falls' athletic police officer and Cal's father
  • Bobb'e J. Thompson as Calvin "Cal" Devereaux, Earl's young son
  • Benjamin Bratt as Manny, Sam's Guatemalan cameraman and a former doctor, pilot and comedian
  • Al Roker as Patrick Patrickson, the anchorman of Weather News Network in New York City
  • Lauren Graham as Fran Lockwood, Flint's late mother who always believed in her son
  • Will Forte as Joe Towne, a redneck citizen of Swallow Falls who appears in certain scenes throughout the film
  • Angela V. Shelton as Regina Devereaux, Earl's wife and Cal's mother

Production

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Development

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On May 9, 2003, a year after establishment, Sony Pictures Animation announced its first animated slate, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a film adaptation of the book of the same name. The Brizzi brothers were brought to direct the film, with Wayne Rice adapting the screenplay.[6] In 2006, it was reported that the film had been helmed by new directors and writers, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The duo said later that year that it would be a homage to, and a parody of, disaster films such as Twister, Armageddon, The Core, and The Day After Tomorrow.[7]

Story and script

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After a year working on the script, Lord and Miller were fired for story issues and replaced with new writers, who after a year were also fired. Lord and Miller were then re-hired in 2006. The two completely redid the script, this time with the creative input of their crew. The new draft had the protagonist as a failed inventor who wanted to prove himself to his town. The two were almost fired again after Amy Pascal, then-head of Sony Pictures, criticized the film for lack of story. Although the film succeeded on the comedic front in the animatic stage, Pascal cited the lack of an anchoring relationship in the film as a failure in the story telling. Unable to create new characters and environments to suit the new story demands, the two elevated the character of the tackle shop extra to be the protagonist's father, thereby creating the relationship Pascal had requested. The pair's experience on Cloudy taught them two valuable lessons: the power of creative collaboration and the importance of emotion in a story.[8]

Casting

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On September 18, 2008, Variety announced that Bill Hader and Anna Faris had signed on to voice the two lead characters, with James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, and Andy Samberg also in the voice cast.[9]

Animation

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is the second film after Monster House that was made using the animation-rendering software Arnold.[10] Justin K. Thompson served as production designer.[11]

Music

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Soundtrack album by
Mark Mothersbaugh
ReleasedSeptember 15, 2009
Recorded2009
StudioAir Lyndhurst Studios
Angel Recording Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Henry Wood Hall
GenreFilm score
Length65:16
LabelSony Pictures Entertainment (Sony Music)
Mark Mothersbaugh chronology
Fanboys
(2009) 		Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
(2009) 		Ramona and Beezus
(2010)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is the soundtrack to the film of the same name, released under Sony Pictures Entertainment on September 15, 2009. The music of the film and this album are both credited to be composed and produced by American composer Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo and Rugrats fame. "Raining Sunshine", performed by Miranda Cosgrove, was released as a promotional single on August 24, 2009.[12]

The Japanese version has "Rainbow Forecast" by Shoko Nakagawa play during the end credits.

All music is composed by Mark Mothersbaugh except where noted

No.TitlePerformerLength
1."Raining Sunshine" (Matthew Gerrard, Jay Landers, Charlie Midnight)Miranda Cosgrove3:44
2."Swallow Falls" 0:47
3."Introducing Flint" 4:16
4."The Latest Invention" 1:23
5."The Mayor/Earl Warns Flint" 1:17
6."Sam's Big Break" 0:50
7."Powering Up" 1:05
8."Failure Again" 1:54
9."Meatier Shower" 3:10
10."A Father's Love" 1:19
11."Ice Cream Wonderland" 1:22
12."Snowball!" 1:15
13."The Mayor's Big Plan" 1:16
14."Activation and the Jell-O Dome" 1:39
15."Sam and Flint Bond" 2:00
16."Doubting Dad/Mutations" 2:57
17."The Spaghetti Twister" 3:08
18."Aftermath" 2:26
19."Flint's Determination" 2:44
20."The Food Storm" 2:08
21."The Mission Begins" 2:36
22."Outside the Meatball" 1:57
23."Inside the Meatball" 1:39
24."Earl Takes Charge" 2:00
25."Sentient Chickens" 2:42
26."Worldwide Chaos" 0:57
27."Anaphylactic Love" 1:41
28."Attack of the Gummi Bears" 1:40
29."Here's the Cheese" 1:25
30."The Heart of the Meatball" 1:17
31."Spray-On Triumph" 1:55
32."Flint Returns" 3:31
33."Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" (Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling)Lesley Gore1:37
Total length:65:16

Release

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs made its world premiere on September 12, 2009, as the main opening headliner of the Mann Village Theatre showcase event in Los Angeles, California.[3] The film had its wide release on September 18, 2009, along with a digitally re-mastered release to IMAX 3D theatres.[13]

Home media

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The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and PSP UMD on January 5, 2010 in the United States and Canada.[14][15] A 3D Blu-ray was released on June 22, 2010. It was the first 3D Blu-ray sold individually in the United States.[16] The film was filmed in 2.40:1 widescreen. Most copies present the film in two discs and present the film in either 1.78:1 widescreen or 2.40:1 widescreen.

In April 2021, Sony signed a deal with Disney giving them access to their legacy content, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and its sequel to stream on Disney+ and Hulu and appear on Disney's linear television networks. Disney's access to Sony's titles would come following their availability on Netflix.[17][18]

Art book

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In August 2009, Insight Editions published a companion book to the film called The Art and Making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.[19][20]

Reception

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Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 85% based on 141 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The consensus statement reads, "Quirky humor, plucky characters and solid slapstick make this family comedy a frenetically tasty time at the movies."[21] On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 24 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[23]

Ernest Hardy of LA Weekly stated the film "is smart, insightful on a host of relationship dynamics, and filled with fast-paced action". Hardy also applauded the 3-D effects which "are wonderful, full of witty sight gags that play out both center-screen and on the periphery".[24] Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film a mixed review stating that "Crazy doesn't always equal funny, and the gigantism of this 3-D offering's second half puts a damper on your enjoyment. But look: This film wasn't made for you, or me. It was made for dangerously, easily distracted 9-year-olds."[25] Sandie Angulo Chen of Common Sense Media gave the film three stars out of five, saying that it was "age-appropriate food adventure goes down easily."[26]

Box office

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs grossed $124.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $118.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide of $243 million.[4] The film earned $8,137,358 on its opening Friday, and ranked #1 at the box office with a total of $30.3 million for the first weekend.[27] On its second weekend, it remained at #1 with a decrease of only 17%.[28]

Accolades

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Group Category Recipient Result
Annie Awards[29] Animated Effects Tom Kluyskens Nominated
Best Animated Feature Nominated
Directing in a Feature Production Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Nominated
Writing in a Feature Production Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards[30] Best Animated Feature Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[31] Best Animated Feature Film Nominated
Satellite Awards[32] Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Nominated
Visual Effects Society Awards[33] Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Pete Nash, Chris Juen, Alan Hawkins, Mike Ford Nominated
Outstanding Effects Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Rob Bredow, Dan Kramer, Matt Hausman, Carl Hooper Nominated

Expanded franchise

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Main article: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (franchise)

Sequel

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Main article: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

A sequel, titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, was released on September 27, 2013. Directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, and it is based on an original idea, where Flint and his friends must again save the world from his food machine, which survived the explosion in the prequel. This time, the machine gains the ability to produce living food beasts.[34] Most of the main cast reprised their roles, but Earl, the town cop, is now voiced by Terry Crews since Mr. T declined to reprise the role. New cast also includes Kristen Schaal as orangutan Barb, and Will Forte in his new role of Chester V.[35]

Television series

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Main article: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (TV series)

On October 9, 2014, DHX Media announced that it will develop and produce a television series based on the film franchise, titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Series.[36] The series will be traditionally animated and will consist of twenty-six 22-minute episodes.[36] It will take place before the first film, showing Flint Lockwood as a high school student who dreams of becoming a serious scientist.[36] In his adventures, he will be joined by Sam Sparks, a new girl in town and the school's "wannabe" reporter, along with Flint's dad Tim, Steve the Monkey, Manny as the head of the school's audiovisual club, Earl as a school gym teacher, Brent as a baby wear model, and mayor Shelbourne.[36] DHX Media will handle the global television and non-US home entertainment distribution, along with worldwide merchandising rights, while Sony will distribute home entertainment in the US.[36] Commissioned by Teletoon in Canada, the series will air on Cartoon Network in the United States,[37] and on the Boomerang channel in other territories.[38] None of the original cast returned for the show and were replaced by Canadian voice actors.

See also

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Real-life food spill disasters and weather phenomena

References

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  1. ^ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". The Numbers. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "L.A. Premiere of the Mann Village Theatre to bow at Westwood Village/". Hollywood.com. September 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  5. ^ Gold, Daniel M. (September 18, 2009). "A Yummy Forecast". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Ball, Ryan (May 9, 2003). "Sony Taps Six to Direct Animates Slate". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  7. ^ Sloan, Sam (August 16, 2006). "It's Raining.........Food?". Slice of SciFi. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  8. ^ Lord, Phil (October 11, 2012). Rewriting Collective Insights: Phil Lord at TEDxCoconutGrove. TEDx Talks. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2018 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (September 18, 2008). "Hader, Faris spice up 'Meatballs". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Bharwani, Asim (July 2009). "Sneak Peek: 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'". MovingPicturesMagazine.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  11. ^ Vary, Adam B. (April 19, 2021). "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Sequel Snares New Directing Trio (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Cosgrove, Miranda (August 24, 2009). "Raining Sunshine - Single by Miranda Cosgrove on Apple Music". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019.
  13. ^ IMAX Corporation (July 29, 2009). "Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs to be released in IMAX(R) 3D" (Press release). PR Newswire. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  14. ^ Nemiroff, Perri (November 27, 2009). "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs Pours Onto DVD In January". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  15. ^ McCutcheon, David (November 9, 2009). "Meatballs Cloud Up Home". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  16. ^ Calonge, Juan (June 10, 2010). "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D Blu-ray Announced". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  17. ^ Team, AnimationXpress (April 26, 2021). "Sony Pictures Animation films to arrive on Disney+ and Hulu in a new multi-stream deal -". animationxpress.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Couch, Aaron (April 21, 2021). "Sony Films Will Move to Disney After Netflix Window Expires". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Silver, Curtis (October 21, 2009). "Get Visual With the Art of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs". Wired. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  20. ^ Miller-Zarneke, Tracey; Barrett, Judi (2009). The Art and Making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Hardcover). Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1933784892.
  21. ^ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  23. ^ Kaufman, Amy (September 29, 2013). "'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2' is No. 1 on crowded weekend". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022. Both installments received an average grade of A-, according to market research firm CinemaScore.
  24. ^ Hardy, Ernest (September 16, 2009). "Movie Reviews: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Jennifer's Body, Love Happens". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  25. ^ Phillips, Michael (September 17, 2009). "'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' -- 2 1/2 stars". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  26. ^ Chen, Sandie Angulo. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Gray, Brandon (September 21, 2009). "Weekend Report: Moviegoers Feast on 'Meatballs,' Slim Pickings for 'Jennifer'". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  28. ^ Gray, Brandon (September 28, 2009). "Weekend Report: Blue Skies for 'Cloudy,' Hazy Starts for 'Surrogates,' 'Fame'". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  29. ^ "37th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients". AnnieAwards.org. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  30. ^ "15TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (2010) – BEST PICTURE: THE HURT LOCKER". CriticsChoice.com. November 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  31. ^ "THE 67TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS". GoldenGlobes.org. December 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  32. ^ "2009 Satellite Awards". PressAcademy.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  33. ^ "8th Annual VES Awards". VisualEffectsSociety.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  34. ^ Sony Pictures Animation (August 21, 2012). "Delicious Voice Cast Storms In To 'Cloudy 2: Revenge Of The Leftovers'". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  35. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 21, 2012). "CAUTION: Food may eat YOU in 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' sequel -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  36. ^ a b c d e "DHX MEDIA AND SONY PICTURES ANIMATION TAKING CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS TO TELEVISION" (Press release). DHX Media. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  37. ^ Sony Pictures Animation (June 20, 2016). "Sony Pictures Animation Announces 2017 & 2018 Slate" (Press release). PR Newswire. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  38. ^ DHX Media (October 5, 2015). "DHX Media and Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs TV Series Goes Global" (Press release). PR Newswire. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
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