For ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN, the filmmakers were determined to explore new facets of Scrat. His singular focus remains on getting his cursed acorn, even as he continues to run into an endless series of obstacles. Saldanha, producer Lori Forte and some of today’s top comedy writers add new twists so Scrat remains as funny and fresh as he was in the first film.
“Carlos really stretched and pushed the character,” says Meledandri. “Scrat is still going after the nut, but his attitudes and expressions of frustration change. He becomes more integrated into the story – a big step forward for him.”
Meledandri says Saldanha’s abilities with physical humor are critical to the film. “His sense of humor extends beyond the verbal,” says Meledandri, “and animation is often at its best when it’s non-verbal. Carlos communicates so much through performance and physicality. He really understands the language of performance.” Adds executive producer Chris Wedge, who collaborated closely with Saldanha on “Ice Age” and “Robots”: “Carlos knows every aspect of this story and of these characters. He’s been at my side at Blue Sky Studios for ten years.”
Once the character perspectives were established, the filmmakers began to explore the story’s brave new world: the melting Ice Age. Says Chris Wedge: “With ‘Ice Age,’ we made the environment a major character. And the same thing happens in ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN, but on an even bigger scale.”
Much of “Ice Age” was set against a backdrop of ice and snow. In the new film’s melting world, there’s room for other environmental dynamics and a warmer-looking landscape. “It was important that the visual experience be reflective of the first film, while also being distinct and fresh,” says Lori Forte. “The melting world is a big step forward in creating a new experience for the audience. It gave us a changing environment that becomes increasingly perilous for our characters. It really propels the action.”
Besides the “meltdown,” the film presents several environments new to the “Ice Age” universe, including trees, grass and mountains. The ever-changing landscape itself becomes a character – a kind of ticking-clock that counts down the peril as the characters try to flee to safety before the dam breaks and the valley floods.
To create ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN’s new environments, the filmmakers utilized twice as many effects as they did for its predecessor. Since “Ice Age,” huge strides have been made at Blue Sky Studios in rendering fur and water. “The technology helps bring audiences into the story’s own ‘reality’ and transport them to this world,” says Meledandri. “They may not notice specific technical advances, but they will feel them – it will seem like you can reach out and touch the characters.”
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary welcomed their return to the world of “Ice Age.” “It was fascinating watching their processes for this film,” says Lori Forte. “For ‘Ice Age,’ they really didn’t know what they were getting into – or how it was all going to come out. This time around, everyone was much more confident; they just slid into their roles, effortlessly.”
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