"Sir Billi", aka "Guardian of the Highlands" is the Scottish produced, 2012 CG -animated adventure comedy feature, written, directed by Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, starring the final (voice) performance of actor Sean Connery, with Alan Cumming, Patrick Doyle and Kieron Elliott:
"...'Sir Billi', an old, skateboarding veterinarian, goes above and beyond the call of responsibility, fighting villains and strong lairds in a war to save the illegal fugitive 'Bessie Boo' the beaver..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Sir Billi', an old, skateboarding veterinarian, goes above and beyond the call of responsibility, fighting villains and strong lairds in a war to save the illegal fugitive 'Bessie Boo' the beaver..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/13/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
★☆☆☆☆ It's said that writing for children is harder than writing for adults, since they can be as discerning - if not more so - than their elders. The same goes for filmmaking, advice those behind one-dimensional animated feature Sir Billi (2012) were clearly not aware of. Written and director by husband and wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, and featuring the voice talents of Sean Connery, Alan Cumming, Ruby Wax and Miriam Margolyes, Sir Billi will leave you speechless - though not for the right reasons. We begin with the lives of a young beaver and her adopted family of rabbits in peril from a ruthless animal-catcher.
It's up to wily retired veterinarian Sir Billi (a typically gruff Connery) and his faithful sidekick Gordon the Goat (Cumming), with the help of the local villagers, to save their furry friends from a fate worse than death. Watching Sir Billi, you have to...
It's up to wily retired veterinarian Sir Billi (a typically gruff Connery) and his faithful sidekick Gordon the Goat (Cumming), with the help of the local villagers, to save their furry friends from a fate worse than death. Watching Sir Billi, you have to...
- 9/13/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Animation Sir Billi the Vet, which was seven years in the making and has been widely panned, is out on 13 September
Sean Connery's final film, the animated tale Sir Billi the Vet, will debut in just three UK cinemas before heading straight to DVD after failing to ignite interest among distributors, reports the Scotsman.
The £15m film, featuring voice work by the 83-year-old actor as an eccentric skateboarding veterinarian who must face down villainous policeman and corrupt lairds in his hunt for Scotland's last beaver, has endured a difficult production process to say the least. Seven years in the making, it was panned by critics on debut at the Sonoma international film festival in the Us in April last year, despite Connery's high-profile backing.
Billed as Scotland's first CGI animation, it has been overshadowed by the success of Hollywood imports such as Pixar's Brave, which featured a largely Scottish...
Sean Connery's final film, the animated tale Sir Billi the Vet, will debut in just three UK cinemas before heading straight to DVD after failing to ignite interest among distributors, reports the Scotsman.
The £15m film, featuring voice work by the 83-year-old actor as an eccentric skateboarding veterinarian who must face down villainous policeman and corrupt lairds in his hunt for Scotland's last beaver, has endured a difficult production process to say the least. Seven years in the making, it was panned by critics on debut at the Sonoma international film festival in the Us in April last year, despite Connery's high-profile backing.
Billed as Scotland's first CGI animation, it has been overshadowed by the success of Hollywood imports such as Pixar's Brave, which featured a largely Scottish...
- 9/2/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Mark Millar has received an honorary doctorate. The Kick-Ass co-creator was made a doctor of letters by Glasgow Caledonian University, reports the Daily Record. He received an honorary degree alongside former All Saints CEO Stephen Craig, philanthropist Margie Moffat, and Scottish fashion awards founder Tessa Hartmann. "We are delighted to welcome these creative and civic-minded citizens into our distinguished family of honorary graduates," said principal and vice-chancellor (more)...
- 6/30/2012
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
Dame Shirley Bassey Heads To Sonoma, San Francisco For Sir Sean Connery’s Animated Feature Sir Billi
Director Sascha Hartmann with Dame Shirley Bassey wearing a ‘Sir Billi’ tartan gown / Courtesy Alan Simpson Photography
Producers of Sir Billi, the first full length animated feature to be produced entirely in Scotland, have announced that the British singing legend Dame Shirley Bassey will join the red carpet when the film gets it’s first international screening at the 15th annual Sonoma International Film Festival in San Francisco on April 13th 2012.
Dame Shirley Bassey performs the title track ‘Guardian of the Highlands’, in the forthcoming animated movie starring the voice of Sir Sean Connery. Indeed this project was the first time Sir Sean and Dame Shirley collaborated since the Bond era!
Sascha Hartmann is directing ‘Sir Billi’ from a screenplay written by his wife Tessa Hartmann, from an original story they developed together. John Fraser is producer, with Sir Sean Connery serving as executive producer.
Expanded to a feature length...
Producers of Sir Billi, the first full length animated feature to be produced entirely in Scotland, have announced that the British singing legend Dame Shirley Bassey will join the red carpet when the film gets it’s first international screening at the 15th annual Sonoma International Film Festival in San Francisco on April 13th 2012.
Dame Shirley Bassey performs the title track ‘Guardian of the Highlands’, in the forthcoming animated movie starring the voice of Sir Sean Connery. Indeed this project was the first time Sir Sean and Dame Shirley collaborated since the Bond era!
Sascha Hartmann is directing ‘Sir Billi’ from a screenplay written by his wife Tessa Hartmann, from an original story they developed together. John Fraser is producer, with Sir Sean Connery serving as executive producer.
Expanded to a feature length...
- 4/6/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Well, the good news is Sir Sean Connery is coming out of retirement. The bad news is he's coming out of retirement for this! Sir Billi is the first full-length CG-animated film produced by Glasgow Animation [1] about a skateboarding grandpa who teams up with his goat (voiced by Alan Cumming) to save Bessie Boo the beaver. I suppose he decided that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen wasn't the ideal farewell film and he wanted to go out on a high note instead. Sir Billi is an all Scottish production, which is probably why he decided to help out, but based on the first sizzle reel, the animation quality looks to be somewhat questionable. Aside from Connery and Cumming, the cast is mostly unknowns (at least, outside of the U.K. anyway). Scottish fashion guru Tessa Hartmann is listed as a writer and producer of the film, while her husband Sascha is making his directorial debut.
- 6/28/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Sir Sean Connery lends his voice to the title character in Sir Billi, a family friendly, CGI-animated film. It’s also Sir Sean’s first feature film since 2003’s The League Of Extraordinary Gentleman. Here’s a promotional trailer for the movie.
Wasn’t that 007’s car? Directed by Sascha Hartmann and scripted by his wife Tessa Hartmann, the story follows a retired Scottish skateboarding veterinarian grandpa who sets out to rescue an illegal fugitive beaver, with the help of sidekick, Gordon the Goat (Alan Cumming.)
On what tempted Connery to come out of retirement, Tessa Hartmann said,
“We sent a DVD to Sir Sean via a mutual acquaintance and heard nothing for a few weeks when suddenly the phone rang. It was Sir Sean personally explaining that his grandchildren had taken the DVD from his home and kept it. They loved it that much. ‘If it’s good enough for them,...
Wasn’t that 007’s car? Directed by Sascha Hartmann and scripted by his wife Tessa Hartmann, the story follows a retired Scottish skateboarding veterinarian grandpa who sets out to rescue an illegal fugitive beaver, with the help of sidekick, Gordon the Goat (Alan Cumming.)
On what tempted Connery to come out of retirement, Tessa Hartmann said,
“We sent a DVD to Sir Sean via a mutual acquaintance and heard nothing for a few weeks when suddenly the phone rang. It was Sir Sean personally explaining that his grandchildren had taken the DVD from his home and kept it. They loved it that much. ‘If it’s good enough for them,...
- 6/26/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Lots of people have a dream. But how many get to not only see their dream come true, but to see it make history? Two such people are Sascha and Tessa Hartmann. On the phone from Glasgow, Tessa Hartmann tells the story of how a simple children's tale has, in a decade, morphed into an industry. "We have two daughters, now 11 and 13, who were into Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder," she recalls. "We thought it would be fun to create something else for them." As it happens, her husband, a clinical neuropsychologist, is also an illustrator and her father, she says, "looks like Sean Connery." Those two facts, together with her ability to create the story, got them started with what began as "very much a sideline but we learned that when you work as...
- 6/23/2010
- by Ellen Sterling
- Huffington Post
London -- Universal Music Publishing has struck a deal with the husband-and-wife creative team of Sascha and Tessa Hartmann -- who have spent five years in production on the CGI-animated movie "Sir Billi" -- to publish five original songs for the movie.
In postproduction, the movie features the singing of Shirley Bassey and the voice of Sean Connery; the pair is together on a feature for the first time since they were both involved in "Goldfinger."
Universal will publish Bassey's version of the title song, "Guardian of the Highlands," with lyrics by Tessa Hartmann, who penned them with Bassey in mind.
Sascha Hartmann composed the music, and Tessa Hartmann wrote the lyrics for the five featured original songs.
Universal and Glasgow-based Billi Prods. remain tight-lipped about the four other artists being lined up for the songs, written by the Hartmanns.
Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan,...
In postproduction, the movie features the singing of Shirley Bassey and the voice of Sean Connery; the pair is together on a feature for the first time since they were both involved in "Goldfinger."
Universal will publish Bassey's version of the title song, "Guardian of the Highlands," with lyrics by Tessa Hartmann, who penned them with Bassey in mind.
Sascha Hartmann composed the music, and Tessa Hartmann wrote the lyrics for the five featured original songs.
Universal and Glasgow-based Billi Prods. remain tight-lipped about the four other artists being lined up for the songs, written by the Hartmanns.
Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan,...
- 6/17/2010
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Good actors never really retire, they just find new and easier ways to work. Sean Connery loudly proclaimed his intention to retire from the silver screen, but he's decided to make a bit of a return. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Connery will lend his voice to the CGI animated movie Sir Billi, an independent film created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann. Connery is an executive producer on the project, and has been heavily involved with its production.
The movie will have Connery playing "a retired, skateboarding veterinarian" who rescues an illegal fugitive who just happens to be a beaver. (I now wish this could cross over into The Beaver.) The Hartmanns have been working on the project for five years, and it's now set for a 2010 release.
The final touch is apparently a Shirley Bassey tune, and THR reports that she's signed up to record a song...
The movie will have Connery playing "a retired, skateboarding veterinarian" who rescues an illegal fugitive who just happens to be a beaver. (I now wish this could cross over into The Beaver.) The Hartmanns have been working on the project for five years, and it's now set for a 2010 release.
The final touch is apparently a Shirley Bassey tune, and THR reports that she's signed up to record a song...
- 11/19/2009
- by Elisabeth Rappe
- Cinematical
Their distinctive tones, last heard in the same film in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, will feature in an animated adventure about a vet attempting to rescue a beaver
It's a far cry from Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever. But animated tale Sir Billi the Vet, about the attempts of a retired Scottish animal doctor to rescue a fugitive beaver, will have one thing in common with the James Bond classics: the voices of Sean Connery and Shirley Bassey.
The veteran Scots actor has signed up to voice the lead, while Bassey takes singing duties on the title song, Guardian of the Highlands, according to the Hollywood Reporter. It's the first time their vocal talents have appeared in the same film since Diamonds Are Forever in 1971.
The husband and wife creative team behind the project, Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, always had Bassey in mind to sing the title track.
"There was no persuading needed here,...
It's a far cry from Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever. But animated tale Sir Billi the Vet, about the attempts of a retired Scottish animal doctor to rescue a fugitive beaver, will have one thing in common with the James Bond classics: the voices of Sean Connery and Shirley Bassey.
The veteran Scots actor has signed up to voice the lead, while Bassey takes singing duties on the title song, Guardian of the Highlands, according to the Hollywood Reporter. It's the first time their vocal talents have appeared in the same film since Diamonds Are Forever in 1971.
The husband and wife creative team behind the project, Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, always had Bassey in mind to sing the title track.
"There was no persuading needed here,...
- 11/19/2009
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Sean Connery supposed to be drinking delicious dragon's tears from the Holy Grail while surrounded by a harem of every beautiful Bond girl in cinema history? That was the impression I was under regarding the beloved actor's retirement plan — as it turns out, I was misinformed.
The erstwhile Henry Jones, Sr. is taking a break from retirement to lend his vocal talents to Sascha and Tessa Hartmann's "Sir Billi," a CGI animated film that's been in production for five years and is set to be completed in 2010. Alan Cumming, Miriam Margoyles, Ruby Wax and others are also providing voice work in the movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Sir Billi" focuses on "a retired, skateboarding veterinarian who lives in a remote Scottish village and who spearheads the rescue of an illegal fugitive who also happens to be a beaver."
Yeah. That would get me out of retirement,...
The erstwhile Henry Jones, Sr. is taking a break from retirement to lend his vocal talents to Sascha and Tessa Hartmann's "Sir Billi," a CGI animated film that's been in production for five years and is set to be completed in 2010. Alan Cumming, Miriam Margoyles, Ruby Wax and others are also providing voice work in the movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Sir Billi" focuses on "a retired, skateboarding veterinarian who lives in a remote Scottish village and who spearheads the rescue of an illegal fugitive who also happens to be a beaver."
Yeah. That would get me out of retirement,...
- 11/18/2009
- by Josh Wigler
- MTV Movies Blog
Not all of the movie news we report is riveting, but sometimes it is notable. Shirley Bassey and Sean Connery, who haven't been involved in the same project since Goldfinger graced the theaters, will soon be brought together by Sir Billi, a CGI film by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann. While Sean Connery has lent his voice to the starring role, Bassey has signed on to sing the title song, "Guardian of the Highlands." Admittedly, I hadn't heard anything about Sir Billi, until I read the news about Bassey and Connery this morning. My first reaction was that it couldn't be that good of a CGI feature if Pixar didn't have a hand in it -- then I read the following synopsis. The movie centers on a retired, skateboarding veterinarian who lives in a remote Scottish village and who spearheads the rescue of an illegal fugitive who also happens to be a beaver.
- 11/18/2009
- LRMonline.com
Bond stars Sean Connery and Shirley Bassey are reuniting for a new animated feature film.
Former 007 Connery is lending his voice to the lead character in Sir Billi, while Bassey, who belted out the title track for his 1964 Bond movie Goldfinger, has signed up to sing the title song, Guardian of the Highlands.
Movie bosses admit the tune was written with Bassey in mind - and the veteran star was thrilled to be approached by husband-and-wife producers Sascha and Tessa Hartmann.
The singer says, "There was no persuading needed here, I liked the song from the moment I heard it. Sascha and Tessa made the process incredibly fun and easy for me and we got a great result."
The picture, about a retired, skateboarding veterinarian, also features voiceovers from Alan Cumming and funnywoman Ruby Wax.
Former 007 Connery is lending his voice to the lead character in Sir Billi, while Bassey, who belted out the title track for his 1964 Bond movie Goldfinger, has signed up to sing the title song, Guardian of the Highlands.
Movie bosses admit the tune was written with Bassey in mind - and the veteran star was thrilled to be approached by husband-and-wife producers Sascha and Tessa Hartmann.
The singer says, "There was no persuading needed here, I liked the song from the moment I heard it. Sascha and Tessa made the process incredibly fun and easy for me and we got a great result."
The picture, about a retired, skateboarding veterinarian, also features voiceovers from Alan Cumming and funnywoman Ruby Wax.
- 11/18/2009
- WENN
By the Hollywood Reporter
The voices of Shirley Bassey and Sean Connery have been drawn together on a feature for the first time since they were both involved in "Goldfinger" back in the day.
Bassey has signed up to sing the title song named "Guardian of the Highlands" for the CGI animated movie "Sir Billi," which stars Connery's voice.
After five years in production, the feature created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann is in postproduction and due for completion in 2010.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.
The voices of Shirley Bassey and Sean Connery have been drawn together on a feature for the first time since they were both involved in "Goldfinger" back in the day.
Bassey has signed up to sing the title song named "Guardian of the Highlands" for the CGI animated movie "Sir Billi," which stars Connery's voice.
After five years in production, the feature created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann is in postproduction and due for completion in 2010.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.
- 11/17/2009
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
London -- The voices of Shirley Bassey and Sean Connery have been drawn together on a feature for the first time since they were both involved in "Goldfinger" back in the day.
Bassey has signed up to sing the title song named "Guardian of the Highlands" for the CGI animated movie "Sir Billi," which stars Connery's voice.
After five years in production, the feature created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann is in postproduction and due for completion in 2010.
Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan, Greg Hempill, Barbara Rafferty, John Amabile, Larry Sullivan and U.S.-based newcomer Chris Jai Alex also lend voices to the movie.
Sascha Hartmann said the title track was penned with Bassey in mind and after her management was approached to do it, the singer agreed.
"There was no persuading needed here, I liked the song from the moment I heard it,...
Bassey has signed up to sing the title song named "Guardian of the Highlands" for the CGI animated movie "Sir Billi," which stars Connery's voice.
After five years in production, the feature created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann is in postproduction and due for completion in 2010.
Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan, Greg Hempill, Barbara Rafferty, John Amabile, Larry Sullivan and U.S.-based newcomer Chris Jai Alex also lend voices to the movie.
Sascha Hartmann said the title track was penned with Bassey in mind and after her management was approached to do it, the singer agreed.
"There was no persuading needed here, I liked the song from the moment I heard it,...
- 11/17/2009
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sean Connery will lend his voice as the star of "Sir BIlli," a CGI animated movie and Shirley Bassey will sing the title song "Guardian of the Highlands." This brings the two together again since the last time they worked on "Goldfinger" in 1964. This has been in production for some five years now. Created by husband-and-wife team Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, the film is now in post-production and set for completion at the end of next year. Also lending their voices are Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan, Greg Hempill, Barbara Rafferty, John Amabile, Larry Sullivan and newcomer Chris Jai Alex. The movie focuses on a retired, skateboarding veterinarian who resides in a remote Scottish village. He heads the rescue of an illegal beaver fugitive.
- 11/17/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Every once in a while in the world of cinema, the imagery and the music blend so harmoniously and magnificently that they attain legendary status; it's hard to imagine any other combination working quite so well. And one of the best examples of this can be found in the opening titles of the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger. Sean Connery's visage combined with the powerhouse voice of Shirley Bassey singing the title track (not to mention Maurice Binder's title sequence) created an indelible cinematic image that resonates as much today as it did back in the '60s.
And now comes word that the singular voice of Shirley Bassey and the thespian talents of Sean Connery will be combined once again — for the first time since 1964 — for the CGI animated movie Sir Billi. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bassey has signed up to sing the title song, "Guardian of...
And now comes word that the singular voice of Shirley Bassey and the thespian talents of Sean Connery will be combined once again — for the first time since 1964 — for the CGI animated movie Sir Billi. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bassey has signed up to sing the title song, "Guardian of...
- 11/17/2009
- CinemaSpy
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