Alvin and the Chipmunks, originally David Seville and the Chipmunks or simply The Chipmunks, is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. for a novelty record in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual; and Theodore, the chubby, impressionable one. The trio is managed by their human adoptive father, David (Dave) Seville. In reality, "David Seville" was Bagdasarian's stage name, and the Chipmunks themselves are named after the executives of their original record label. The characters became a success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon productions, using redrawn, anthropomorphic chipmunks, and eventually films.
The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create high-pitched voices. This oft-used process was not entirely new to Bagdasarian, who had also used it for two previous novelty songs, including "Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well-executed it earned the record two Grammy Awards for engineering. Bagdasarian, performing as the Chipmunks, released a long line of albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song" becoming a number-one single in the United States. After Bagdasarian's untimely death in 1972, the characters' voices were performed by his son Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and the latter's wife Janice Karman in the subsequent incarnations of the 1980s and 1990s.
In the 2007 CGI/live-action film adaptation and its 2009 sequel, they were voiced in dialogue by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney. Bagdasarian Jr. and Karman continue to perform the singing voices for Alvin, Theodore and the Chipettes, but Steve Vining does Simon's singing voice. The project has earned five Grammy awards, an American Music Award, a Golden Reel Award, and three Kids' Choice Awards, and has been nominated for three Emmy awards.
A third film installment, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, was released in theaters on December 16, 2011. Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises announced a fourth installment, titled Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, released on December 18, 2015.
A CGI-animated TV series revival, titled ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks, premiered on Nickelodeon on August 3, 2015.
Video Alvin and the Chipmunks
History
Witch Doctor
In 1958, Ross Bagdasarian Sr. released a novelty song (as David Seville) about being unsuccessful at love until he found a witch doctor who told him how to woo his woman. The song was done by Bagdasarian in his normal voice, except for the "magic" words, done first in Bagdasarian's pitched-up, pre-Chipmunk voice, then in a duet between his pitched-up voice and his normal voice. The words themselves are nonsense: "Oo-ee, oo-ah-ah, ting-tang, walla-walla, bing-bang".
The song was a hit, holding number one for three weeks in the Billboard Top 100 chart. Nothing makes any reference to chipmunks, but the song is sometimes included on Chipmunk compilations, as if the Chipmunks had provided the voice of the Witch Doctor. Bagdasarian did record a Chipmunks version of "Witch Doctor", which appeared on the second Chipmunks album, Sing Again with the Chipmunks, in 1960. Bagdasarian performed the song "live" (with a pre-recorded track of the pitched-up voice) on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Bagdasarian (again as Seville) recorded a follow-up song, "The Bird on My Head", singing a duet with his own sped-up voice as the bird. It also reached the Top 40, peaking at No. 34. While driving in Sequoia National Park, a chipmunk dashed in front of Bagdasarian. That moment inspired him to create his chipmunk characters.
The technique was imitated by Sheb Wooley's "Purple People Eater" and The Big Bopper's "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor."
The Chipmunk Song
The Chipmunks first officially appeared on the scene in a novelty record released in late fall 1958 by Bagdasarian. The song, originally listed on the record label (Liberty F-55168) as "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", featured the singing skills of the chipmunk trio. One phrase in the chorus has Alvin wishing for a hula hoop, which was that year's hot new toy. The novelty record was highly successful, selling more than 4 million copies in seven weeks, and it launched the careers of its chipmunk stars. It spent four weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from December 22, 1958 to January 12, 1959, succeeding "To Know Him Is To Love Him" at Number 1 on the same chart by another fictional animal act, The Teddy Bears. It also earned three Grammy Awards and a nomination for Record of the Year. At the height of its popularity, Bagdasarian and three chipmunk hand-puppets appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, lip-synching the song. "The Chipmunk Song" appeared on the Chipmunks' debut album, Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks, in 1959, and was repeated on Christmas with the Chipmunks, released in 1962. The song also has been included on several compilation albums.
Bob Rivers did a parody of this song for his 2000 Christmas album Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire which was titled "The Twisted Chipmunk Song". In the song, the Chipmunks are referred to as Thagadore (Theodore), Squeaky (Simon), and Melvin (Alvin).
The Three Chipmunks (1959)
The Chipmunks first appeared in comic book form on Dell's Four Color Comics series, issue #1042 (cover-dated Dec. 1959). Alvin, Theodore and Simon were depicted as somewhat realistic, nearly identical anthropomorphic rodents with almond-shaped eyes. When Herb Klynn's Format Films made a deal to develop the Three Chipmunks for animation, the old designs were rejected and new versions of the characters were created. Liberty Records eventually re-issued the early albums with the "new" Chipmunks and it was this new version of the Chipmunks that was used when Alvin's own title was released by Dell in 1962.
The Alvin Show (1961-62)
The first television series to feature the characters was The Alvin Show. The cartoon gave more distinctive looks and personalities to the three chipmunks than just their voices, and an animated portrayal of Seville was a reasonable caricature of Bagdasarian himself. The series ran from 1961 to 1962, and was one of a small number of animated series to be shown in prime time on CBS. Unfortunately, it was never an immediate success in prime time and was canceled after one season, only to find new life in syndication.
In addition to Alvin cartoons, the series also featured the scientist Clyde Crashcup and his assistant Leonardo. Those characters did not feature prominently on any of the later series. Crashcup made a single cameo appearance in A Chipmunk Christmas, and in an episode of Alvin and the Chipmunks. The television series was produced by Format Films for Bagdasarian Film Corporation. Although the series was broadcast in black and white, it was produced and later re-run in color. 26 episodes each were produced for the Alvin and the Chipmunks and Clyde Crashcup segments, along with 52 musical segments.
New albums and A Chipmunk Christmas (1969-82)
The final Chipmunks album in the project's original incarnation, The Chipmunks Go to the Movies, was released in 1969. After the death of Ross Bagdasarian in 1972 from a heart attack, the Chipmunks' careers stalled until NBC showed interest in the original show (the network carried Saturday morning reruns of The Alvin Show as a midseason replacement in 1979) and the following year, Excelsior Records released a new album of contemporary songs performed by the Chipmunks. That album, Chipmunk Punk, featured Bagdasarian's son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., doing the voices of the characters. That album and the continued reruns of the series proved to be popular enough to warrant further new records as well as a new television production, and in 1981, the Chipmunks and Seville returned to television in the Christmas special A Chipmunk Christmas, produced by Chuck Jones, which was first broadcast on NBC on December 14 of that year. Next year, two more albums were released (Chipmunk Rock and The Chipmunks Go Hollywood).
Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983-90)
The group's name changed from the "Chipmunks" to "Alvin and the Chipmunks". In 1983, a second animated television series for the group, produced by Ruby-Spears Productions, was released. Titled simply Alvin and the Chipmunks, the outline of the show closely paralleled the original Alvin Show. The series lasted eight production seasons, until 1990. In the first season, the show introduced the Chipettes, three female versions of the Chipmunks -- Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor, who each paralleled the original Chipmunks in personality except for Brittany being vainer than Alvin, with Jeanette smart like Simon, and Eleanor fond of food like Theodore, with their own human guardian, the myopic Miss Beatrice Miller (who arrived for the 1986 season). The success of the show led to the release of a soundtrack album in 1984, Songs from Our TV Shows.
The Chipmunks even walked a variation of NBC's "Let's All Be There" campaign for its Saturday-morning lineup in 1984 (shows included The Smurfs, Snorks, Going Bananas, Pink Panther and Sons, Kidd Video, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Mister T, etc.). After 1988, the show was renamed just The Chipmunks to indicate that there were now two groups of them. Also introduced was the boys' "Uncle" Harry, who may or may not have actually been a relative. The show reflected contemporaneous trends popular culture; the Chipmunks sang recent hits, and wore contemporary clothing. One "documentary" episode spoofed John Lennon's 1966 infamous comment that The Beatles had become "more popular than Jesus", by recalling how the Chipmunks had fallen in popularity after Alvin boasted they were "bigger than Mickey Mouse!". In 1985, the Chipmunks, along with the Chipettes, were featured in the live stage show, Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Amazing Computer. In 1987, during the fifth season of the show on television, the Chipmunks had their first animated feature film, The Chipmunk Adventure, directed by Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and released to theaters by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. The film featured the Chipmunks and the Chipettes in a contest traveling around the world.
In the 1988-89 season, the show switched production companies to DIC Entertainment, by which time the Chipmunks had truly become anthropomorphized. In 1990, the show switched titles again to The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. Each episode in this season was a spoof of a Hollywood film, such as Back to the Future, King Kong, and others. In addition, several television specials featuring the characters were also released. At the conclusion of the eighth season, the show was canceled again. In 1990, a documentary was produced about the show entitled Alvin and the Chipmunks/Five Decades with the Chipmunks. In that year, the Chipmunks also teamed up for the only time with other famous cartoon stars (such as Bugs Bunny, Garfield, etc.) for the drug abuse-prevention special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.
Direct-to-video films from Universal
Maps Alvin and the Chipmunks
Main characters
The Chipmunks
The origin of the Chipmunks was totally rebooted in 2007 for its feature film. They are living in a tree, fending for themselves as their parents had taken off to join a hippie commune, and having problems gathering nuts for the winter. Their tree is cut down and carted off to grace the entrance lobby of a city office building, with them in it. They then hitch a ride in Dave's luggage and wind up in his home, where they wreak havoc & uproar in his kitchen and get thrown out before showing Dave how well they can sing and becoming celebrities as a result. Despite repeatedly testing Dave's putting up with them, they finally win his heart.
Alvin Seville
Alvin is the lead vocalist and the oldest of the Chipmunks. He wears a red baseball cap and sweater sporting a yellow "A". His eyes are blue (amber in the live action/animated films) and his build is thin. In personality, Alvin is enthusiastic, mischievous, wacky, hot-tempered, and funny. The term look before you leap does not usually apply to Alvin, as he is impulsive, charming and musically talented. He often makes up harebrained schemes to achieve his goals, whether it be trying to help his brothers, keeping Dave from figuring something out, or getting out of a sticky situation. Alvin seems to refer to his often illogical or crazy plans as "challenging the ordinary". He is proud of his fame and often self-centered and vain, but Alvin does have a kind heart and loves his brothers very much, often proving that his heart is stronger than his voice. He's also not ashamed to admit when he's wrong and will help others when the time comes. There are times when Alvin displays true selflessness, such as when he gave his golden harmonica to a sick boy at Christmas and when he helped Theodore get Nathan, a bully, off his back for a while. But he doesn't wear a baseball cap in the film's it is only seen in a newspaper and at the end of Alvin and the chipmunks the squeakquel He is shown to be infatuated with Brittany, although they often quarrel with each other, but they look out for each other when things look bad. He sometimes struggles with her to prove who is the better, such as when he and Brittany each ran for class president at their school in the animated series, but he is often kind to her and is implied to have a crush on her. He sometimes displays affection for Brittany such as hugging her, kissing her hand, and comforting her when she is upset. In one CGI episode, Alvin heard two girls insulting Brittany and he stood up for her, displaying his gentle side once again.
Like his brothers, he was originally voiced by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. In the animated series and film, he was voiced by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Justin Long voiced Alvin in the live-action/animated film series. On July 30, 2002, Alvin was No. 44 on TV Guide's list of "Top 50 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time".
Simon Seville
In addition to having an IQ just north of Einstein, Simon possesses a dry sense of humor as well as keen wit. He is kind, gentle, logical, and at times poetic. He often takes charge when Alvin goes too far with his harebrained schemes. Although Simon tends to disagree with Alvin and even argue with him, he truly loves his brother and sticks by him despite everything. He wears glasses and blue attire, and has blue eyes. Simon plays the bass, bass clarinet, saxophone, bagpipes, tuba, and drums, among others. In vocal harmonies, he consistently sings the lower parts due to having a deeper voice than his brothers. He is shown playing the keyboard in the original open for the 1980s series. He was also shown playing guitar in a 1980s Hardee's commercial.
Simon is often implied to have a crush on Jeanette, as she is like him in many details; wearing glasses and blue and purple attire and having a high IQ, possibly rivalling his own. However, he seems braver in standing up to siblings than her because Jeanette doesn't often stand up for herself when Brittany pushes her around, but like Simon to Alvin, Jeanette shares a sisterly bond with Brittany. In one animated episode, a chemistry experiment gone wrong resulted in Simon becoming a handsome, Casanova-like romancer. He called himself "Mr. Heartthrob" (an obvious parody of Mr. Hyde), and enchanted every girl he met before being returned to normal.
Like his brothers, he was originally voiced by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. In the animated series and film, he was voiced by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Matthew Gray Gubler voiced Simon in the live-action/animated film series.
Theodore Seville
Theodore is the child of innocence and the youngest of the Chipmunks. He is shy, loving, sensitive, chubby, gullible, trusting, and naïve. In short, he is an easy target for Alvin's manipulations. He wears green attire and has green eyes (brown in the CGI animated series). Theodore often holds the swing vote between his two brothers' choices of action. Simon appeals to Theodore's better nature while Alvin goes straight to bribery. He has a big appetite, constantly craving snacks and in one episode, Theodore tried to eat Alvin's hand because of his hunger.
He plays the drums, the guitar, and other instruments. In vocal harmonies, his voice is typically the highest. He is fragile yet unpredictable and not very brave, but he will put on a brave face when his brothers are in trouble. At times, he is childish and Alvin's follower, but he is also the glue that binds his brothers despite Alvin and Simon's differences and regular disagreements. Although he is sometimes teased by Alvin, Theodore loves his big brother and knows that Alvin loves him too.
He seems to have affection for Eleanor, who shares physical traits with him, but she is smarter, braver and more athletic. They each have a passion for cooking, as Theodore is seen baking Christmas cookies in some Christmas episodes. In the live action/animated films, it is revealed that Theodore is sensitive about his weight and is often hurt when he is criticized for his chubby physique. This also applies to Eleanor, but she is able to stand for herself and wishes that Theodore would do the same.
Like his brothers, he was originally voiced by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. In the animated series and film, his voice was provided by Janice Karman, Ross Bagdasarian Jr.'s wife and the voice of all three Chipettes. Jesse McCartney voiced Theodore in the live-action/animated film series.
The Chipettes
Brittany Miller
Brittany is the lead singer and leader of The Chipettes and is the female counterpart of Alvin. She wears pink attire and has red hair often drawn up in a ponytail and has blue eyes. Brittany is considerably beautiful, self-centered, ambitious, and vain, but she does have a kind side and is loyal to her sisters, Jeanette and Eleanor. Brittany is often trying to look pretty and desires to make herself popular or get what she wants, but she does learn her lessons and is willing to do the right thing. Brittany often displays affection for Alvin as they are alike in many ways. Although she and Alvin are often quarrelsome with each other and often compete over who is the better, she does stick by his side in tough situations and deep down, she and Alvin do love each other. Brittany pushes Jeanette around a lot and takes advantage of her kindness, but deep down, they love each other very much and care about each other, proving that Brittany does have a gentle side. Eleanor always stands up to Brittany when she tries to push Jeanette around, but they do share a strong sisterly relationship.
Jeanette Miller
Jeanette is the second eldest sister and smartest of the Chipettes, as well as the tallest. Like Simon, she wears glasses and blue attire. She has brown hair in a bun in the '80s show and a short ponytail in the recent films. Her eyes are green in her TV appearances and The Chipmunk Adventure but were changed to purple in the live-action/CGI films. In personality, Jeanette is intelligent, gentle, kind, compassionate, and attractive. She cares about Simon and gets along with him very well, although the two of them are very shy about their relationship. She is often pushed around by Brittany, but she loves her sister and knows that Brittany loves her too. Jeanette tries to be her best, but she is shy and often viewed as clumsy, as she does have a habit of tripping over her feet. Still, she is beloved by her sisters and finds companionship with their guardian, Miss Miller.
Eleanor Miller
Eleanor is the youngest of the Chipettes. She has a lot in common with Theodore in terms of body shape and color of attire, but she is braver, more fit and has a better memory. She is blonde with pigtails and has brown eyes in the 80`s show, which changed to green in the more recent appearances. Eleanor is kind, sweet, trusting, courteous, and fairly pretty. She shares Theodore's love of food and she is also skilled in cooking, and like him, she is the drummer for the Chipettes. Eleanor often stands up to Brittany when she pushes Jeanette around, but she loves her big sister and is always willing to forgive. She seems to have affection for Theodore and they are the two most open about their relationship. Like him, Eleanor is sensitive about her weight and doesn't like to be insulted for it, but she often stands up for herself and wishes to help Theodore gain self-confidence.
Dave
David "Dave" Seville is a quick-tempered yet kind and somewhat insecure songwriter for the musical trio and Chipmunks' adoptive father and confidant. While Dave struggles to remain calm and objective, Alvin often irritates him, causing Dave to yell "Alvin!", to which Alvin (sometimes) responds with "Okay!" Dave plays piano and the guitar. He has short black hair and brown eyes. In the original incarnations of the group (including the original recordings and The Alvin Show) he is portrayed by Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian Sr. In the 1983-1990 revival of the show, he is portrayed by Ross Bagdasarian Jr., the son of the original creator. For the series of films produced from 2007 to 2015, he is portrayed by Jason Lee.
In the 1983-1990 animated series, it is revealed that Dave first found the Chipmunks as infants abandoned on the doorstep of his old cottage. At first, he grows to like them but had trouble keeping them from misbehaving as he had important songs to write or else he'd lose his job. On top of that, Dave's landlord is a nasty man who even tries to kill the Chipmunks. However, Dave eventually hears their amazing singing voices and records them, making their song a hit and with the money they earn they manage to move into a large house, which Dave owns and live happily together as one big family. The mother of the Chipmunks has made a few guest appearances, to see how her children are doing, and Dave had to acquaint her with urban ways.
In the 2007 film, the visuals and history established in the animated show, are totally rebooted. Dave first discovers the boys eating food in his cabinets and he panics and throws them out. He later changes his mind and allows them into his home upon them showing their singing talent. However, the Chipmunks find an old letter and mistakenly think Dave doesn't want them anymore so they go to live with Ian Hawke, their conniving music producer; he begins to miss the boys and frees them from Ian. He welcomes the Chipmunks into his home and eventually he starts to love them like his own children.
However, in the 2009 sequel Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Dave plays a minor role in the film, mainly due to his being in the hospital in Paris. This happened due to Alvin accidentally causing a Billboard to crash into him and he is sent flying across the room and is severely injured, so he is placed in intensive care. He is rarely seen in the film. His cousin Toby acts as both a main character and the Chipmunks' temporary guardian. Dave appears at the end of the film watching his boys and the Chipettes perform together who Dave allows to live with him and the Chipmunks.
Dave appears for a third time in Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, where he, the Chipmunks and Chipettes board a cruise ship heading to the International Music Awards. He gets mad at Alvin, Simon and the Chipettes for leaving their cabin room for their own reasons. Later, he teams up with his old enemy, Ian, to find the Chipmunks and Chipettes when the six get blown away while hang-gliding a kite. He finds them and leaves the island with them before its volcano erupts. He later watches his family perform at the International Music Awards; he is last seen on an airplane with them heading for home.
In the fourth film, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Dave now owns a music record company, and moved to a new home with the Chipmunks and Chipettes. Upset from Alvin throwing a surprise birthday bash, to his dismay, he decides to take his lover, Samantha, to Florida for one of his client's album release party, instead of taking the Chipmunks. Both Samantha and Dave leave, leaving Samantha's son, Miles, to stay with the Chipmunks, being that the Chipettes have gone to judge in American Idol. Dave, for most of the movie, is at Florida, having dinners with Samantha. After being suspected of going to propose to her, Dave is unwittingly sabotaged by Miles and the Chipmunks. He also gets upset, as the Chipmunks presumed, ruining his coworker's proposal, and for causing much trouble on their trip to stop him. Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and Miles perform for Dave as an apology, during his client's album release, finally mending the ruined proposal of Dave's coworker. Back to Los Angeles, Dave adopts the boys, and is last seen yelling Alvin's name after he finds his home wrecked.
Film characters
Ian Hawke
Ian is played by comedian David Cross, and serves as the main antagonist in the first two films. He is Dave's friend-turned rival and former college roommate, and serves as the CEO of Jett Records in the first film. One day, the Chipmunks sneak off to his home to audition, whereupon he automatically signs them on to the label. He rockets them to the top of music business but after seeing how much they're truly worth, he attempts to lure them away from Dave for his own profit. His plan ultimately fails, as the Chipmunks have learned of it and escaped from his grasp, thus leaving him to be ousted from his job as CEO of Jett Records. In the second film, Ian is now unemployable, in debt, and lives in the basement of Jett Records stating that he lost everything except his dignity. However, he happens upon The Chipettes, who want to be famous like the Chipmunks, and cannot wait to make them famous, so he takes them in, in hopes of getting his sworn revenge on the Chipmunks. He enrolls the Chipettes into the same school as the Chipmunks, and after showing Dr. Rubin (Wendie Malick) their talent, she agrees to let them battle the Chipmunks for the right to represent the school for the district's music competition. However, in the climax, Ian decides to blow off the competition to have the Chipettes to perform at a Britney Spears concert, and takes them by force, threatening to take them to a barbecue restaurant if they will not comply. Alvin saves the Chipettes from Ian, who then tries to imitate them at the Britney Spears concert, only to get thrown into a dumpster by security guards losing everything again including his dignity. Ian makes his third and final appearance in the third film. Here, Ian has mellowed and now works on the Carnival Dream cruise ship, dressed in a pelican suit because record labels are not interested in hiring him for ruining the concert of the Chipmunks, the Chipettes and for passing on Justin Bieber twice. As a well-respected mascot, he takes his job very seriously and threatens to have Dave and the Chipmunks removed from the ship if they continue to act up. However, he becomes Dave's friend again while helping him find the Chipmunks after they were marooned on the island. In the end, he gets his wealth back by starting a career as a screenwriter, having sold a screenplay about Zoe's story to Hollywood.
Claire Wilson
Claire is Dave's ex-girlfriend who adores the Chipmunks after she finally gets to meet them. She becomes good friends with Dave again by the end of the movie. She is played by Cameron Richardson.
Toby Seville
Dave's immature and very careless first cousin who appeared in the second film. Toby is a slacker who loves to play video games and still lives with his grandmother and Dave's aunt, Jackie Seville, until he figures out what he wants to do with his life. Toby's immaturity keeps him from acting like an adult (although he seems to take on some responsibility in the middle of the film), and he has a crush on the Chipmunks' homeroom and music teacher, Julie Ortega (Erika Casanova), ever since he went to the same school as the Chipmunks. He is played by Chuck star Zachary Levi.
Zoe
Zoe is a deluded castaway who was found by the Chipmunks when they end up being marooned on an island that she took refuge. She claims to be on the island for eight to nine years. At first, she was believed to be crash-landed into the island, but it turns out that she intentionally came there to look for treasure. She is played by former SNL actress Jenny Slate and is the antagonist turns allie of the third film.
Agent James Suggs
Agent James Suggs is the main antagonist of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. He is an air marshal who personally despises the Chipmunks for being dumped by his girlfriend and plots to hunt them down and have revenge. He first appears on an airplane where Theodore releases a monkey from a cage who releases several other animals. Suggs confronts the Chipmunks and gets attacked by the animals. He next encounters Alvin at a bar and fights him, but Alvin and the Chipmunks escape. He then chases them, but runs into a sign and gets knocked out. When he finds them at a musical parade he tries to catch them, but gets hit by a trumpet and then gets drunk. He wakes up in a room with a man and finds a tattoo on his stomach and another one of the Chipmunks on his back. He goes to a rental car station and urges a man to get him the fastest car he's got to find the Chipmunks, but it is a yellow and sort of slow car. He initially is embarrassed, but accepts the car. He then finds the Chipmunks in a hotel and catches them in an elevator, but the Chipmunks defeat him by hitting the emergency stop button and leaving him trapped inside. During the mid-credits, he is released by a maid and is escorted to a pool. He then gets confronted by a man who tells him to move, but Suggs refuses and is subsequently carried out by two guards. He is presumably fired as air marshal for harassing the Chipmunks. He is similar to Ian Hawke. He is portrayed by Tony Hale.
Samantha
Samantha is a protagonist of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. She first appears at a miniature golf course with her son Miles (who is later introduced into the movie). Her occupation is a doctor. She is portrayed by Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Television characters
Miss Beatrice Miller
The kindly, absent-minded adoptive mother of the Chipettes. She occasionally babysits the Chipmunks and has a crush on Dave, even though she's old enough to be his mother. In her youth, she was part of an all-girl singing group called "The Thrillers". She appeared in the 1983 TV series and was voiced by Dody Goodman.
The character does not exist in the rebooted concept of the Chipettes.
Professor Clyde Crashcup
Clyde Crashcup - voiced by Shepard Menken - is a scientist in a white coat whose experiments invariably failed. His was the only voice heard in many of the episodes, because the other character in the series was his assistant Leonardo, who only whispered into Clyde's ear in order to communicate with him. In one episode, though, Clyde invented a wife, voiced by June Foray. Clyde had one of the four segments, and the Chipmunks starred in the other three (two of which were musical segments). In the episode "Crashcup Invents the Birthday Party", Foray provided the (all too audible) voice for the mother of Crashcup's inaudible assistant Leonardo.
Clyde Crashcup was primarily an inventor rather than a researcher, although he tended to "invent" things which had already been invented. However, in one episode, he built a functioning time machine. He typically would invent something by taking a pencil out of his lab coat's pocket and drawing a picture in midair of his conception: the picture would then become the actual object.
Recording technique
The Chipmunks' voices were recorded at half the normal tape speed onto audiotape by voice talent (on the 60's records, generally Ross Bagdasarian Sr.'s own voice overdubbed three times, on the post-80's records, studio singers) talking or singing at half the normal speaking rate. When the tape was played back at normal speed, they would sound a full octave higher in pitch, at normal tempo. The technique was by no means new to the Chipmunks. For example, the high and low pitched characters in The Wizard of Oz were achieved by speeding up and slowing down vocal recordings. Also, Mel Blanc's voice characterization for Daffy Duck was sped up to some extent. Now, the same effect is created digitally and in real time with a pitch shift.
However, the extensive use of this technique with the Chipmunks, coupled with their popularity, linked this technique to them. The term "chipmunk-voiced" has entered the American vernacular to describe any artificially high-pitched voice. A similar effect could be obtained in playback by merely taking an LP recorded at 331/3 RPM and playing it back at 45 or 78 RPM, a trick sometimes tried out by ordinary record listeners. The instrumental portions of the song are sped up as well, however, making it obvious that the music is being played at the wrong speed. Bagdasarian recorded vocals and music at different speeds to combine properly on his recording. Guitarist Les Paul said he visited Bagdasarian's studio in 1958 and helped with the recording.
The technique was used extensively in the British puppet show Pinky and Perky, which pre-dated the Chipmunks. The sound was frequently imitated in comedy records, notably "Transistor Radio" by Benny Hill, "Bridget the Midget" by Ray Stevens, "The Laughing Gnome" by David Bowie, and on several tracks on Joe Meek and the Blue Men's album I Hear a New World. The technique also appears in the "Yeah! You!" line of The Coasters' "Charlie Brown". Prince used the technique on several of his songs, as well as Frank Zappa on We're Only In It For The Money and on the instrumental album Hot Rats, among others. The early production style of hip-hop artist Kanye West involved sped-up, high-pitch vocal samples from classic soul records incorporated with his own (additional) instrumentation. Due in part to the acclaim of his debut album The College Dropout, such sampling techniques subsequently became much copied by a myriad of other hip-hop producers. In the early '90s rave scene, many breakbeat hardcore productions would utilize the same studio tricks, often taking a cappella from house records and speeding them up to fit the faster tempo. Vocals in songs that used this method would typically be referred to as "chipmunk vocals".
Guest appearances
The Chipmunks make a guest appearance on the Canned Heat song "The Chipmunk Song" (which is not the same song as the 1958 hit) that appeared on their Christmas single.
They also appeared on the FOX NFL Sunday intro (which premiered on December 20, 2009) with the cameo character, Digger (the mascot for NASCAR on Fox).
Filmography
TV shows
- The Alvin Show (1961-1962)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983-1990)
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks (2015-present)
Movies
There have been 8 Alvin and the Chipmunks films.
Theatrical
- The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
Box office performance
Direct to video
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)
- Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (2004)
Discography
Video games
- The Chipmunks (1990) - Platforms: Tiger Electronic Game.
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) - Platforms: Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows.
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) - Platforms: Nintendo DS and Wii.
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) - Platforms: Nintendo DS, Wii and Xbox 360.
Concert tours
- 1984 :The Chipmunks and the Magic Camera (The Chipmunks)
- 2008: Get Munk'd Tour (The Chipmunks)
- 2015: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical (The Chipmunks and The Chipettes)
Awards and nominations
- 1959, won three Grammy Awards for Best Recording for Children, Best Comedy Performance and Best Engineered Record -Non-Classical for the song "The Chipmunk Song" (it was also nominated for Record of the Year, but did not win).
- 1960, won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording -Non-Classical for the song "Alvin's Harmonica."
- 1961, won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children for the album Let's All Sing with The Chipmunks (it was also nominated for Best Engineered Record -Non-Classical). The song "Alvin for President" was also nominated for both Best Comedy Performance -Musical and Best Engineered Record -Novelty, making two nominations in the latter category.
- 1962, was nominated again for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Record -Novelty for the television tie-in album The Alvin Show.
- 1963, was nominated again for Grammy Awards for both Best Album for Children and Best Engineered Record -Novelty for the album The Chipmunk Songbook.
- 1966, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children for the song "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".
- 1985, was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
- 1987, the second television series was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category "Exceptional Family Animation Series or Specials."
- 1987, was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
- 1988, was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
- 1988, was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category "Best Motion Picture -Animation" for the movie The Chipmunk Adventure."
- 2000, won the Golden Reel Award in the category "Best Sound Editing -Direct to Video - Sound Editorial" for the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein."
- 2008, Jason Lee won The Kids' Choice Awards in the category "Favorite Movie" for the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks.
- 2008, the 2007 Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack won the American Music Award for "Best Movie Soundtrack."
- 2010, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel won the Kids' Choice Awards in the category "Favorite Movie."
- 2012, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked won the 2012 Kids' Choice Awards in the category "Favorite Movie."
There were six Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a Golden Reel Award and three Kids Choice Awards in total.
Home releases
List of VHS releases
Following the cult success of the Lorimar Home Video release of the previously successful movie The Chipmunk Adventure on VHS, select episodes of the show from 1983 to 1990, as well as several specials from the '80s and '90s, were released on VHS. Initially, in 1989, they were distributed by Burbank Video. From 1992 to 1996, they were distributed by Buena Vista Home Video. From 1998 to 2000, they were distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The VHS Chipmunk Video Library titles featured select episodes from the Ruby-Spears and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson eras, but no opening and closing credits were included (even though the opening credits were intact on A Chipmunk Reunion). Instead, each tape opened with previews from the six primary Chipmunk Library titles, set to the 1988 version of the show's theme song titled "We're the Chipmunks". Also, a synthesized version of the 1983-1987 title card music was used on the Ruby-Spears episodes. However, unlike the syndicated versions for most of these episodes that were airing at the time, these episodes were presented in their original speed, just as they were on NBC, before they were sped-up for syndication. The early-mid-'90s Chipmunk VHS releases featured select episodes from the DiC era. The Universal Home Video releases consisted of the reissue of The Chipmunk Adventure and the two direct-to-video films.
- The Chipmunk Adventure (released by Lorimar Home Video in 1987, Celebrity's Just for Kids Video in 1993 and Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 1999)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in Alvin and the Chipettes (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- The Greatest Showoffs on Earth
- Sisters
- Tell It to the Judge
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in Chipmunk Classics (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- Snow Wrong
- Cinderella? Cinderella!
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in Chipmunkmania (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- Every Chipmunk Tells a Story
- Who Ghost There
- A Horse of Course
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in The Chipmunk Family Tree (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- The Chipmunk Story (Parts 1 and 2)
- A Chipmunk Reunion
- Around the World with Alvin and the Chipmunks (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- Maids in Japan
- Alvie's Angels
- The Mystery of Seville Manor
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in Alvin's Wildest Schemes (released by Burbank Video in 1989)
- Romancing Miss Stone
- Snow Job
- A Chip off the Old Tooth
- Alvin and the Chipmunks in A Chipmunk Christmas (released by Burbank Video in 1989 and by Buena Vista Home Video in 1992)
- A Chipmunk Christmas
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Rockin' With the Chipmunks: Featuring Michael Jackson (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1992)
- The Chipmunks: Rockin' Through the Decades
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: It's a Wonderful Life, Dave (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1993)
- Dave's Wonderful Life
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin's Christmas Carol (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1993)
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Love Potion #9 (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Theodore and Juliet
- Dr. Simon and Mr. Heartthrob
- Dear Diary
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing-Alongs: Video Audio Fun-Pack Ragtime Cowboy Joe (11 songs from The Alvin Show, released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing-Alongs: Video Audio Fun-Pack Working on the Railroad (11 songs from The Alvin Show, released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: School's Out for Summer (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Alvin's Summer Job (a.k.a. Going For Broke)
- Thinking Cap Trap
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Hair Raising Chipmunk Tales (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Babysitter Fright Night
- Theodore's Life as a Dog
- Unfair Science
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Nightmare on Seville Street (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Nightmare on Seville Street
- No Chipmunk is an Island
- Psychic Alvin
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Back to Alvin's Future (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Back to Our Future
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Kong! (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Kong!
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Batmunk (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Batmunk
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Funny, We Shrunk the Adults (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1994)
- Funny, We Shrunk the Adults
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Easter Chipmunk (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1995)
- The Easter Chipmunk
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Daytona Jones (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1995)
- Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Robomunk (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1995)
- Robomunk
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1995)
- Trick or Treason
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Celebration (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1995)
- A Chipmunk Celebration
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Bigger! (released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1996)
- Bigger!
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Star Wreck: The Absolutely Final Frontier (Released by Buena Vista Home Video in 1996)
- Star Wreck: The Absolutely Final Frontier
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (Released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 1999)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (Released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2000)
There were also VHS releases in the UK that included episodes that have yet to be released in the U.S. on DVD and have never been released in the U.S. on VHS. They consist of "The Phantom", "The Wall", "Queen of the High School Ballroom", "Alvin's Not So Superhero", "Home Sweet Home", "All Worked Up" and "Phantom of the Rock Opera".
There was also a VHS tape released exclusively in Germany that featured seven different segments (albeit in German). On it were "The Wall", "The Amazing Chipmunks", "Psychic Alvin", "A Special Kind of Champion", "Cookie Chomper III", "Nightmare on Seville Street" and "Thinking Cap Trap". Of the seven, "The Amazing Chipmunks", which originally aired alongside "The Wall", is extremely hard to find in its original English language.
List of DVD releases
In 2005, Bagdasarian Productions struck a deal with Paramount Home Video to distribute their latest direct-to-video release, Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks, on DVD. As a result, Paramount continues to distribute selected episodes of the show from 1983 to 1990, as well as several specials from the '80s and '90s on DVD, except for Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman (the home video rights to these specials are still owned by Universal Studios Home Entertainment) and the live-action films made from 2007 to 2015 (the home video rights to these films are owned by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment). The DVD releases include episodes of the 80's Alvin and the Chipmunks animated series that were previously released on VHS as well as episodes that have been previously unreleased on a home video format. Also one episode of The Alvin Show from the 1960s was released.
- Monster Bash Fun Pack (Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein / Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman / Monster Mash / Archie & the Riverdale Vampires) (released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2004)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman
- Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (released by Paramount Home Video in 2005)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Christmas (released by Paramount Home Video in 2005 and again in 2008)
- A Chipmunk Christmas
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll
- Dave's Wonderful Life
- The Chipmunk Adventure (released by Paramount Home Video in 2006 and again in 2008 (2008 reissue includes bonus CD); released on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack in 2014)
- The Brave Chipmunks (2014 re-release)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason (released by Paramount Home Video in 2006 and again in 2008)
- Trick or Treason
- Babysitter Fright Night
- Theodore's Life as a Dog
- Nightmare on Seville Street
- No Chipmunk is an Island
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Christmas: 25th Anniversary Edition (released by Paramount Home Video in 2006)
- Same as previous release, except with a bonus CD.
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Valentine (released by Paramount Home Video in 2007, again in 2009 and again in 2012)
- I Love the Chipmunks Valentine Special
- Dr. Simon and Mr. Heartthrob
- Dear Diary
- Theodore and Juliet
- Sploosh (2012 re-release)
- I Wish I Could Speak French (2012 re-release)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (released by Paramount Home Video in 2007)
- Star Wreck: The Absolutely Final Frontier
- Batmunk
- Funny, We Shrunk the Adults
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Scare-riffic Double Feature: Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2008)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007 film) (released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on April 1, 2008; Special Edition released in December 2008)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Funny, We Shrunk the Adults (released by Paramount Home Video on April 1, 2008)
- Funny, We Shrunk the Adults
- Back to Our Future
- Bigger
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom (released by Paramount Home Video on September 9, 2008)
- Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom
- Batmunk
- Robomunk
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Alvinnn!!! Edition (released by Paramount Home Video on September 16, 2008)
- The Curse of Lontiki
- Mr. Fabulous
- Unidentified Flying Chipmunk
- A Horse, Of Course
- New Improved Simon
- Snow Job
- Maids in Japan
- Every Chipmunk Tells a Story
- Romancing Miss Stone
- Three Alarm Alvin
- Alvin's Oldest Fan
- A Chip Off the Old Tooth
- Whatever Happened to Dave Seville?
- Cadet's Regrets
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration (released by Paramount Home Video on September 23, 2008)
- A Chipmunk Celebration
- Food for Thought
- Cookie Chomper III
- Dave's Getting Married
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Classic Holiday Gift Set (released by Paramount Home Video on September 23, 2008)
- Includes all the episodes from the DVDs "Trick or Treason", "Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration", and "A Chipmunk Christmas"
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipettes (released by Paramount Home Video on January 13, 2009)
- May the Best Chipmunk Win
- Operation: Theodore
- Sisters
- The Greatest Show-Offs on Earth
- My Fair Chipette
- Tell It to the Judge
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Mystery of the Easter Chipmunk (released by Paramount Home Video on February 10, 2009)
- The Easter Chipmunk
- Snow Wrong
- Luck o' the Chipmunks
- A Special Kind of Champion
- Thinking Cap Trap
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Star Wreck (released by Paramount Home Video on September 8, 2009)
- Star Wreck: The Absolutely Final Frontier
- Elementary, My Dear Simon
- Chip Tracy
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Very First Alvin Show (released by Paramount Home Video on September 8, 2009)
- Episode No. 1 of The Alvin Show
- A Chipmunk Reunion
- The Chipmunks: Rockin' Through the Decades
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin and the Chipettes in Cinderella, Cinderella (released by Paramount Home Video on March 30, 2010)
- Cinderella? Cinderella!
- Alvie's Angels
- The Brunch Club
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel: Blu-ray and DVD combo pack, standard DVD, double disc DVD and standard Blu-ray disc were released on March 30, 2010 (by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment).
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Driving Dave Crazy (Released by Paramount Home Video on December 6, 2011)
- Dave's Getting Married
- Every Chipmunk Tells a Story
- Romancing Ms. Stone
- Maids in Japan
- The Incredible Shrinking Dave
- Mother's Day
- The Chipette Diaries (released by Paramount Home Video on March 13, 2012)
- Alvie's Angels
- Tell it to The Judge
- My Fair Chipette
- May the Best Chipmunk Win
- The Greatest Show-Offs on Earth
- The Chipettes
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Blu-ray and DVD combo pack, standard DVD, double disc DVD and standard Blu-ray disc were released on March 27, 2012 (by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment).
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Batmunk (released by Paramount Home Video on July 10, 2012)
- Batmunk
- Treasure Island
- Elementary, My Dear Simon
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Halloween Collection (released by Paramount Home Video on September 4, 2012)
- Trick or Treason
- Babysitter Fright Night
- Theodore's Life as a Dog
- Nightmare on Seville Street
- Once Upon a Crime
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Easter Collection (released by Paramount Home Video on February 19, 2013)
- The Easter Chipmunk
- A Special Kind of Champion
- Thinking Cap Trap
- The Picture of Health
- Snow Wrong
- Luck o' the Chipmunks
- The Chipettes: The Glass Slipper Collection (released by Paramount Home Video on May 14, 2013)
- Cinderella? Cinderella!
- The Chipette Story
- Sisters
- Operation: Theodore
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Driving Dave Crazier (released by Paramount Home Video on August 20, 2013)
- Cookie Chomper III
- Grounded Chipmunk
- Whatever Happened to Dave Seville?
- A Chip Off the Old Tooth
- The Alvin Show (released by ANconnect on March 10, 2015)
- Episode 1:
- Stanley the Eagle
- Oh, Gondanliero
- Clyde Crashcup Invents the Baseball
- I Wish I Could Speak French
- Episode 2:
- Ostrich
- The Brave Chipmunks
- Clyde Crashcup Invents the Baby
- Yankee Doodle
- Episode 3:
- Overworked Alvin
- Witch Doctor
- Clyde Crashcup Invents Flight
- The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
- Episode 1:
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks: Alvin's Wild Adventures (released by Bagdasarian Productions on November 11, 2015)
- Principal Interest
- Talking Teddy
- Mystic Mountain
- A Is for Alien
- Clowning Around
- Driving Dave Crazy
- What a Gem
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks Season 1 Volume 1 (released by Bagdasarian Productions on December 4, 2015)
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks Season 1 Volume 2 (released by Bagdasarian Productions on January 26, 2016)
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks: Alvin vs. Brittany (released by Bagdasarian Productions on March 1, 2016)
- Sister Act
- Albrittina
- My Sister the Weirdo
- Mister Manners
- Reality or Not
- Turf War
- Don Juan Theodoro
References
External links
- Chipmunks.com, Bagdasarian Productions' official site
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Live on Stage!, archived from the original on 2015-06-25
- Cinema.ch Trailer
- "The History of the Chipmunks", Animation.Archive.org
- Alvin and the Chipmunks" at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012.
Source of article : Wikipedia
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