“Space Jam”, released in 1996, blended animation and live-action in an innovative way, bringing Warner Bros’ iconic characters, such as the Looney Tunes, to the basketball court alongside the legendary player Michael Jordan. Behind the scenes, the movie holds fascinating trivia, from the revolutionary technology used in animation to the story behind Jordan’s involvement. Join us in exploring this universe where entertainment merges with sports, and uncover the secrets behind the magic of “Space Jam”.

1 – LOLA BUNNY’S DEBUT FILM

“Space Jam” marked the debut of the rabbit Lola Bunny in a cinematic production. The character’s popularity soared after the film, leading to her inclusion in various Looney Tunes cartoons.

2 – IT ALL STARTED WITH A NIKE COMMERCIAL

In 1992, four years before the release of ‘Space Jam,’ Nike aired a commercial during the Super Bowl to promote the Air Jordan VII, offering a preview of what was to come. In the advertisement, Jordan and Bugs Bunny are depicted playing together against “some bullies”. At the end, the Looney Tunes character suggests that this moment could be the beginning of a promising friendship.

3 – FILM DIRECTOR WHO DIRECTED MADONNA AND MICHAEL JACKSON MUSIC VIDEOS

To oversee the blend of animation and live-action, the studios chose the same director who had already achieved this feat in a commercial: Joe Pytka. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his previous experience mainly involved commercials and music videos, including a notable Pepsi advertisement in 1989 featuring Madonna, as well as the 7-minute version of ‘The Way You Make Me Feel,’ a single from Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ album.

4 – DESPITE SUCCESS, DIRECTOR NEVER HELMED ANOTHER FILM

In the film industry, Pytka had only attempted directing once before ‘Space Jam’: with ‘Let It Ride,’ a gambling comedy released in 1989, which garnered only $4.9 million at the box office. Therefore, with the success of ‘Space Jam,’ one might have expected the director to solidify his presence in Hollywood, right? Wrong. Despite the recognition for his second film, he never directed another feature-length film and chose to return to the world of commercials and music videos.

5 – MICHAEL J. FOX NEARLY JOINED THE FILM

Interestingly, if the director had his way, Michael J. Fox (known for portraying the iconic Marty McFly in ‘Back to the Future’) would have been chosen to star alongside Jordan in ‘Space Jam.’ However, the role of the persistent assistant Stan Podolak ended up going to Wayne Knight, who had already appeared in ‘Jurassic Park’ and had friendships with some of the producers.

6 – BILL MURRAY WAS ACTUALLY FRIENDS WITH THE PRODUCERS

Bill Murray portrays himself in ‘Space Jam.’ His cameo was a true easter egg, and even today many people wonder about the reason for his presence in the film.
This appearance can be explained by two reasons: shortly before filming, the actor had starred in a series of commercials in which he expressed the desire to become a basketball player – a reference that made sense to the American audience when he unexpectedly appeared in the movie. Additionally, as he himself mentions, he was “friends with the producer”, the same individual responsible for ‘Ghostbusters’ 1 and 2.

7 – A COURT WAS BUILT FOR MICHAEL JORDAN

Warner Bros. went all out to accommodate the basketball star and constructed a full court within the studio so Michael Jordan could play during breaks in filming. According to the book ‘Space Jammin: Michael and Bugs Hit the Big Screen,’ written by Charles Carney and Gina Misiroglu, the player was incredibly focused and deemed it essential to have a place to continue training even during shoots.

Dubbed “The Dome”, the court was an exact replica of the training center Jordan used in Chicago. Here, he could maintain his workout routine when not on set. The space included a regulation-sized basketball court, staff dedicated solely to the player, and a weight room.

During this time, “The Dome” became a VIP hotspot at the Warner Bros. studios, attracting numerous stars eager to meet the basketball legend. Among the regulars were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Antonio Banderas, Steven Seagal, as well as the casts of ‘E.R. – Emergency Room’ and ‘Friends.’

8 – MORE THAN 400 ANIMATORS

If you’ve seen ‘Space Jam: The Game of the Century,’ you surely recognize the excellence of the animation techniques employed, still considered remarkable by cinema professionals to this day. To achieve such a feat, Warner Bros. invested in hiring a large contingent of artists for the film.

Warner Bros. Animation, responsible for TV shows and shorts featuring Looney Tunes characters and other cartoons, had about 100 animators on staff. Just for the feature film, over 400 people were hired, including 60 new artists specifically dedicated to animation.
As described in the book ‘Space Jammin: Michael and Bugs Hit the Big Screen,’ each team member had a specific focus area, whether it was a character, a background, or any other element. In total, these efforts resulted in almost 40,000 complete drawings, using over a million sheets of paper to compose the entire film. Despite being in the market for decades, the Looney Tunes had never undergone such an intricate process before.

During scenes where Bugs Bunny and the other characters played basketball, they needed to execute never-before-seen movements. This meant that the animations had to be done in a way to simulate a recording with a real human, covering everything from the top of the head to the soles of their feet, with camera movements following them as they moved rapidly.

For this reason, the extensive team of artists had to resort to 3D models to help them visualize the new angles and movements of the Looney Tunes. The final result allowed the audience to appreciate the beloved characters in a completely new way, maintaining the traditional essence of hand-drawn cartoons but with a more contemporary approach.

9 – MICHAEL JORDAN HELPED CHOOSE THE ICONIC SOUNDTRACK

The soundtrack of ‘Space Jam’ was a huge success, selling over six million copies and reaching the second spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, earning a 6x platinum certification (each unit in this category represents 1 million copies sold).

From the start, it was established that the R&B genre would predominate in the soundtrack. Therefore, the singers and producers invited to participate in the project – such as Quad City DJ’s, R. Kelly, and Jay-Z – were aware of the overall tone the film should have. What few knew is that Warner Bros. sought Jordan’s opinion on the songs, and he readily contributed. So, if you appreciate the soundtrack, part of the credit goes to the player.

10 – THE MARKETING WAS INCREDIBLE

These days, it’s common to see a significant investment in merchandising for blockbusters, but in 1996, the situation was different, as only the most important releases received such special treatment.

However, the marketing surrounding ‘The Game of the Century’ was extraordinary, and a wide variety of products related to the film were produced: soundtrack CDs, action figure lines, a console game, towels, mugs, a themed pinball machine, and even a toy line for McDonald’s. All of these items contributed to the film’s popularity.

“Space Jam” continues to captivate and intrigue fans of all ages, not only for its unique blend of animation and live action but also for the fascinating stories behind its production. From the collaboration between Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes to the technical challenges faced by the animation team, the film is a testament to the enduring power of imagination and creativity. With its engaging soundtrack, innovative merchandising, and a diverse cast of characters, “Space Jam” remains not only a milestone in pop culture but also a reminder of the power of collaboration and creative boldness in the world of cinema.