Thumb Wars

For the game, seeThumb war.

Thumb Wars
Directed by	Steve Oedekerk
Written by	Steve Oedekerk
Produced by	Steve Oedekerk Tom Koranda Paul Marshal
Starring	Steve Oedekerk Ross Shafer Mark DeCarlo Rob Paulsen Paul Greenberg Andrea Fears Megan Cavanagh
Cinematography	Mike DePrez
Edited by	Mike DePrez
Music by	Robert Folk
Production company	O Entertainment
Distributed by	Icestorm Entertainment Image Entertainment(United States,DVD) Revolver Entertainment(UK)
Release dates	May 18, 1999(1999-05-18) October 2, 2008(2008-10-02)(DVD Re-release)
Running time	29 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Thumb Wars: The Phantom Cuticleis a 1999short filmdirected bySteve Oedekerk.Using dressed up and coifed thumbs aspuppets,Oedekerk created aparodyofStar Wars,with characters likeLoke Groundrunner,Princess Bunhead,Oobeedoob Benubi,Hand Duet,Crunchaka,Beeboobeep,Prissypeo,Black Helmet ManandGabba the Butt.It is the first film in theThumbs!series.Thumb Warsdebuted onAmericantelevision May 18, 1999, onUPN.It had its cable premiere onCartoon Networkon October 2, 2008 (and again on October 2, 2009) to promotethe 2008Clone Warsseriesthat premiered the next day.The TV version provided a trimmed down version of the film. It was also re-released in 2002 alongsideThumbtanicas theThumb Wars/Thumbtanic Thumb Double Featureon VHS and DVD. In 2005, the filmettes were again released together as aUMD Videoon thePlayStation Portablesystem.

The film is produced byO Entertainmentand was released on May 18, 1999.

The films stars voice actorsSteve Oedekerk,Ross Shafer,Mark DeCarlo,Rob Paulsen,Paul Greenberg,Andrea Fears, andMegan Cavanagh.Steve Oedekerk, Mark DeCarlo, Rob Paulsen, and Megan Cavanagh also worked on the filmJimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,as well as theTV showthat ran from 2002-2006 also done withO Entertainment.

Storyline

The 29-minute film opens with a parody ofStar Wars'"A long time ago..."phrase: "If there were thumbs in space and they got mad at each other there would be... THUMB WARS."

The film then cuts to rolling text flying into the distance, as inStar Wars:"It is a time of great unrest in the Universe. Using the nail side of the power ofthe Thumb,theEvil Thumbpirehas taken a stronghold in theSacul region of the Egroeg sector.TheThumbellion Resistance Fightershave retreated to a hidden base. The Thumbpire is constructing a big dangerous weapon thing with enough fire power to blow stuff up. If the Thumbellion can destroy the big dangerous weapon thing, they will live and the good side of the thumb will reign. If they don't there can be no sequels. No sequels means no merchandising, no fan clubs, no freaky guys at conventions that have way too much free time and no clear desire to date girls. Victory is imperative! "

Opening scenes depictBlack Helmet MancapturingPrincess Bunheadand killing Thumbellion soldiers. On the surface of the planet below,Loke Groundrunnerwhines to his aunt and uncle about wanting to be of use to someone. His uncle consoles him. "Well you're plenty useful here Loke. The harvest is soon and you'll be getting help! I bought a couple ofdigitstoday from thefreaky little hooded creatures.The big one is sort of effeminate and annoying, and I think the little one has an amputee inside! "Loke runs off in a huff and meets up with the man with the silliest name in the galaxy:OobedoobScoobi-DoobiBenubi. At Oobedoob's place, they view ahologramof Princess Bunhead. She informs them that Black Helmet Man is building a "big, dangerous weapon thing"and that she needs their help. Loke and Oobedoob look up her holographic dress. After they viewed the message, they came back to Loke's house to find that his uncle Soondead and aunt Gonnabiteit have been 'clipped' by Black Helmet Man's troops. Loke determines to go and fight this evil menace.

At the Cantina, Loke and Oobedoob meet up withCrunchyandHand Duet.Hand tells them, "A one armed man killed my wifeSabrina,aworking girl.Now I'm afugitiveand inclear and present danger.I should bepresumed innocentbut they're playingpatriot gameswith me.Raiders.Regarding Henry.Blade Runner.Air Force One... "

Loke and Oobedoob pay Hand and Crunchy in "girly giggles" at Hand's request, to save his skin fromGabba the Butt.The group boards Hand's shipHand's Handand set off to save Princess Bunhead and the galaxy. They are caught in a tractor beam outside of theThumb Starwhich can spin planets. Once on the space station, Oobedoob and Black Helmet Man engage in a final duel, which Oobedoob is tricked into losing. Princess Bunhead appears and says, "I escaped somehow. Let's go." The team, minus Oobedoob, flee. However, Oobedoob's voice can be heard in Loke's head saying that he is still there "in spirit." Loke mentions that he considers this to be "kinda creepy".

The group hides in an asteroid where Loke meetsMaster Puppet.Master Puppet agrees to train Loke in the ways of The Thumb. After a training session, which Loke ends up failing miserably, Master Puppet (deeply humored by Loke's bumbling) dubs him aThumb Master.

The group travels to the Thumbellion base to regroup for the final attack on the Thumb Star. They learn that there is a button on the station designed to blow the entire thing up, much to the confusion of Princess Bunhead. The Thumbellion fleet launches an attack on the station. This sets the stage for the final confrontation between Loke Groundrunner and Black Helmet Man atop Loke'sFinger-wing fighter.It is then that Black Helmet Man reveals: "Loke, I am your... mother!" and throws his cape back to reveal a pink dress.Hand's Handappears and knocks Black Helmet Man off into space. As he floats into space, Black Helmet Man calls out to Loke by yelling, "Just wait till your father gets home!"

When Loke proudly proclaims that he will use the Power of the Thumb to hit the destruct button, Oobedoob's voice is heard saying to use the ship's targeting system, as "that's what it's there for." Loke fires a missile which hits the button and the giant thumb is destroyed.

The last scene shows the cast at a Chili Cookoff, along with Master Puppet (visibly controlled by a puppeteer) and the ghost of Oobedoob. The film ends with a voiceover from Oobedoob: "The Thumb will be with you...always."

Production

The production forThumb Warsstarted in 1997 withSteve Oedekerk,Paul Marshal, Tom Koranda,Mark DeCarloand Jim Jackman. In 1998, the production forThumb Warsdeveloped more seriously into filming. The production started filming inLos Angeles, Californiain the California suburbs.

Running gags

Throughout the movie different characters will ask Loke to touch tongues. First to do so is Oobedoob, requiring the act to "seal the training's beginning" and "make it all official", followed by Master Puppet asking for the same in order to train Loke in the ways of the Thumb.

As a running gag between all of theThumbs!featurettes, a one-eyed thumb appears in each one; inThumb Wars,the one-eyed thumb is the bartender at the cantina.

Releases

Thumb Warswas first released onVHS,and then again with additional features, including character bios, commentary, and a 'Gabba the Butt' interview, onDVD.

It is also available as part of theThumb Wars/Thumbtanic Double Featureon DVD andUMDfor thePlayStation Portable,released byO EntertainmentandImage Entertainment.This disc features the two Thumbation filmettesThumbtanicandThumb Warsin that order. It also includes wraparound footage of The Thumbersons. Despite including the cast interviews fromThumbtanicand the Gabba the Butt interview and Character Bios fromThumb Wars,the film lacks the commentary available on the single-film releases.

See also

• Thumbs!

External links

• Thumb WarsatIMDb
• Thumb WarsatAllMovie
• https:// youtube /watch?v=n4-siy6XJjQ