Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Review

Sometimes you just have to take a leap.

Premiering 23 years after the original, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a 2023 sequel. The chickens now live happily on a reserve. Ginger and Rocky’s daughter is taken to a chicken factory. The chickens must work together against this evil threat.

It’s hard to believe I was 5 years old when the original Chicken Run was released. Whether a sequel was necessary, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget influences similar lessons and themes about courage and teamwork. The sequel could have been more original.

All your favorite chickens are back including some new feathered faces. One of the standout aspects of the film is the heartwarming family dynamic between Ginger, Rocky, and their daughter Molly. Molly has every trait of her parents. She is adorable, mischievous, and courageous.

As I said in my Chicken Run review, Ginger is one of the most underrated female characters in an animated film. Ginger has so much depth, risking everything for her daughter. The family moments are so tender. In my opinion, Rocky wasn’t used to his best advantage. He’s kind of useless throughout the story, doing dumb or random things.

The casting choices have had viewers talking. Ginger and Rocky are now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi. Bella Ramsey is fantastic as Molly. Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, and Lynn Ferguson return. More credits include David Bradley, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, and Josie Sedgewick-Davies.

The sequel takes new risks while it rehashes old plotlines from the original film. However, what truly sets Dawn of the Nugget apart is its commitment to evolving the narrative and exploring new dimensions within the Chicken Run universe. The main plot of Dawn of the Nugget is the chickens breaking into and out of the factory. There’s some filler throughout.

I have mixed opinions about the return of one character. I think the plot should have derived a completely different character. Besides, said character doesn’t feel right in the plotline. Furthermore, they are better off on their own and in a new life.

As Aardman said, this film is an advancement in clay animation. Producer Nick Park commented that the clay animation for this film is the most complex of any Aardman film. The animation is impressive.

The new character designs are also nice like the new character, Frizzle. Animators crafted extraordinary nuances, specifically the emotions. The settings are fantastic along with crafting camera motions to distinguish the mood.

Just like the first film, the sequel has dark undertones. Dark moments occur offscreen but may still be bleak for kids. I was surprised by what risks the film took.

Here’s a complaint from other reviewers that has annoyed me. Just because it’s not the same film doesn’t mean it’s bad. The break-in/break-out plan gets repetitive but writers thought up creative ideas. Shouldn’t sequels be different and experiment with new techniques? The sequel to Chicken Run hasn’t lost its spirit.

Dawn of the Nugget continues a story about courage and how you should never give up in the worst of times. We are all brave. This is a film about new beginnings and continuing to learn from mistakes. Sometimes the child may teach the parent a lesson.

The humor, wit, and charm are all present, creating an atmosphere that feels both familiar and fresh. If you are a fan of the original Chicken Run then you should take a look at Dawn of the Nugget on Netflix. I had a fun time watching and I had a big smile the whole time.