Back in 2006, creator Chris Grine introduced readers to his unique character called appropriately enough, ChickenHare. Seeing as he was part chicken and part hare, what else would he have called him? Grine combined his unusual characters with a huge dose of humor and sometimes dark plot twists and came up with a story both young readers and adults loved. Four years later, in 2010, the opportunity to see his creation adapted to a film became a possibility. A possibility that seemingly stalled. But now, 12 years later, and under the creative minds of NWave Animation Studios, ChickenHare and the Hamster of Darkness will soon bring Chris’s brainchild to the big screen.
In conjunction with the film’s release, Chris and Th3rd World Studios are bringing back ChickenHare’s first adventure, ChickenHare, Vol. 1: The House of Klaus to introduce to new readers and those who already love his books. So, with his book and the animated film on the horizon, lets welcome talented creator Chris Grine to GVN’s Talking Comics.
Beginnings
GVN: So, let’s start with a bit of your beginnings. When did you take an interest in art and writing and were there certain creators who inspired your love of the media?
CG: I didn’t grow up reading comics and in fact didn’t really get introduced to them until middle school. My earliest inspirations were Jim Henson’s Muppets and cartoons because there were a bunch of creative people creating worlds and characters and clearly having a great time doing it and I wanted to do that too. That said, all I had was paper and pencils so I would spend all my time drawing and creating my own worlds in my head. As a result, I feel like comics and visual narrative were inevitable for me at some point.
ChickenHare is Born
GVN: Back in 2006, you had your first ChickenHare book published ChickenHare: The House of Klaus. What was the inspiration for the character, and did you have any concerns at the time of how it would be accepted? (a chicken/rabbit hybrid and a bearded tortoise…not something you see every day). It also presented an unusual plot where the “villain’s” plans are to kill and stuff the heroes.
CG: Yeah…Most of those decisions/thoughts never really occurred to me at the time. I was just trying to create a story with strange characters that made me laugh because I never actually thought I would ever be doing this professionally. At the time I was a full-time greeting card artist and spent most of my days drawing cute little critters and such. So, I feel like the strange, and sometimes dark characters or story elements were a reaction to my day job. Looking back now through the eyes of a dad, there are some things I would have done differently as far as content goes, but I’ve never heard any complaints from readers beyond how weird it is. I’m fine with that.
Knowing the Audience…Not
GVN: By the time the 2nd book, ChickenHare: Fire in the Hole came out, did you have a better grasp on who your audience was? I had read some reviews that the first book didn’t seem to be a children’s book (because of the intense plotline). With Fire in the Hole, the character, and the direction he would be going was more established and it appeared to have found its niche. (I loved them both, by the way).
CG: HA! Not at all. In fact, I kind of doubled down on the wrong stuff in some ways (according to some) having the main story follow the characters into the fires of the underworld to rescue one of their friends. In my head it was like Greek mythology where you could physically go there but I can understand some of the criticisms. When I wrote the first book, I left the ending wide open but never really thought about what would come next at the time because I was new to writing and this was my first published anything. I think the stories work well as an ongoing narrative but again, I would have done things a little differently if I had it to do all over again. Mostly I think I would do a little bit more foreshadowing and give the characters a bit more depth.
Re-Introducing ChickenHare
GVN: So, you are re-releasing your ChickenHare books (Starting with ChickenHare, Vol 1. The House of Klaus) in conjunction with the new film adaptation by nWave Animation Studios. What do you hope an all-new audience gets from these stories as well as the release of the film?
CG: I hope new readers to the series just enjoy the wacky, odd ride honestly. Chickenhare was always an odd concept anyway and the world he lives in is even more so. I created it all with the goal of just making a fun, wild adventure where you never know what might pop up next. In a lot of ways, the movie does the same thing. So, my hope is that everyone can just enjoy it for what it is, just a fun story with lots of interesting characters, jokes, a little dark, and full of heart.
Chicken Hare and the Hamster of Darkness
GVN: Well, since we’ve already mentioned it, let’s get into it. Your characters are being adapted into an animated feature by NWave Animation Studios: “Chicken Hare and the Hamster of Darkness.” How did this collaboration come about?
CG: That is a tale twelve years long. Way back in 2010 Sony Pictures Animation optioned Chickenhare and had a screenplay produced but after three years, it was shelved. Then one day out of the blue about three years ago, I received a phone call from my agent. Saying that not only was this other animation studio (nWave) interested in picking up the film rights, but they were skipping the option and going right into production! After all the on and off over the years it was exciting and confusing all at once. That one day it was essentially dead, to the next day signing the contract to make it official. Even after having been granted special permission to view the film well in advance of its release, and having watched it multiple times now, it still doesn’t seem real sometimes.
Trust in the Studio
GVN: Has anything surprised you as far as the process of seeing your work making its way to the big screen? Did you talk to anyone to get a heads-up of what you could expect?
CG: So, as I mentioned, there was already a screenplay sitting on the shelf that I had read and really enjoyed quite a bit. Despite it being a departure in ways from the source material. SO, when nWave picked up the project, I already knew the story they would be telling. At my level, I knew I wouldn’t have any real creative control over anything. But I trusted the studio to make the film they could, and I wholeheartedly think they pulled it off in a lot of surprising ways.
Indiana Jones Vibes
GVN: What would you tell fans of your book to expect from the movie? It looks like it has a major Indiana Jones vibe.
CG: There is definitely an Indiana Jones vibe to it, but I think that just came about because it’s a treasure hunting story with lots of huge set pieces and hilarious trials. So, it fits that genre well. I would say just go in with an open mind and think about what you loved about the books because the same strange humor is there. But along with that, even more heart while somehow still managing to walk a fine line between just for kids and kind of dark. I’m so excited for the fans to get to see it.
Future Projects
GVN: We really appreciate your time today, Chris. Before I let you go, do you have any other upcoming projects you would want our followers to know about? Also, where can they follow you on social media and the web?
CG: Sure. Besides the new editions of Chickenhare coming out soon, I have a new book coming in May that is a sequel to “Secrets of Camp Whatever” and it’s called “The Doors to Nowhere.” If you’re a fan of all-ages creepy fun and cryptids maybe check it out. I’m also endlessly adapting the Animorphs books into graphic novels with volume three “The Encounter” hitting bookshelves and book fairs next October! ALL of these things are available for pre-order now.
As for Twitter, I’m @chrisgrine and on Instagram @Grinetastic and on the web at www.chrisgrine.com
Chris Grine’s ChickenHare, Vol.1: The House of Klaus will be released March 8th by Th3rd World Studios. ChickenHare and the Hamster of Darkness by NWave Animation Studios is tentatively scheduled for a spring 2022 release.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
