History Trivia / Animalympics

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: There have been a few small VHS releases, but the movie's only DVD release so far was in ''Germany.'' Most of its recognition came from HBO in the 1980's. Fans had either better take ''very'' good care of their VHS tapes (purchased or recorded off HBO), or [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil yoink a video-service version]] before the companies do.

*** It was briefly put (in high quality) on a legal digital music download site, but taken down for reasons unknown. That copy is [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil still floating around.]]

* ExecutiveMeddling: The film was initially two specials set to air on Creator/{{NBC}} during the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Summer Olympics. Well, they managed to do the Winter Olympics just fine -- but then the US boycotted the Olympics and Moscow, and the producers got screwed.

*** Now Averted; Henstooth Video finally gave it an official DVD release in April 2018.

* OldShame: Steven Lisberger has apparently disavowed his role in the creation of this film. In the director's commentary on the "special edition" DVD of ''Film/{{Tron}}'', Lisberger described ''Tron'' as his first animated feature film and seemed reluctant to mention his "previous" animated feature when the subject was brought up.

** And Roger Allers, one of the directors of ''Disney/TheLionKing'' (appropriately, he animated a lion).

* TalkingToHimself: There were only four voice actors for this film (including future ''[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' star HarryShearer).

* ExecutiveMeddling: The film was initially two specials set to air on NBC during the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Summer Olympics. Well, they managed to do the Winter Olympics just fine -- but then the US boycotted the Olympics and Moscow, and the producers got screwed.

* TalkingToHimself: There were four voice actors for this film (including future ''[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' star HarryShearer).
** For example, most of the boxing segment is Rugs Turkell (Howard Cosell as a turkey) interviewing Joey Gongalong (Muhammad Ali as a kangaroo). BillyCrystal does both of them.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Much of the summer sports were cut short due to the US Boycott of the 1980 summer olympics. We see glimpses of what would have been longer stories in biking, track and field, and other sports in a montage about 3/4 of the way through the show.

** All but one of the female characters were voiced by GildaRadner.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: There have been a few small VHS releases, but the movie's only DVD release so far was in ''Germany.'' Fans had either better take ''very'' good care of their VHS tapes, or [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil yoink a video-service version]] before the companies do.

* TalkingToHimself: Most of the boxing segment is Rugs Turkell (Howard Cosell as a turkey) interviewing Joey Gongalong (Muhammad Ali as a kangaroo). BillyCrystal does both of them.

* HeyItsThatGuy: If you look at the opening credits, you'll find a Mister Creator/BradBird as one of the animators.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Creator/HarryShearer as Keen Hacksaw, in the voice he would later use for [[KentBrockmanNews Kent Brockman]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
** In addition (among many parodies of then current sports announcers and celebrities) Billy Crystal did his Howard Cosell and Gilda Radner did her Barbara Walters (i.e. her Baba Wawa from ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.)

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** And Roger Allers, one of the directors of ''TheLionKing'' (appropriately, he animated a lion).

* HeyItsThatGuy: If you look at the opening credits, you'll find a Mister BradBird as one of the animators.
** This was Steven Lisberger's first major project, and he used it to raise money to pitch for a certain film called ''{{Tron}}''. The backlighting effects in ''Animalympics'' were the basis for the visual effects in ''Tron''. Many of those who worked on ''Animalympics'' would also work on ''Tron''.
** You'll also see a lot of current {{Pixar}} employees here, too.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Harry Shearer as Keen Hacksaw, in the voice he would later use for [[KentBrockmanNews Kent Brockman]] of ''TheSimpsons''.
** In addition (among many parodies of then current sports announcers and celebrities) Billy Crystal did his Howard Cosell and Gilda Radner did her Barbara Walters (i.e. her Baba Wawa from SNL.)

* ExecutiveMeddling: The film was cut into small parts to be aired on NBC during the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Summer Olympics. Well, they managed to do the Winter Olympics just fine -- but then the US boycotted the Olympics and Moscow, and the producers got screwed.

** Actually, this was Steven Lisberger's first major project, and he used it to raise money to pitch for a certain film called ''{{Tron}}''. You know the backlighting effects in ''Animalympics''? They were the basis for the visual effects in ''Tron''.
*** Many of those who worked on ''Animalympics'' would also work on ''Tron''.

** it should be noted that the german dvd has english as a language option and comes with a little booklet containing the song lyrics in both german and english for anyone who might want to sing along.
*** The same thing goes for the soundtrack, which only ever had a rather limited vinyl release. You can find most of the songs on it on Website/YouTube--but again, for how long?

** Michael Fremer voices both René Fromage and his rival, [[CrossDressingVoices Kit Mambo]].

** Actually, this was Steven Lisberger's first major project, and he used it to raise money to pitch for a certain film called ''{{Tron}}''. You know the backlighting effects in ''Animalympics''? They were the basis for the visual effects in ''Tron''.

*** The same thing goes for the soundtrack, which only ever had a rather limited vinyl release. You can find most of the songs on it on YouTube--but again, for how long?

* TalkingToHimself: Most of the boxing segment is Rugs Turkell (Howard Cosell as a turkey) interviewing Joey Gongalong (Muhammad Ali as a kangaroo). BillyCrystal does both of them.

* it should be noted that the german dvd has english as a language option and comes with a little booklet containing the song lyrics in both german and english for anyone who might want to sing along.
** The same thing goes for the soundtrack, which only ever had a rather limited vinyl release. You can find most of the songs on it on YouTube--but again, for how long?

it should be noted that the german dvd has english as a language option and comes with a little booklet containing the song lyrics in both german and english for anyone who might want to sing along.

* CrossdressingVoices: (maybe) When Ilsa Blintz [[InelegantBlubbering bewails]] her score (her only vocal in the movie), the sobs sound very masculine.

* CrossdressingVoices: (maybe) When Ilsa Blintz [[InelegantBlubbering bewails]] her score (her only vocal in the movie).

* CrossdressingVoices: It sounds like a guy crying when Ilsa Blintz [[InelegantBlubbering bewails]] her score.