Jimmy Neutron lives in Retroville, an idealized town with pastel colored houses and manicured lawns. A bit old-fashioned but with healthy imaginations, the people of this quiet lit tle spot of suburbia have one foot in the past, another foot in the present...and one more foot in total fantasy.
"Jimmy's world is stylized — we're staying clear of photorealism," explains John A. Davis. "In fact, we're much more interested in photo-surrealism. We made the lighting colorful, dramatic and theatrical. There's a mixture of a general atomic fifties feel and a timeless quality. For example, Jimmy has the Internet, but his home computer has a unique retro design...as if there had been home computers in 1955."
"What's great about John and Keith's design of the character and of his world is that everything goes against the grain of a lot of other CG animation," adds Steve Oedekerk. "The world is a very fun, colorful place. The retro design gets the best of both the cool CG look and the organic feel of traditional animation."
While the setting is retro-styled and fun, the film's story and references are all contemporary.
"Retroville is a place where anything that was ever cool to kids still exists," says Davis. "That's why we see fifties-style cars with tail fins and chrome bumpers passing by houses with satellite dishes on their roofs. In fact, the kids play with fifties-style rockets as well as Gameboys. If it was ever cool, it's in Retroville."
The imaginary town is also a safe haven for kids. A place where kids can hop on their bikes and be gone until dinnertime without their parents worrying...unless there happens to be an invasion of slimy, green, alien egg people.
"Don't be surprised if certain people aren't what they appear to be," warns Davis.
In Retroville, things are smart and optimistic, but they also sport an edge of irony. For example, the mix between science and cartoon logic allows Jimmy to do things like fly through space in an open-air rocket.
"Even though Jimmy's a genius, he's still a kid who has all of the same drives and desires, problems and failings of an average child," says Davis. "Everything that affects boys-like girls, grades, and not being allowed out on a school night-affects Jimmy, too. The difference is, Jimmy might invent something to make things right for him, while most kids would just sit back and sulk."
"Jimmy is able to do everything kids dream about," agrees Oedekerk. "If the need arises he can fly, go back in time, make himself invisible...but, of course, he is a kid, so the things he invents don't always work exactly how he plans."
"His huge brain propels him in and out of misadventures by over-thinking things," Davis adds. "But he gets to live out his fantasies by virtue of his amazing brain. He gets to do all these great things that I always wanted to do when I was a kid!"
Perhaps the coolest thing about Jimmy is that he is an inventor. The things his highly-developed mind thinks up and all the gadgets he creates are enough to attract kids and adults alike.
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