By David Weiner
1:01 PM PDT, July 29, 2011
The Smurfs are finally stepping onto the big screen with their very own movie, and we've assembled a Smurf-full of movies featuring cartoon characters coming to life in the real world!
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'The Smurfs' (2011)
Sony Pictures
Tra la la la la la! In the 3D movie, the Smurfs wind up in the human world after their archenemy Gargamel (Hank Azaria) forces the little blue creatures out of their village. Chaos ensues when the Smurfs land in the middle of New York City's Central Park. Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays and Sofia Vergara are live-action humans, while Katy Perry provides the voice of Smurfette. The characters originated in a Belgian comic strip back in 1958.
'Yogi Bear' (2010)
Warner Bros.
Hey there Boo Boo! The live-action/CGI 'Yogi Bear' features the vocal talents of Dan Aykroyd as the voice of Jellystone Park's most famous troublemaker, while Justin Timberlake plays Yogi's faithful buddy and co-conspirator, Boo Boo. Together, they tirelessly scheme to separate Jellystone Park patrons from their lunches. Based on the classic 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon, the live-action cast includes Anna Faris as nature documentary filmmaker Rachel Johnson and Tom Cavanagh as Yogi's amiable nemesis Ranger Smith.
Get 'Yogi Bear'
Get 'Yogi Bear'
'Transformers' (2007)
Paramount Pictures
They may not be lovable, but they qualify to be on this list since they're cartoons come to life! Before 'Transformers' became Michael Bay's huge, multi-billion-dollar franchise starring Shia LaBeouf, they were a toy line from Hasbro -- inspired by Japan's Microman toy line -- that created a cult following in the '80s with cartoons, comic books and more. With their "more than meets the eye" cartoon adventures, the long-running battle between the good Autobots and the bad Decepticons enthralled generations around the world.
Get 'Transformers'
Get 'Transformers'
'Garfield: The Movie' (2004)
20th Century Fox
Jim Davis' wise-cracking, lazy, lasagna-eating creation comes to CGI-life with the help of none other than Bill Murray providing his voice. Breckin Meyer plays Garfield's oblivious owner, Jon Arbuckle, and Jennifer Love Hewitt is his love interest, Dr. Liz Wilson. The plot follows Garfield's efforts to rescue Jon's dog Odie after he's abducted. The film was followed up by 'Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties' in 2006. Garfield originated as a comic strip in 1978.
Get 'Garfield: The Movie'
Get 'Garfield: The Movie'
'Looney Tunes: Back in Action' (2003)
Warner Bros.
'Space Jam' in 1996 marked the first feature-length movie to bring the classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters to the real world, teaming Bugs Bunny and his friends with basketball legend Michael Jordan to go up against the mean "Monstars" team in the ultimate showdown. Six years later, the frenetic follow-up, 'Looney Tunes: Back in Action,' finds Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman in a globetrotting adventure to find Fraser's father (played by Timothy Dalton) and the elusive, magical Blue Monkey Diamond before Acme corporation does. The original Looney Tunes cartoon shorts date back to the 1930s.
Get 'Looney Tunes: Back in Action'
Get 'Looney Tunes: Back in Action'
'Scooby-Doo' (2002)
Warner Bros.
Zoinks! The classic Saturday morning cartoon springs to life with Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Fred and Linda Cardellini as Velma, with Scooby running from ghosts and gorging on Scooby Snacks in CGI form. The film was followed up on the big screen with 'Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed' in 2004. The Hanna-Barbera show made its debut back in 1969.
Get 'Scooby-Doo'
Get 'Scooby-Doo'
'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle' (2000)
Universal
This 2000 movie assembled a cast featuring such top stars as Robert De Niro, Rene Russo and Jason Alexander. What could go wrong? The convoluted plot follows animated baddies Boris and Natasha (Alexander and Russo) as they cross over into the real world to hatch an evil plan to hypnotize America with their new station, RBTV -- "Really Bad Television." Of course, it's up to Bullwinkle and Rocky the Squirrel (voiced by Keith Scott and June Foray) to save the day. The beloved Jay Ward characters made their debut in 1959.
Get 'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle'
Get 'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle'
'Casper' (1995)
Universal
Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman star in this '90s comedy that casts them as a daughter and father hired to bunk in a rickety old mansion in order to exorcise its scary ghosts so the new owner (Cathy Moriarty) can claim the treasure inside. But Ricci unexpectedly befriends Casper, the friendly ghost, despite his mean and mischievous ghost uncles Stretch, Fatso and Stinkie -- who are determined to drive the "fleshies" away. The film has the distinction of being one of the first to incorporate a CGI cartoon character among live-action performers. The character of Casper dates back all the way to the 1930s.
Get 'Casper'
Get 'Casper'
'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
Touchstone Pictures
Director Robert Zemeckis' frenetic foray into Toon Town combines live action with traditional hand-drawn animated characters, including a pantheon of some of the most famous cartoon characters of all time. Bob Hoskins stars in this 1940s film noir mystery that finds cartoon hero Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer) framed for murder after he learns that his wife, Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner), has been having an affair -- by playing patty cake with the owner of the Acme corporation.
Get 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'
Get 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'
Cartoons Come to Life
Warner Bros.
The Smurfs are finally stepping onto the big screen with their very own movie, and we've assembled a Smurf-full of movies featuring cartoon characters coming to life in the real world!