Absolutely Not For Children Trivia Quiz

Answer: A Scanner Darkly

Written and directed by experimental filmmaker Richard Linklater, "A Scanner Darkly" is an animated science-fiction thriller. A dystopian United States has lost its war on drugs, and a powerful hallucinogen called Substance D has proliferated into a raging epidemic. In response, the government relies on intrusive surveillance technology and undercover agents. As one of these agents, Bob Arctor (Reeves) is called upon to infiltrate the criminal apparatus. The film's stylized visual effects are the product of interpolated rotoscoping, a technique whereby animators trace over live action footage frame by frame. Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, and Rory Cochrane round out the cast.

"Blade Runner" (1982) is based on Dick's 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep".

"Total Recall" (1990, 2012) is based on his 1966 short story "We Can Remember it for You Wholesale".

Answer: Persepolis

"Persepolis" is a coming-of-age French-Iranian-American film based on a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. Satrapi wrote and directed alongside Vincent Paronnaud. Stunning black-and-white animation accentuates the gritty autobiographical subject matter and pays homage to the stark imagery of original graphic novels. The story follows a young girl growing up in the context of the Iranian Revolution."Persepolis" was lauded by critics and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

The ancient city of Persepolis burned after Alexander the Great authorized pillaging by his occupying army. It is unclear whether the fire was an accident or a deliberate act of revenge for the earlier burning of the Athenian Parthenon.

Answer: Guinness World Record for Most Swearing in an Animated Film

A total of 399 swear words earned "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" a spot in the Guinness World Records. The controversial film also includes 199 offensive gestures and 221 acts of violence packed into 81 minutes of run time. Parker and Stone fought tooth and nail against the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for an eventual R rating. The film is heavily critical of the MPAA and censorship in general.

"Fritz the Cat" (1972) was the first American animated film to receive an X rating from the MPAA. The rating probably had more to do with a prevailing opinion that animation was the province of children. "Fritz the Cat" pushed on those boundaries to carve out a niche for adult animation.

"Thumbelina" (1994) was the first animated film to be nominated for and win a Razzie (for Worst Original Song). Razzies, or Golden Raspberry Awards, recognize the very worst in the film industry.

Answer: Waltz with Bashir

Written and directed by Ari Folman, "Waltz with Bashir" is a gripping and emotional docu-drama. The film follows Folman as he attempts to recover repressed memories related to his involvement in the 1982 Lebanon War.

Operating under tight budget constraints, the creative team invented a new technique using a combination of Adobe Flash and classic animation. Folman favored the newly developed technique over rotoscoping as he felt the latter interfered with the ability to effectively convey a character's emotions.

The film's title is a reference to Israel's brief political dance with Bachir Gemayel, the highly controversial Lebanese Maronite militia commander who was elected President of Lebanon in 1982. Gemayel was assassinated before he could take office.

Answer: A magazine

The film is an adaptation of selected dark fantasy and science fiction stories from the "Heavy Metal" magazine, and like the print version is decidedly explicit (graphic violence, sexual situations, and nudity a-plenty).

The magazine's founder, Leonard Mogel, co-produced. The theatrical soundtrack rocks with contributions by Devo, Stevie Nicks, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, and Black Sabbath.

Answer: War

In 1967, Akiyuki Nosaka published a semi-autobiographical short story titled "Grave of the Fireflies". The movie of the same name directed by Isao Takahata received critical acclaim. It follows the desperate attempt of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, to survive the final months of World War II in their father's absence.

While originally marketed to children and their families alongside the fantasy anime "My Neighbor Totoro", it was too tragic a tale for many younger audiences.

Answer: Wiley Wiggins

Before "A Scanner Darkly", Richard Linklater directed "Dazed and Confused" (1993), in which all the named actors appeared, and "Waking Life". In the latter, Wiggins portrays a young man meandering through a series of dream-like realities conversing about philosophical ideas ultimately leading to an existential crisis.

Linklater conceived the idea for the film some two decades earlier, but rotoscoping made it possible. Linklater stated that "to make a realistic film about an unreality, the film had to be a realistic unreality".

This trippy, mind-melting film has the potential to cause audiences to question the nature of their reality - perhaps a little too confusing for younger audiences.

Answer: Watership Down

The novel "Watership Down" (1972) follows a group of anthropomorphic rabbits displaced by the destruction of their warren as they seek to establish a new home. The 1978 animated feature of the same name was directed by Martin Rosen. The content is intensely emotional and violent.

Adams' third novel "The Plague Dogs" (1977) was also turned into an animated film directed by Rosen and released in 1982. "Burmese Days" (1934) was the first novel published by George Orwell. "Solar Lottery" (1955) was Philip K Dick's.

"Bright Eyes" was written by songwriter Mike Batt, and Adams was allegedly NOT a fan of the song.

Answer: Akira

"Akira" is set in the post-apocalyptic world of 2019 Neo-Tokyo. It is based on the Japanese cyberpunk manga series of the same name written and illustrated by the film's director, Katsuhiro Otomo. The plot features brutal gang warfare and disturbing imagery.

The Japanese animated fantasy film "Ponyo" was released in 2008. "Coco" (2017) is a Disney-Pixar film inspired by the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon" (2021) was inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.

Answer: CIA

"Animal Farm" is a British-American adaptation of the highly allegorical dystopian novel of the same name by George Orwell. It was commissioned by the US Central Intelligence Agency for use as anti-socialist propaganda. To that end, it was deployed into American and British classrooms in the era of Stalinist Russia.

Simple animation belies the rather complex subject matter. The film is laden with political satire, symbolism, and violence.