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Disney debuts retro ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ poster, animated film to include 8-bit video game baddies Bowser, Kano, Robotnik

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Posted on by Ricky Brigante 11 Comments
A pixelated character with vibrant red hair, an oversized pink nose, and a wide grin appears against a black background, evoking the retro 8-bit style of Wreck-It Ralph as seen in Disney theme park attractions celebrating classic arcade games.

The video game world was abuzz online when The Walt Disney Studios this week unveiled the first poster for the upcoming animated film “Wreck-It Ralph.” The film is set in a classic Nintendo-era 8-bit world in which video game villains are tired of always being portrayed as the bad guy.

The new poster, in that same 8-bit style, shows off the movie’s title character, Wreck-It Ralph, who is the villain of the fictional Donkey Kong-meets-Rampage video game “Fix It Felix Jr.”:

Pixelated image of Wreck-It Ralph’s angry red-haired face in retro 8-bit arcade style, reminiscent of classic Disney video game attractions, displayed on a black background with the movie’s release date featured below.

Additional real-life video game villains will also be featured in the highly-anticipated film, including Bowser from the Super Mario Bros series, Doctor Robotnik / Eggman from the Sonic the Hedgehog series, one of the Pac-Man ghosts, heart-stopping Kano from Mortal Kombat, and Coily the Snake from Q*Bert.

Iconic 8-bit video game villains, like spectral ghosts, a mad scientist, a menacing dragon turtle, a sly snake, and an armed nemesis, unite in this animated adventure styled after the vibrant worlds of classic arcade attractions.

Disney fans got a first look at “Wreck-It Ralph” at the 2011 D23 Expo, during an all-encompassing preview of upcoming projects from The Walt Disney Studios. On hand were actors Sarah Silverman and Jack McBrayer, both of whom provide voices for the film, along with director Rich Moore.

Onstage at a Disney Parks event, three presenters stand beneath a giant screen featuring beloved characters from "Wreck-It Ralph," inviting fans into the excitement of classic 8-bit gaming worlds brought to life.

On stage, three performers electrify the crowd as one triumphantly raises a fist, all set against shimmering stage curtains and an excited audience, capturing the lively spirit of a classic 8-bit Disney Parks celebration reminiscent of scenes from Wreck-It Ralph.

A notoriously raunchy comedian, Silverman kept her appearance at the convention family-friendly, joking that she normally dislikes Disney movies, noting “I hate that they make me feel.”

Though the duo was funny on stage, the biggest laughs came from a sneak peek at the unfinished first few minutes of the film, introducing the title character, voiced by actor John C. Reilly. Though the movie is set in a world of a video game that doesn’t really exist, Ralph is joined by familiar faces as they come to grips with the depressingly repetitive life of being a video game bad guy, attending support group meetings (“Bad-Anon”) to cope with the stress of constantly being hated for going after the heroes.

A cartoon character sits on a pile of debris under the night sky, gazing up at a brightly illuminated brick apartment building that looks just like the classic 8-bit world of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, evoking the nostalgia and excitement of stepping into an immersive theme park attraction.

The hilarious support group scene was extremely well received, even in rough animation, most notably due to the instantly recognizable video game character cameos, each expressing their own issues with being a baddie. Ultimately the film follows Ralph on an adventure to prove himself as more than just a bad guy, hopping between video game genres to find his place in virtual life. Send-up genres include “kart” racing and first-person shooters with one world featuring a distinctly “Halo” feel, including the voice of Jane Lynch as a space-age sergeant.

Armored soldiers clash with glowing, green robotic aliens wielding energy weapons inside a futuristic attraction, reminiscent of a thrilling 8-bit arcade adventure or an animated experience like Wreck-It Ralph’s Hero’s Duty ride at a top theme park.

But ultimately the connection fans have to “Wreck-It Ralph” is in its 8-bit roots, a nostalgic video game style for all gamers. In promotion of the film the 2011 D23 Expo also showed off stand-up arcade machine for “Fix It Felix Jr”, unfortunately unplayable, but with entertaining pixelated visuals running across its screen.

Wreck-It Ralph movie marquee featuring broken windows and the November 2012 release date, set against a brick wall backdrop, evokes the playful spirit of Disney’s animated adventure inspired by classic arcade games—a nostalgic tribute sure to delight guests at Disney Parks and Resorts.

Fix-It Felix Jr. arcade game, as seen in Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, set up in front of a retro brick wall and windows—just like you’d find at your favorite movie-themed entertainment destination.

Step into the whimsical world of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph with the Fix-It Felix Jr. arcade machine, featuring vibrant 8-bit cartoon graphics and a classic joystick, just like in the movie—perfect for gamers and families enjoying their day at the park.

We can likely expect to see a similar display, if not a more elaborate one, at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con in July, a mecca for the exact crowd that this film will most appeal to.

“Wreck-It Ralph” smashes its way into theaters on November 2, 2012.

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