View source for Who Framed Roger Rabbit

{{Short description|1988 film directed by Robert Zemeckis}}
{{About|the film|other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Who Framed Roger Rabbit
| image          = Movie poster who framed roger rabbit.jpg
| alt            = Theatrical release poster depicting filmstrips shaped like Roger Rabbit. The title "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and a tagline "It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble." are shown at the left top of the image.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Robert Zemeckis]]
| screenplay     = [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman|Jeffrey Price<br /> Peter S. Seaman]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Who Censored Roger Rabbit?]]''|[[Gary K. Wolf]]}}
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]]
* [[Robert Watts]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster billing.-->
* [[Bob Hoskins]]
* [[Christopher Lloyd]]
* [[Charles Fleischer]]
* [[Stubby Kaye]]
* [[Joanna Cassidy]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Dean Cundey]]
| editing        = [[Arthur Schmidt (film editor)|Arthur Schmidt]]
| music          = [[Alan Silvestri]]
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[Touchstone Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/59159|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)|work=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722204441/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/59159|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Amblin Entertainment]]<ref name=afi/>
* [[Silver Screen Partners III]]<ref name=afi/>
}}
| distributor    = [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]<ref name=afi/>
| released       = {{Film date|1988|6|21|New York City|1988|6|24|United States}}
| runtime        = 104 minutes<ref name="bbfc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/who-framed-roger-rabbit-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdu2ntc|title=''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' (PG)|work=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]]|access-date=April 25, 2023}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $50.6 million{{refn|group=nb|The budget has been commonly reported as $70 million, including by ''The New York Times'' in 1991, which subsequently issued an [[erratum]] to state that both Amblin and Touchstone insist the budget was "about $50 million".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Greenburg|first=James|title=FILM; Why the 'Hudson Hawk' Budget Soared So High|date=May 26, 1991|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=3|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/26/movies/film-why-the-hudson-hawk-budget-soared-so-high.html?pagewanted=3|access-date=January 4, 2010|archive-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812135130/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/26/movies/film-why-the-hudson-hawk-budget-soared-so-high.html?pagewanted=3|url-status=live}}</ref> Publications of the film's accounts since then indicate that the exact production cost of the film was $58,166,000,<ref name="Block & Wilson">{{cite book|editor1-last=Block|editor1-first=Alex Ben|editor2-last=Wilson|editor2-first=Lucy Autrey|year=2010|title=George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-By-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|isbn=978-0-06-177889-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/615 615]|quote=Production cost (with overhead): $58,166 (Unadjusted $s in Thousands of Dollars)|url=https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/615}}</ref> including the production overhead which came to a total of $7,587,000, putting the net cost at $50,587,000.<ref name="Vogel">{{cite book|last=Vogel|first=Harold L.|year=2010|title=Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-1-107-00309-5|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=BfyFFCyRvX0C&pg=PA208 208]|quote=Production cost: 50,579; Production overhead: 7,587 (Data in $000s)}}</ref>}}
| gross          = $351.5 million<ref>{{cite web|title=The Numbers: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit#tab=international|website=The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC.|access-date=1 July 2022|ref=box office}}</ref>
}}

'''''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''''' is a 1988 American [[fantasy comedy]] film directed by [[Robert Zemeckis]] from a screenplay written by [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/who-framed-roger-rabbit-vm1079401|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)|website=Allmovie|access-date=April 22, 2023}}</ref> Combining [[Live-action animated film|live-action and animation]], it is loosely based on [[Gary K. Wolf]]'s novel, ''[[Who Censored Roger Rabbit?]]''. The film stars [[Bob Hoskins]], [[Christopher Lloyd]], [[Stubby Kaye]] and [[Joanna Cassidy]], with [[Charles Fleischer]] providing the voice of [[Roger Rabbit|the title character]]. Set in an [[alternative history]] [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] in 1947, where humans and cartoon characters (referred to as "toons") co-exist, ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' follows [[Eddie Valiant]], a private [[Detective|investigator]] with a grudge against toons, who must help exonerate Roger, who has been [[Frameup|framed for murder]].

[[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] purchased the [[film rights]] to the novel shortly after its publication in 1981. Price and Seaman wrote two drafts of the script before Disney brought in executive producer [[Steven Spielberg]] and his production company, [[Amblin Entertainment]]. Zemeckis was brought on to direct and Canadian-British animator [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]] was hired to supervise the animation sequences. Production was moved from [[Los Angeles]] to [[Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)|Elstree Studios]] in England to accommodate Williams and his group of animators. While filming, the production budget rapidly expanded and the shooting schedule ran longer than expected.

''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' was released through Disney's [[Touchstone Pictures]] banner in the United States on June 22, 1988. The film received critical acclaim for its visuals, humor, writing, performances and groundbreaking combination of live-action and animation. It grossed over $351 million worldwide, becoming the [[1988 in film|second-highest-grossing film of 1988]], behind ''[[Rain Man]]''. It brought a renewed interest in the [[golden age of American animation]], spearheading [[Modern animation in the United States|modern American animation]] and the [[Disney Renaissance]].<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Susan|title=Classic Hollywood: On the case of 'Roger Rabbit'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-roger-rabbit-classic-hollywood-20130401,0,7123062,full.story|access-date=April 16, 2013|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=March 21, 2013|archive-date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404115801/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-roger-rabbit-classic-hollywood-20130401,0,7123062,full.story|url-status=live}}</ref> It won three [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Effects Editing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] and received a [[Special Achievement Academy Award]] for Williams' animation direction.

In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite web|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing|url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|website=Library of Congress|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031213743/https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0"/>

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films are 400 to 700 words. -->
In 1947 Los Angeles, animated cartoon characters, or "[[Animated cartoon|toons]]", co-exist with humans, often working as film stars. Private detective [[Eddie Valiant]], once a staunch ally of the toons, has become a depressed alcoholic following his brother Teddy's murder by an unknown toon five years prior. Maroon Cartoon Studios owner R.K. Maroon, upset about the recent poor performance of his toon star [[Roger Rabbit]], hires Eddie to investigate rumors that Roger's glamorous toon wife, [[Jessica Rabbit|Jessica]], is having an affair with Marvin Acme, owner of both the [[Acme Corporation]] and Toontown, the animated metropolis in which toons reside.

After watching Jessica perform at The Ink and Paint Club, Eddie secretly photographs her and Acme playing [[patty-cake]]. He shows the pictures to Roger, who becomes distraught and flees, refusing to believe Jessica was unfaithful. The next morning, Acme is found murdered, and evidence at the scene implicates Roger. Eddie meets [[Judge Doom]], the sinister human [[judge]] of Toontown—having bribed the electorate for their votes—and his five [[Weasels (Disney)|weasel]] minions, the Toon Patrol. Doom reveals that he will execute Roger using the "dip", a chemical concoction of [[acetone]], [[benzene]], and [[turpentine]], which can destroy the otherwise invulnerable toons.

Roger's toon co-star, Baby Herman, believes Roger is innocent and suggests to Eddie that Acme's missing [[Will and testament|will]], which supposedly bequeaths Toontown to the toons, may have been the killer's true motive. Eddie returns to his office and finds Roger hiding there, who insists he has been framed and Eddie reluctantly agrees to help after finding evidence of Acme's will; he hides Roger in a bar tended by his girlfriend, Dolores. Later, Jessica tells Eddie that Maroon threatened Roger's career unless she posed for the compromising photos. Meanwhile, Dolores uncovers that Cloverleaf Industries recently bought the city's [[Pacific Electric]] railway system and will purchase Toontown at midnight unless Acme's will is found. Doom and the Toon Patrol find Roger, but he and Eddie escape with help from Benny, a toon [[taxi]] cab. Sheltering in a local [[movie theater]], Eddie sees a newsreel of Maroon selling his studio to Cloverleaf.

While Eddie goes to the studio to interrogate Maroon, Jessica abducts Roger. Maroon denies involvement in Acme's murder, admitting he intended to [[blackmail]] Acme into selling his company as otherwise Cloverleaf would not buy the studio. In the middle of his confession, Maroon is assassinated and Eddie spots Jessica fleeing the scene. Assuming she is the assailant, he reluctantly follows her into Toontown, choosing to discard the last of his alcohol. After saving Eddie from being shot by Doom, Jessica reveals her actions were to ensure Roger's safety, and it was Doom who killed Acme and Maroon. Acme gave his will to Jessica for safety but, when she examined it, the paper was blank.

Doom and the Toon Patrol capture Jessica and Eddie, bringing them to Acme's factory. Doom reveals he is [[Chief executive officer|the sole shareholder]] of Cloverleaf. He plans to erase Toontown with a dip-spraying machine so he can build a [[interstate|freeway]] in its place, and decommission the railway system to force people to use it. When Roger fails to save Jessica, the couple is tied to a hook in front of the machine's sprayer. Eddie performs a series of pratfalls that cause the weasels to laugh themselves to death, kicks their leader into the dip, and then fights Doom. After being flattened by a [[steamroller]], Doom reveals himself as a disguised toon and Teddy's murderer. Struggling against Doom's toon abilities, Eddie empties the machine's dip supply, spraying and killing Doom. The machine crashes through the wall into Toontown, where it is destroyed by a passing train.

As police and toons gather at the scene, Eddie realizes that Acme's will was written on the blank paper in temporarily [[invisible ink]], confirming the toons inherit Toontown. Having regained his sense of humor, Eddie happily enters Toontown alongside Dolores, Roger, Jessica, and the toons.

==Cast==
[[File:Bob hoskins filming ruby blue cropped (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Bob Hoskins]] (pictured in 2006) plays the role of Eddie Valiant.]]

===Live-action cast===
{{div col}}
* [[Bob Hoskins]] as [[Eddie Valiant]], a Los Angeles private investigator
* [[Christopher Lloyd]] as [[Judge Doom]], a Toontown Superior Court judge
* [[Stubby Kaye]] as Marvin Acme, the owner of the Acme Corporation and Toontown
* [[Joanna Cassidy]] as Dolores, a bar waitress and Eddie's girlfriend
* [[Alan Tilvern]] as R.K. Maroon, the head of Maroon Cartoons
* [[Richard LeParmentier]] as Lieutenant Santino
* [[Richard Ridings]] as Angelo, a bar patron who frequents Dolores' place
* [[Joel Silver]] as Raoul J. Raoul, a Maroon Cartoons director
* Paul Springer as Augie
* [[Mike Edmonds]] as Stretch
* [[Betsy Brantley]] as [[Jessica Rabbit]]'s performance model
* [[Morgan Deare]] as a Maroon Cartoons editor
{{div col end}}

===Voice cast===
{{div col}}
* [[Charles Fleischer]] as:<ref name="BTVA">{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit/|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=2025-10-14}}</ref>
** [[Roger Rabbit]], a toon rabbit and cartoon short star
** Benny the Cab, a toon taxi
** Greasy, the second-in-command of the Toon Patrol
** Psycho, a member of the Toon Patrol
* [[Lou Hirsch]] as Baby Herman, an [[infant]]-based toon and Roger's co-star, who speaks normally when off set<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[David Lander]] as Smart Ass, the leader of the Toon Patrol<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[Fred Newman (actor)|Fred Newman]] as Stupid, a member of the Toon Patrol<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[June Foray]] as:<ref name="BTVA"/>
** Wheezy, a member of the Toon Patrol
** Lena Hyena, an unattractive humanoid toon whom Eddie mistakes for Jessica
* [[Mel Blanc]] as:<ref name="BTVA"/>
** [[Bugs Bunny]]
** [[Daffy Duck]]
** [[Porky Pig]]
** [[Tweety]]
** [[Sylvester the Cat]]
* [[Joe Alaskey]] as [[Yosemite Sam]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[Wayne Allwine]] as [[Mickey Mouse]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[Tony Anselmo]] as [[Donald Duck]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
** [[Clarence Nash]] as Donald Duck (archival recordings)
* [[Tony Pope]] as:<ref name="BTVA"/>
** [[Goofy]]
** [[Big Bad Wolf#Disney version|The Big Bad Wolf]]
* [[Mae Questel]] as [[Betty Boop]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[Russi Taylor]] as:<ref name="BTVA"/>
** [[Minnie Mouse]]
** ''[[Song of the South]]''{{'}}s [[hummingbird]]s
* [[Pat Buttram]], [[Jim Cummings]] and Jim Gallant as toon bullets which Eddie once received from Yosemite Sam<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Les Perkins as [[Mr. Toad]] from ''[[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]]''<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Mary T. Radford as ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]''{{'}}s Hyacinth Hippo<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Cherry Davis as [[Woody Woodpecker]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Morgan Deare as Bongo the Gorilla, the [[Bouncer (doorman)|bouncer]] of The Ink and Paint Club<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Peter Westy as [[Pinocchio]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]] as [[Droopy]]<ref name="BTVA"/>
* [[April Winchell]] as Mrs. Herman and Baby Herman's "baby noises"<ref name="BTVA"/>
* Archival recordings of [[Frank Sinatra]] were used for a singing sword at the Acme factory, whose character design is based on Sinatra.<ref name="BTVA"/>
{{div col end}}

Uncredited cast members include [[Kathleen Turner]] as [[Jessica Rabbit]], Roger Rabbit's wife;<ref name="BTVA"/><ref name="kt">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/kathleen-turner-talks-the-perfect-family-body-heat-an-1798231149|title=Kathleen Turner talks ''The Perfect Family'', ''Body Heat'', and her return to cinema|publisher=[[The Onion]]|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=November 24, 2012|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|archive-date=October 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031053932/http://www.avclub.com/articles/kathleen-turner-talks-the-perfect-family-body-heat%2C73499/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Frank Welker]] as [[Dumbo]],<ref name="BTVA"/><ref name="Welker">{{cite web|title=Filmology|url=https://www.frankwelker.com/filmology|publisher=Frank Welker|access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref> Winchell as a cow practising lines, [[Nancy Cartwright]] as [[Yoyo Dodo]] and a toon shoe destroyed by the Dip,<ref name="BTVA"/><ref name="Cartwright">{{cite AV media|title=Was it my voice behind the tragic shoe scene in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'? You tell me.|date=September 12, 2024|last=Cartwright|first=Nancy|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW2a_HrtLuc|access-date=May 25, 2025|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> [[Bill Farmer]] as [[Koko the Clown]] and Goofy's singing voice,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit/Goofy-Goof/|title=Voice of Goofy Goof in Who Framed Roger Rabbit|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=2025-10-14}}</ref><ref name="PopenFarmer">{{cite AV media|author=DisneyanaFanClub|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhpr84WzJLg|title=2011 Disneyana Fan Club Convention Highlight: Voice Panel|date=August 24, 2011|publisher=YouTube|quote=Bill Farmer: Tony Pope voiced Goofy in [''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''], but I am in that movie as Goofy, because during the time Tony had recorded some scenes as Goofy that never made it in the movie. And so I was actually cast as the voice of Goofy when they finally did the ending scene, where... you know, Goofy had a couple of lines, but they also had [another] scene. I did the ADR group, and so the ending song was "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!" I did that one with Nancy Cartwright and a bunch of other people in the loop group, and one run-through I did it as, (in Goofy's voice) "Smile, darn ya, smile!"|access-date=April 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804045746/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhpr84WzJLg|archive-date=August 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LoopGroup">{{cite web|title=Bill Farmer on Twitter: "Yes, I was in the loop group."|url=https://twitter.com/GoofyBill/status/645129358412124160|date=September 19, 2015|publisher=Twitter|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ToondIn1">{{cite AV media|last=Cummings|first=Jim|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zi7LcMK3g0&t=81s|title=Bill Farmer {{!}} Toon'd In! with Jim Cummings|date=March 25, 2024|publisher=YouTube|access-date=October 18, 2025}}</ref> and Dave Spafford as Daffy Duck's "woo-hoos".<ref name="Dueling Pianos Voice">{{cite AV media|last=Machi|first=Phil|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66uzm9yoco&t=1758s|title=Who Hired Dave Spafford? - Stay 'Tooned! with Phil Machi|date=May 25, 2019|publisher=YouTube|access-date=October 15, 2025|archive-date=January 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128180320/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66uzm9yoco&t=1758s|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Production==
===Development===
{{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=275
| image1 = Robert Zemeckis "The Walk" at Opening Ceremony of the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (21835891403) (cropped).jpg
| image2 = Frank Marshall Deauville 2012.jpg
| footer = Director [[Robert Zemeckis]] (left) and Producer [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]] (right).
}}
[[Walt Disney Pictures|Walt Disney Productions]] purchased the [[film rights]] to [[Gary K. Wolf]]'s novel ''[[Who Censored Roger Rabbit?]]'' shortly after its publication in 1981. [[Ron W. Miller]], then president of Disney, saw it as a perfect opportunity to produce a [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]].{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=72}} [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]] were hired to write the script, penning two drafts. In 1982, [[Robert Zemeckis]] offered his services as director,{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}} but Disney declined as his two previous films (''[[I Wanna Hold Your Hand (film)|I Wanna Hold Your Hand]]'' and ''[[Used Cars]]'') had been [[box-office bomb]]s.<ref name="comment">Robert Zemeckis, Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, Ken Ralston, [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]], Steve Starkey, DVD audio commentary, 2003, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment</ref> Between 1981 and 1983 Disney developed test footage with [[Darrell Van Citters]] as animation director, [[Paul Reubens]] voicing Roger Rabbit, [[Peter Renaday]] as Eddie Valiant, [[Russi Taylor]] as Jessica Rabbit, and [[Jack Angel]] as Captain Cleaver.<ref>{{cite AV media|author=TheThiefArchive|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME4yxyGZNS4|title=Early unmade version of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" [Paul Reubens, Darrell Van Citters, Disney 1983]|date=September 5, 2014|publisher=YouTube|access-date=September 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906193905/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME4yxyGZNS4&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=September 6, 2014}}</ref> The project was revamped in 1985 by [[Michael Eisner]], the then-new CEO of Disney. [[Amblin Entertainment]], which consisted of [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]] and [[Kathleen Kennedy (producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]], were approached to produce ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' alongside Disney. The original budget was projected at $50 million, which Disney felt was too expensive.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/86 86]}}

The film was finally [[Green-light|green-lit]] when the budget decreased to $30 million, which at the time would have still made it the most expensive animated film ever produced.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/86 86]}} [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] chairman [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] argued that the hybrid of live-action and animation would "save" [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]]. Spielberg's contract included an extensive amount of creative control and a large percentage of the [[box-office]] profits. Disney kept all merchandising rights.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/86 86]}} Spielberg convinced [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]], [[Fleischer Studios]], [[Harvey Comics]], [[King Features Syndicate]], [[Felix the Cat|Felix the Cat Productions]], [[Turner Entertainment Co.]], and [[Universal Pictures]]/[[Walter Lantz Productions]] to "lend" their characters to appear in the film with (in some cases) stipulations on how those characters were portrayed; for example, Disney's [[Donald Duck]] and Warner Bros.' [[Daffy Duck]] appear as equally talented dueling pianists, [[Mickey Mouse]] and [[Bugs Bunny]] also share a scene as skydivers, and [[Tinker Bell]] and [[Porky Pig]] close the film.{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}<ref name="comment"/><ref name="35th Anniversary">{{cite web|last=Lyons|first=Michael|title=The 35th Anniversary of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-35th-anniversary-of-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|date=June 23, 2023|publisher=Cartoon Research|access-date=December 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625215127/https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-35th-anniversary-of-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|archive-date=June 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Seibold|first=Witney|title=Warner Bros. Had One Rule For Its Biggest Characters In Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1796907/warner-bros-one-rule-characters-who-framed-roger-rabbit-disney/|date=March 1, 2025|publisher=/Film|access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> Apart from the agreement, and some of the original voice artists reprising their roles, Warner Bros. and the various other companies were not involved in the production of ''Roger Rabbit''. Executives at Warner Bros. were displeased by animators using the Daffy design by [[Bob Clampett]] and demanded they use the design by [[Chuck Jones]]; in response Zemeckis had separate artists animate Daffy using Jones' design to satisfy Warner Bros., in order to have Clampett's design in the final film.{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}<ref name="comment"/>{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=46}} The producers were unable to acquire the rights to use [[Popeye]], [[Tom and Jerry]], [[Little Lulu]], [[Casper the Friendly Ghost]], [[The Fox and the Crow (animated characters)|the Fox and the Crow]], the [[Terrytoons]] characters, or [[Rocky and Bullwinkle]] for appearances from their respective owners (King Features, Turner, [[Western Publishing]], Harvey Comics, [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]], [[Screen Gems]], and [[Jay Ward Productions]]).{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}<ref name="comment"/><ref name="Ness">{{cite news|last=Ness|first=Mari|title=When You're Just Drawn That Way: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?|url=https://reactormag.com/when-youre-just-drawn-that-way-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|date=November 5, 2015|publisher=Reactor|access-date=March 1, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Redux">{{cite web|last=Korkis|first=Jim|title=Animation Anecdotes Redux|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animation-anecdotes-redux/|date=December 2, 2022|publisher=Cartoon Research|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> Other characters like Warner Bros.' [[Bosko]], Fleischer Studios' [[Fitz the Dog]] and [[Bimbo (Fleischer Studios)|Bimbo]]; [[Ub Iwerks]]' [[Flip the Frog]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Found Roger Rabbit Early Development Story Sketch (Walt Disney, 1988)|url=https://comics.ha.com/itm/animation-art/concept-art/who-found-roger-rabbit-early-development-story-sketch-walt-disney-1988-/a/7268-17274.s|publisher=Heritage Auctions|access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> and [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s [[Yakky Doodle]]<ref name="Daily">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/roger-rabbit.html|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman}}</ref> were also planned to appear in the film. Despite acquiring the rights to use [[Betty Boop]] and [[Koko the Clown]], King Features valued Koko highly, asking for $50,000 for a simple cameo appearance. To get around the high price and legal issues, the animators redesigned Koko to have hair resembling that of [[Bozo the Clown]] instead of a hat, and changed his colors at the end of the film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Korkis|first=Jim|title=Animation Anecdotes #339|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animation-anecdotes-339/|date=November 24, 2017|publisher=Cartoon Research|access-date=December 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bee|first=Alex|title=Unknown Character in Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/161346744015168/posts/2922112611271887/|date=May 19, 2024|publisher=Facebook|quote=Nik Ranieri: You couldn't just grab any character from any studio or they'd come out of the wood work after the film was released and sue. All characters had to be checked by legal. They got the rights to [the Fleischer Studios] characters, they'd paid for Betty [Boop] because she had a big part. I think Wiffle Piffle was thrown In because he's a lesser character, but they weren't willing to pay $50,000 for a Koko the Clown walk-on. Apparently the studio that owned Koko [King Features Syndicate] thought he was worth more than he actually was. As far as, how I know, it was info circulating around the studio at the time. That's why they had to go in and change Koko's color and give him hair at the beginning of the film.|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> The film was initially planned to not feature cameo appearances of characters created after 1947, with the exception of [[Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner]], who were Zemeckis' favorite cartoon characters.<ref name="Redux"/>

[[Terry Gilliam]] was offered the chance to direct, but he found the project too technically challenging. ("Pure laziness on my part," he later admitted, "I completely regret that decision.")<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Nathan|first=Ian|title=Dreams: Terry Gilliam's Unresolved Projects|magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=May 1996|pages=37–40}}</ref> Robert Zemeckis was hired to direct in 1985, based on the success of ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'' and ''[[Back to the Future]]''. Disney executives were continuing to suggest [[Darrell Van Citters]] direct the animation, but Spielberg and Zemeckis decided against it.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/86 86]}} [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]] was eventually hired to direct the animation. Zemeckis wanted the film to exhibit "Disney's high quality of animation, Warner Bros.' characterization, and [[Tex Avery]] humor."<ref name="WakingSB">[[Don Hahn]], [[Peter Schneider (film executive)|Peter Schneider]], ''Waking Sleeping Beauty'' DVD commentary, 2010, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref>

===Casting===
{{Multiple image
| perrow            = 3
| total_width       = 340
| align             = right
| image1            = ChristopherLloyd2022.jpg
| caption1          = [[Christopher Lloyd]]<br />([[Judge Doom]])
| image2            = Joanna Cassidy LF adjusted.jpg
| caption2          = [[Joanna Cassidy]]<br />(Dolores)
| image3            = Charles Fleischer.jpg
| caption3          = [[Charles Fleischer]]<br />([[Roger Rabbit]])
}}
[[Peter Renaday]] originally portrayed Eddie Valiant in the original test footage from 1983, while animator [[Mike Gabriel]] played him in some publicity photographs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anderton|first1=Ethan|title=Watch: Early Test Footage of an Unmade 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2014/watch-early-test-footage-of-an-unmade-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|date=September 8, 2014|publisher=FirstShowing.net|access-date=January 13, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Korkis|first=Jim|title=The Troubled Birth of Roger Rabbit|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-troubled-birth-of-roger-rabbit/|date=March 15, 2019|publisher=Cartoon Research|access-date=January 13, 2026}}</ref> [[Joe Pantoliano]] portrayed Eddie Valiant in a screen test in 1986.<ref name="Pulling Rabbit 1">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=1986 Test-of-Concept – part 1|url=https://pullingarabbitoutofahat.com/enter-amblin/1986-test-of-concept-part-1/|date=May 8, 2018|publisher=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat|access-date=January 13, 2026}}</ref>

[[Harrison Ford]] was Spielberg's original choice to play Eddie Valiant, but his price was too high.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stice|first=Joel|url=https://uproxx.com/movies/harrison-ford-lost-roles/|title='Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' And Six Other Big Roles Harrison Ford Missed Out On|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231452/http://uproxx.com/movies/harrison-ford-lost-roles/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chevy Chase]] was the second choice, but he was not interested.<ref name="mentalfloss.com"/> [[Eddie Murphy]] rejected the role after misunderstanding the film's "toon" concept, a decision he later regretted.<ref name="Evans">{{cite web|last=Evans|first=Bradford|title=The Lost Roles of Eddie Murphy|date=April 7, 2011|website=[[Splitsider]]|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/04/the-lost-roles-of-eddie-murphy/|access-date=July 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723072044/http://splitsider.com/2011/04/the-lost-roles-of-eddie-murphy/|archive-date=July 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fallon|first1=Jimmy|title=Eddie Murphy Confirms Rumors and Stories About Prince, Ghostbusters and More|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABVnXoe9gw|website=YouTube|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223032637/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABVnXoe9gw|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, Murphy elaborated, "[It] sounded ridiculous to me, and I passed on it. And afterwards, I was like, 'Oh, that's fucking amazing.{{' "}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Dunn|first=Jack|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/eddie-murphy-ghostbusters-rush-hour-wish-i-would-have-done-1236589366/|title=Eddie Murphy Says 'Ghostbusters', 'Rush Hour' and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' are His Three 'Wish I Would Have Done' Movies|website=Variety|date=November 22, 2025|access-date=November 22, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251122190216/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/eddie-murphy-ghostbusters-rush-hour-wish-i-would-have-done-1236589366/|archive-date=November 22, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bill Murray]] was also considered for the role, but due to his idiosyncratic method of receiving offers for roles, Murray missed out on it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-farr/bill-murray-and-the-roles_b_5850434.html|title=Bill Murray and the Roles That Got Away|first=John|last=Farr|date=September 19, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2017|website=[[HuffPost]]|archive-date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619004834/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-farr/bill-murray-and-the-roles_b_5850434.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Robin Williams]], [[Robert Redford]], [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Paul Newman]], [[Sylvester Stallone]], [[Edward James Olmos]], [[Wallace Shawn]], [[Ed Harris]], [[Charles Grodin]] and [[Don Lane]] were also considered for the role.<ref name="mentalfloss.com">{{cite news|last=Arbeiter|first=Michael|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62910/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit|title=15 Things You Might Not Know About ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''|work=[[Mental Floss]]|date=April 10, 2015|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=June 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604194418/http://mentalfloss.com/article/62910/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bergeson|first=Samantha|title=Robert Zemeckis Says Paul Newman Was 'Insulted' by 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' Lead Role Offer|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/paul-newman-insulted-by-who-framed-roger-rabbit-offer-robert-zemeckis-1235062268/|date=November 1, 2024|publisher=IndieWire|access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> Ultimately, [[Bob Hoskins]] was chosen by Spielberg because of his acting skill and because Spielberg believed he had a hopeful demeanor and he looked like he belonged in that era.<ref name="Gross">{{cite news|last=Gross|first=Ed|date=2018-06-13|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit: A Look at How the Cartoons Came to Life|url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/who-framed-roger-rabbit-161764/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Closer Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 340
| align             = right
| image1            = Mel Blanc - 1959.jpg
| caption1          = [[Mel Blanc]]<br />([[Bugs Bunny]], [[Daffy Duck]], [[Porky Pig]], [[Tweety]] and [[Sylvester the Cat]])
| image2            = Russi Taylor (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[Russi Taylor]]<br />([[Minnie Mouse]])
| image3            = Tony Anselmo and Donald Duck.jpg
| caption3          = [[Tony Anselmo]]<br />([[Donald Duck]])
| image4            = June Foray 1952.JPG
| caption4          = [[June Foray]]<br />(Wheezy)
}}

[[Paul Reubens]] originally auditioned for the role of [[Roger Rabbit]] and even provided his voice in an early 1983 screen test, but lost out.<ref name="Buzzfeed">{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit|title=20 Things You Didn't Know About "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"|first=Brian|last=Galindo|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=March 12, 2013|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315195121/https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit?utm_term=.yaJaEAEdb#.uxPB2Q2bD|archive-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Mike|title=Listen To Pee-Wee Herman As The Voice Of Roger Rabbit|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Listen-Pee-Wee-Herman-Voice-Roger-Rabbit-67174.html|website=CinemaBlend|access-date=5 May 2017|date=2014-09-11}}</ref> [[Eddie Deezen]], who had worked with Zemeckis previously, also auditioned for the role, but lost out.<ref>{{cite web|title=PMC 35: Eddie Deezen|url=http://www.popmyculturepodcast.com/?p=1666|date=March 6, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2011|publisher=Pop My Culture podcast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420042425/http://www.popmyculturepodcast.com/?p=1666|archive-date=April 20, 2011}}</ref> The role was eventually given to [[Charles Fleischer]].<ref name="Buzzfeed"/> Before filming, Fleischer was asked to come up with a speech impediment for Roger. He gave Roger a lisp and the stammering catchphrase "P-p-p-please!" as a tribute to all the other famous cartoon characters with speech impediments, which was inspired by [[Huntz Hall]]'s Sach Jones in ''[[The Bowery Boys]]''.<ref name="Voice Inspiration 1">{{cite news|last=Lickona|first=Matthew|title=Interview with Charles Fleischer, the voice of Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/big-screen/2013/mar/20/interview-with-charles-fleischer-the-voice-of-roge/|date=March 20, 2013|work=San Diego Reader|access-date=September 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Voice Inspiration 2">{{cite news|last=Weiss|first=Josh|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit Turns 35: Voice of Roger Reflects on Filming Classic Cartoon Crossover|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/who-framed-roger-rabbit-charles-fleischer-35th-anniversary-interview|date=June 22, 2023|website=SyFy|access-date=September 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Voice Inspiration3">{{cite AV media|last=Patterson|first=Patrick Scott|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4qGszc0X3g|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Creator Gary K. Wolf Recalls the Voice Casting Process|date=September 3, 2025|publisher=YouTube|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> He had invented the "cheek flutter" while performing the voice of B.B. in ''[[Deadly Friend]]''.<ref name="Voice Inspiration 4">{{cite news|title=Charles Fleischer, the voice behind Roger Rabbit, explores the meaning of life|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/charles-fleischer-the-voice-behind-roger-rabbit-explores-the-meaning-of-life/article_a17a7465-727c-5c11-ad2d-34baeabf7fb2.html|date=March 25, 2013|work=San Francisco Examiner|access-date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425095005/https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/charles-fleischer-the-voice-behind-roger-rabbit-explores-the-meaning-of-life/article_a17a7465-727c-5c11-ad2d-34baeabf7fb2.html|archive-date=April 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Voice Inspiration3"/> His portrayal of Roger was also inspired by [[Screwy Squirrel]].<ref name="Voice Inspiration 5">{{cite book|last=Scott|first=Keith|title=Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, 1930–70 Vol. 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2QRtzwEACAAJ|year=2022|publisher=BearManor Media|page=131|language=en|isbn=979-8-887-71008-2}}</ref> To facilitate Hoskins' performance, Fleischer dressed in a Roger Rabbit costume and "stood in" behind camera for most scenes.<ref name="ears"/> Roger was originally designed by Michael Giaimo to resemble and act like [[Michael J. Fox]], but was redesigned by Williams.<ref name="Pulling Rabbit 2">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Early Disney character designs – Roger Rabbit|url=https://pullingarabbitoutofahat.com/early-days-at-disney/early-disney-character-designs-roger-rabbit/|date=August 15, 2018|publisher=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Pulling Rabbit 3">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Storyboard from interim Disney/Amblin development period|url=https://pullingarabbitoutofahat.com/early-days-at-disney/storyboard-from-interim-disney-amblin-development-period/|date=April 13, 2018|publisher=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> Williams explained that Roger was a combination of "[[Tex Avery]]'s cashew nut-shaped head, the swatch of red hair... like [[Droopy]]'s, [[Goofy]]'s overalls, [[Porky Pig]]'s bow tie, [[Mickey Mouse]]'s gloves, [[Br'er Rabbit]]'s feet, and [[Bugs Bunny]]-like cheeks and ears."{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}<ref name="CreateCart">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Mark|title=The Art of Flash Animation: Creative Cartooning|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=178vHE35ekUC&pg=PA21|year=2010|pages=21–22|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=9781449613181|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="mentalfloss.com"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Fordy|first=Tom|title=Never mind Who Framed Roger Rabbit – how on earth did they shoot him?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/never-mind-framed-roger-rabbit-earth-did-shoot/|date=August 19, 2019|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> Spielberg suggested that Roger's mouth resemble that of [[Thumper (Bambi)|Thumper]] from ''[[Bambi]]'' (who was made Roger's uncle in the film),<ref name="AniFilm1">{{cite book|last=Clarke|first=James|title=
Animated Films - Virgin Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B090Ndx1o6cC&pg=PT218|date=September 30, 2012|page=218|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=9781448132812|access-date=November 27, 2025}}</ref> but this idea was ignored.<ref name="Redux"/> Williams also cited [[Wile E. Coyote]] as an influence for Roger's expressions,<ref name="Expressions">{{cite AV media|author=VHSfx|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BHVloe8MAc&t=375s|title=I Drew Roger Rabbit|date=February 17, 2013|publisher=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> and wanted the character to have ladle-shaped ears, though his animators would sometimes draw Roger with pointy ears similar to Bugs, much to Williams' frustration.<ref name="CreateCart"/> He described the process of creating him like an "American flag" with the red overalls, white fur and blue bow tie so that American audiences would enjoy him subliminally.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bonner|first=Wesley|title=13 Things You Never Knew About 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'|url=http://www.nerve.com/movies913/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit-disney-gifs|website=NERVE|access-date=May 5, 2017|archive-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607233922/http://www.nerve.com/movies913/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit-disney-gifs|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Kathleen Turner]] was brought along by Zemeckis to provide the uncredited voice of [[Jessica Rabbit]], Roger Rabbit's wife. Zemeckis had worked with Turner in ''[[Romancing the Stone]]''. Turner accepted the role because she was pregnant at the time, and "just had to show up and do [Jessica's] voice".<ref name="MarcAndrew">{{cite news|last=Andrew|first=Marc|title=Roger Rabbit turns 30: Kathleen Turner talks voicing Jessica Rabbit|url=https://marcandrew.ca/chitchat/kathleen-turner/|date=2017-08-31|website=marcandrew.ca|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711210100/http://marcandrew.ca/chitchat/kathleen-turner/|archive-date=2020-07-11}}</ref><ref name="Voice Inspiration3"/>  Williams explained that Jessica's design and characterization were inspired by [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Veronica Lake]]'s peek-a-boo hairstyle, and [[Lauren Bacall]], describing the combination as an "ultimate male fantasy, drawn by a cartoonist".<ref>{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|title=An Animator Breaks Old Rules And New Ground in 'Roger Rabbit'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/01/movies/an-animator-breaks-old-rules-and-new-ground-in-roger-rabbit.html|work=The New York Times|date=August 1, 1988|access-date=November 8, 2025|archive-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117031859/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/01/movies/an-animator-breaks-old-rules-and-new-ground-in-roger-rabbit.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Joanna Cassidy]], who was cast as Dolores, dyed her natural red hair brown to differentiate Dolores from Jessica, and did her own makeup for the role, basing it on [[Joan Crawford]].{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=15}}

[[Tim Curry]] auditioned for the role of Judge Doom, but was rejected because the producers found him too terrifying.<ref name="Buzzfeed"/> [[Christopher Lee]] was also considered for the role, but turned it down.<ref name="mentalfloss.com"/> [[John Cleese]] also expressed interest for the role, but was deemed not scary enough.<ref name="mentalfloss.com"/> [[Roddy McDowall]], Eddie Deezen and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] were also considered for the role.<ref name="mentalfloss.com"/> [[Christopher Lloyd]] was cast because he previously worked with Zemeckis and Spielberg on ''Back to the Future''. He compared his part as Doom to his previous role as the Klingon commander Kruge in ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'', both overly evil characters which he considered "fun to play".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/christopher-lloyd-on-playing-a-vampire-a-taxi-driver-1798234109|title=Christopher Lloyd on playing a vampire, a taxi driver, a toon, and more|website=[[The A. V. Club]]|date=October 12, 2012|access-date=October 17, 2012|first=Will|last=Harris|archive-date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014185750/http://www.avclub.com/articles/random-roles-christopher-lloyd%2C86582/|url-status=live}}</ref> He avoided blinking his eyes while on camera to portray the character.<ref name="comment"/>

[[Lou Hirsch]] auditioned to play a human character in the film, but ended up providing the voice of Baby Herman instead, which Hirsch described as "a combination of [[Wallace Beery]] and his [British] friends imitating [him]".<ref name="Lou Hirsch">{{cite web|last=Nydell|first=Tim|title=Lou Hirsch interview (Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Baby Herman)|website=Saturday Morning Rewind|url=https://saturdaymorningrewind.podbean.com/e/174-lou-hirsch-interview-who-framed-roger-rabbit-baby-herman/|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=October 18, 2025}}</ref> Williams stated that Herman's design was a combination of "[[Elmer Fudd]] and [[Tweety]] crashed together".{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}} Fleischer also voiced Benny the Cab, Psycho, and Greasy. [[Lou Rawls]] was the original choice for Benny the Cab but was replaced by Fleischer.<ref name="ears">Robert Zemeckis, Richard Williams, [[Bob Hoskins]], [[Charles Fleischer]], [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]], [[Alan Silvestri]], Ken Ralston, ''Behind the Ears: The True Story of Roger Rabbit'', 2003, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref><ref name="LaughPlace">{{cite web|last=Holt|first=Kirby C.|title=Toon Talk: Who Framed Roger Rabbit Vista Series DVD Page 4 of 5|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/news-pid114800-114803.asp|date=April 4, 2003|website=The Laughing Place|access-date=November 8, 2025}}</ref> [[Jim Cummings]] was originally going to voice some of the weasels.<ref name="Jim Cummmings">{{cite web|last=Nydell|first=Tim|title=Jim Cummings returns... again (Disney's TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck) (Interview)|website=Saturday Morning Rewind|url=https://saturdaymorningrewind.podbean.com/e/129-jim-cummings-returns-again-disneys-talespin-darkwing-duck-interview/|date=September 11, 2017|access-date=October 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Moviefone staff|title='Christopher Robin' Actor Jim Cummings Was the Voice of Your Childhood|url=https://www.moviefone.com/news/christopher-robin-actor-jim-cummings-was-the-voice-of-your-childhood/|date=August 2, 2018|website=Moviefone|access-date=October 21, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ToondIn2">{{cite AV media|last=Cummings|first=Jim|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zi7LcMK3g0&t=104s|title=Bill Farmer {{!}} Toon'd In! with Jim Cummings|date=March 25, 2024|publisher=YouTube|access-date=October 18, 2025}}</ref> [[Joel Silver]] was cast as Raoul J. Raoul, the frustrated director of the cartoon ''Somethin's Cookin{{'}}'', as part of a prank aimed at Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]], who had a strained relationship with Silver. Silver shaved his beard and paid his own expenses to not have his name in initial cast lists. When Eisner learned of Silver's casting as Raoul after production wrapped, he praised the performance.{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=23}}

[[Russi Taylor]] and [[Tony Pope]] recorded some scenes as [[Minnie Mouse]] and Goofy, respectively, but said scenes did not make the final cut,<ref name="PopenFarmer"/> despite the former actor being listed in the end credits. Additional toon voices were provided by a loop group consisting of [[Frank Welker]],<ref name="Welker"/> [[Bill Farmer]],<ref name="LoopGroup"/><ref name="ToondIn1"/> [[Nancy Cartwright]],<ref name="PopenFarmer"/> [[Anne Lockhart (actress)|Anne Lockhart]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.annelockhart.com:80/|publisher=Anne Lockhart|access-date=October 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000124075156/http://www.annelockhart.com:80/|archive-date=January 24, 2000}}</ref> [[Jack Angel]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Portfolio|url=http://www.jackangel.com?page_id=251|publisher=Jack Angel|access-date=May 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305204418/http://www.jackangel.com?page_id=251|archive-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title='Transformers' Voice Actor Jack Angel Dies Age 90|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/10/transformers-voice-actor-jack-angel-dies-age-90/|date=October 22, 2021|publisher=Animation Magazine|access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref> Mickie McGowan,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Caps|first1=Johnny|title=The Flashback Interview: Mickie McGowan|url=https://popgeeks.com/the-flashback-interview-mickie-mcgowan/|date=December 26, 2017|publisher=Popgeeks|access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref> and others; Welker voiced [[Dumbo]],<ref name="Welker"/> Farmer recorded a couple of lines for Goofy for the ending scene (though they would be re-recorded by Pope in the final version<ref name="TonyLast">{{cite web|title=Bill Farmer on Twitter: "No, that was my friend Tony Pope, in one of his last performances as Goofy."|url=https://twitter.com/GoofyBill/status/642599184709763072|date=September 12, 2015|publisher=Twitter|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ToondIn1"/>),<ref name="PopenFarmer"/> and Cartwright provided the vocal effects of a toon shoe.<ref name="Cartwright"/>

[[Mel Blanc]] reprised his roles as Bugs Bunny, [[Daffy Duck]], Porky Pig, Tweety, and [[Sylvester the Cat]], alternating with his son [[Noel Blanc]] during production.<ref name="AniFilm2">{{cite book|last=Clarke|first=James|title=
Animated Films - Virgin Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B090Ndx1o6cC&pg=PT213|date=September 30, 2012|page=213|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=9781448132812|access-date=November 27, 2025}}</ref> Blanc had intended to voice [[Yosemite Sam]] and [[Foghorn Leghorn]], but could not do the voices properly as they had become rough on his vocal chords, thus he was replaced with [[Joe Alaskey]]. However, a scene featuring Foghorn was cut from the final version.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Only 1988 Could Produce The Best Version Of Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://platypuscomix.com/educational/nootheryear.html|publisher=Platypus Comix|access-date=October 10, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Joe Alaskey">{{cite web|last=Nydell|first=Tim|title=Joe Alaskey interview (Tiny Toon Adventures / Looney Tunes / Who Framed Roger Rabbit)|website=Saturday Morning Rewind|url=http://www.saturdaymorningrewind.com/joe-alaskey-podcast-interview.html|date=October 1, 2014|access-date=October 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420141512/http://www.saturdaymorningrewind.com/joe-alaskey-podcast-interview.html|archive-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref> Blanc also could not do Daffy's "woo-hoos" as energetic as he used to, so animator Dave Spafford filled in for him.<ref name="Dueling Pianos Voice"/> [[Bob Bergen]] recorded Porky's line of dialogue at the end of the film, despite not having done the character professionally at the time, but was replaced with Blanc.<ref>{{cite AV media|last=Thompson|first=Trevor|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdRWPtMOWQ&t=1930s|title=A Conversation with Porky Pig (Bob Bergen, voice actor) {{!}} The Looney Tunes Critic|date=November 23, 2022|publisher=YouTube|quote=Bob Bergen: I will tell you that there was a conversation with me, and I hadn't done Porky professionally to do [him] at the end of ''[Who Framed] Roger Rabbit''. And they had me record that last scene, (in Porky's voice) "Go on, there's n-nothing left to see. Th-th-that's all folks! Mmm, I like the sound of that." It wasn't an official audition, they kind of didn't even tell me what it was for. They just had me in. And from what I heard, Mel [Blanc] put his foot down, he goes, "Look, if you're not using me for [Yosemite] Sam, you don't use me for Porky, I don't want you using me for any of the other characters, too." So they used him for Porky, and he sounded great! He sounded fantastic!|access-date=November 27, 2025}}</ref>

Williams provided the voice of Droopy,<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Natasha Sutton|title=A tribute to my father: Richard Williams: The King of Animation|url=https://lwlies.com/article/richard-williams-daughter-tribute-who-framed-roger-rabbit|date=August 23, 2019|website=Little White Lies|access-date=November 8, 2025}}</ref> whom he stated years later was his favorite cartoon character.{{sfn|Williams|2001|page=[https://archive.org/details/TheAnimatorsSurvivalKitRichardWilliams/page/n35/mode/2up 35]}}<ref name="LaughPlace"/> Mary Healey recorded [[Betty Boop]]'s original lines after [[Mae Questel]] had dropped out. However, Healey was replaced by Questel, who was brought back to reprise the role.<ref name="Starlog">{{cite magazine|last1=O'Quinn|first1=Kerry|last2=Jacobs|first2=Norman|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-127/page/n7/mode/2up|title=Mary Healey as Betty Boop|magazine=[[Starlog]]|issue=127|publisher=Starlog Group, Inc.|date=February 1988|page=8|access-date=October 10, 2025}}</ref> Cherry Davis voiced [[Woody Woodpecker]], having been selected by [[Walter Lantz]] to voice the character following his wife [[Grace Stafford]]'s retirement from the role.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cherry Davis|url=https://www.cherrydavis.com/|publisher=Cherry Davis|quote=Walter Lantz chose me to do the voice of Woody Woodpecker when his wife Gracie [Stafford] retired. I also did Woody in the film ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''.|access-date=January 10, 2026|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814224018/https://cherrydavis.com/}}</ref> The toons' singing voices for "[[Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!]]" in the scene in which Eddie arrives in Toontown were performed by the loop group,<ref name="D23">{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Did You Know? 5 Animated Facts about Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://d23.com/did-you-know-5-animated-facts-about-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|date=June 21, 2018|publisher=D23|access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> with Bill Farmer doing Goofy's singing voice.<ref name="PopenFarmer"/> The song's reprisal at the end of the film was performed by most of the animators, recorded during a wrap party at the [[Barbican Centre]] in London.<ref name="Barbican '88">{{cite AV media|last=Muller|first=Jacques|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJvrqyYEI3w|title=RR cont Behind the curtain + Barbican singing|date=March 18, 1988|publisher=YouTube|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Flyin Chunks">{{cite book|title=Flyin Chunks and Other Things to Duck: Memoirs of a Life Spent Doodling for Dollars|isbn=9781450261012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjD1AZSuftcC&pg=PA114|access-date=October 18, 2025|last=Lanpher|first=Dorse|date=October 20, 2010|publisher=Dorse Lanpher|page=114}}</ref><ref name="D23"/>{{sfn|Anderson|2019|pp=69–70}}

===Writing===
[[File:PELogoBW.svg|thumb|alt=Pacific Electric Logo|The plot incorporated the actual closing of [[Pacific Electric]].]]
Price and Seaman were brought aboard to continue writing the script once Spielberg and Zemeckis were hired. For inspiration, the two writers studied the work of [[Walt Disney]] and [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] from the Golden Age of American animation, especially Tex Avery and [[Bob Clampett]] cartoons. The Cloverleaf streetcar subplot was inspired by ''[[Chinatown (1974 film)|Chinatown]]''.{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}} Price and Seaman said that "the [[Red Car]] plot, [[suburb]] expansion, [[urban culture|urban]] and [[political corruption]] really did happen". "In Los Angeles, during the 1940s, car and tire companies [[Great American streetcar scandal|teamed up]] against the [[Pacific Electric Railway]] system and bought them out of business. Where the [[freeway]] runs in Los Angeles is where the Red Car used to be."<ref name="comment"/> In Wolf's novel ''Who Censored Roger Rabbit?'', the toons were [[comic-strip]] characters rather than movie stars.{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}

During the writing process, Price and Seaman were unsure of whom to include as the villain in the plot. They wrote scripts that had either Jessica Rabbit or Baby Herman as the villain, but ultimately chose the newly created character Judge Doom. Doom was supposed to have an animated vulture sit on his shoulder, but this was deleted due to the technical challenges this posed.<ref name="comment"/> Doom would also have a suitcase of 12 small, animated kangaroos that act as a jury (a play on "[[kangaroo court]]"), by having their [[Joey (marsupial)#Early development|joeys]] pop out of their pouches, each with letters, when put together would spell YOU ARE GUILTY. This was also cut for budget and technical reasons.<ref name="script">Who Shot Roger Rabbit, 1986 script by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman</ref>

The Toon Patrol (Stupid, Smart Ass, Greasy, Wheezy, and Psycho) satirizes the Seven Dwarfs (Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey), who appeared in ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' (1937). Originally seven weasels were to mimic the dwarfs complement, but eventually two of them, Slimey and Sleazy, were written out of the script.<ref name="comment"/> The Dwarfs themselves appear briefly in the finished film, in the background after Valiant crashes his car in Toontown. Further references included The Ink and Paint Club resembling the [[Cotton Club (New York City)|Harlem Cotton Club]], while Zemeckis compared Judge Doom's invention of the Dip to eliminate all the toons to [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s [[Final Solution]].{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}} Doom was originally the hunter who killed [[Bambi]]'s mother.<ref name="script"/> Benny the Cab was first conceived to be a [[Volkswagen Beetle]] before being changed to a taxi cab.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit: 100 Original Concept Art Collection|url=https://www.iamag.co/who-framed-roger-rabbit-100-original-concept-art-collection/|publisher=IAMAG Inspiration|access-date=December 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923084721/https://www.iamag.co/who-framed-roger-rabbit-100-original-concept-art-collection/|archive-date=September 23, 2021}}</ref> The "dueling pianists" scene was originally storyboarded by Williams and [[Chuck Jones]] (later by [[Joe Ranft]] and Mark Kausler<ref name="35th Anniversary"/>), in which [[Donald Duck]] would receive praise from the audience, and [[Daffy Duck]] would only gain the attention of crickets chirping; the scene was changed to fit the film's atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shales|first=Tom|title=Chuck Jones and the Daffy World of Cartoons|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1989/11/26/chuck-jones-and-the-daffy-world-of-cartoons/6615424f-79a3-4f1b-94c4-d5bfe1e84e8e/|date=November 25, 1989|work=[[The Washington Post]]|quote=Mainly this guy was frenetic and they were trying to imitate Bob Clampett. Zemeckis believes that the Clampett pictures were the best ever done at Warner Brothers, so he demanded that this be done that way, and Richard Williams -- to his shame, because he's a marvelous animator -- decided he was Bob Zemeckis's pencil. I was supposed to be in on it too, at the beginning, and Dick and I started out with a storyboard and a lot of material with Donald and Daffy Duck playing dual pianos. I thought that was a very funny idea, and an historic idea, but they ended up with something horrible. No, I didn't like it. All that money wasted on that.|access-date=October 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827233742/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1989/11/26/chuck-jones-and-the-daffy-world-of-cartoons/6615424f-79a3-4f1b-94c4-d5bfe1e84e8e/|archive-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> While working on that scene, Dave Spafford snuck in a frame of Daffy using a baby tied up in rope as one of the props with which to play the piano, which was later removed at Williams' insistence.<ref name="Faster">{{cite news|last=Mallory|first=Michael|title=Faster Than the Eye Can See!|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2011/07/tales-from-the-toon-trenches-faster-than-the-eye-can-see/|date=July 27, 2011|publisher=Animation Magazine|access-date=November 4, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208152345/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2011/07/tales-from-the-toon-trenches-faster-than-the-eye-can-see/|archive-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref> The animators originally did an homage to the original ''[[Betty Boop]]'' shorts at Zemeckis' request, having Betty's dress slide down to reveal her bosom in a single frame; this was removed for later home video releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jimdavies.org/roger-rabbit/roger_rabbit_facts.html|title=Q & A with Gary Wolf|publisher=JimDavies.org|access-date=2025-11-05|archive-date=2015-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909074901/http://www.jimdavies.org/roger-rabbit/roger_rabbit_facts.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=76707|publisher=Movie-Censorship|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref> A blue cow was included as an [[Easter egg]] in the Toontown scene, inspired by a childhood drawing by Wolf.<ref>{{cite news|last=Anders|first=Jason|title="Who Created Roger Rabbit: A Conversation with Gary K. Wolf"|url=https://www.fullecirclemagazine.com/2019/05/who-created-roger-rabbit-conversation.html|date=May 14, 2019|publisher=Full Circle Magazine|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Patterson|first=Patrick Scott|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34c2NUuhPFY|title=How A Blue Cow Led to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?|date=September 3, 2025|publisher=YouTube|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> Ideas originally conceived for the story also included a sequence set at Marvin Acme's funeral, whose attendees included Eddie, [[Foghorn Leghorn]], [[Mickey Mouse]], [[Minnie Mouse]], Donald Duck, [[Goofy]], the [[Three Little Pigs (film)|Three Little Pigs]], [[Bugs Bunny]], Daffy Duck, [[Porky Pig|Porky]] and [[Petunia Pig]], [[Elmer Fudd]], [[Yosemite Sam]], [[Sylvester the Cat]], [[Hippety Hopper]], [[Tom Cat|Tom]] and [[Jerry Mouse|Jerry]], [[Droopy]], [[Tex Avery]]'s [[Big Bad Wolf#MGM/Tex Avery's Big Bad Wolf|Big Bad Wolf]], [[Heckle and Jeckle]], [[Chip 'n' Dale]], [[Felix the Cat]], [[Herman and Katnip]], [[Mighty Mouse]], [[Superman (1940s animated film series)|Superman]], [[Dick Tracy]], [[Popeye]], [[Olive Oyl]], [[Bluto]], [[Clarabelle Cow]], [[Horace Horsecollar]], the Seven Dwarfs, [[Andy Panda]], [[Baby Huey]], [[Casper the Friendly Ghost]], [[Humphrey Bogart]], and [[Clark Gable]] in [[cameo appearance]]s. This scene was cut for pacing reasons at the storyboard stage.<ref name="script"/><ref name="Daily"/>{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{cite web|title=MEL BLANC - SCRIPT SIGNED - DOCUMENT 172744|url=https://www.historyforsale.com/html/printfriendly.asp?documentid=172744|publisher=HistoryForSale|access-date=October 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030652/https://www.historyforsale.com/html/printfriendly.asp?documentid=172744|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Jim|title=Scenes That Were Cut Out of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"|url=https://jimhillmedia.com/from-the-jhm-archives-scenes-that-were-cut-out-of-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|date=August 2, 2011|publisher=Jim Hill Media|access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Jim|title=Storyboards Reveals What Marvin Acme's Funeral in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" Would Have Looked Like|url=https://jimhillmedia.com/storyboards-reveal-what-marvin-acmes-funeral-in-who-framed-roger-rabbit-would-have-looked-like/|date=May 8, 2014|publisher=Jim Hill Media|access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Korkis|first=Jim|title=The Funeral of Marvin Acme|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-funeral-of-marvin-acme/|date=April 3, 2020|publisher=Cartoon Research|access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Korkis|first=Jim|title=The Unknown Roger Rabbit Story|url=https://mouseplanet.com/the-unknown-roger-rabbit-story/7822/|date=March 3, 2021|publisher=Mouse Planet|access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Redux"/>}} Before finally agreeing on ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' as the film's title, [[working title]]s included ''Murder in Toontown'', ''Toons'', ''Dead Toons Don't Pay Bills'', ''The Toontown Trial'', ''Trouble in Toontown'', and ''Eddie Goes to Toontown''.<ref>DVD production notes</ref>

===Filming===
[[File:Judgedoom.PNG|thumb|Judge Doom (played by [[Christopher Lloyd]]) threatening Roger Rabbit before introducing him to the dip. [[Mime artist]]s, [[puppeteer]]s, [[mannequin]]s and [[robotic arm]]s were commonly used during filming to help the actors interact with "open air and imaginative cartoon characters".<ref name="ears"/>]]

Williams admitted he was "openly disdainful of the Disney [[bureaucracy]]"{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=87}} and refused to work in Los Angeles. Accommodating Williams and his animators, production moved to England where a studio, Walt Disney Animation UK (subsuming Richard Williams Animation), was created for this purpose;<ref name="Disney News Fall 1987">{{cite magazine|last=Solomon|first=Charles|title=Future Disney Classics: New Animated Features on the Way|url=https://archive.org/details/DisneyNewsMagazine_Vol22.4_1987.Fall/page/33|magazine=[[Disney News]]|date=Fall 1987|access-date=September 2, 2019}}</ref><ref name="LA Times 880622">{{cite news|last=Solomon|first=Charles|title=The Animated Arena of 'Roger Rabbit': Integration of Cartoons With Live Action Will Set Standard.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-22-ca-4589-story.html|date=June 22, 1988|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215003800/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-22-ca-4589-story.html|archive-date=February 15, 2020}}</ref> located at The Forum, 74–80 Camden Street, in [[Camden Town, London]], while the live-action production was based at [[Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)|Elstree Studios]]. Disney and Spielberg also told Williams that in return for doing the film, they would help distribute his unfinished film ''[[The Thief and the Cobbler]]''.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=87}} Supervising animators and additional animators and artists included Van Citters, [[Dale Baer]], [[Jane Baer]], [[Michael Peraza]], [[Joe Ranft]],<ref name="35th Anniversary"/> [[Tom Sito]], [[James Baxter (animator)|James Baxter]],<ref name="Turns 20">{{cite news|last=Farago|first=Andrew|title='Roger Rabbit' Turns 20|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/roger-rabbit-turns-20|date=November 30, 2008|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Baxter|first=James|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5osZk9Mw94w|title=James Baxter Animation Reel|date=September 28, 2018|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> [[Jacques Muller (animator)|Jacques Muller]],<ref>{{cite AV media|last=Muller|first=Jacques|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWdT4Nql_Cg|title=Roger Rabbit - Some of my animations|date=1987|publisher=YouTube|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Muller|first=Jacques|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwAy66FffQ|title=Roger Rabbit Interview TF1 Oct.88|date=October 1988|publisher=YouTube|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Muller|first=Jacques|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kO2JMweG0k|title=Roger Rabbit Special Louf France 2|date=May 26, 2010|publisher=YouTube|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jacques Muller - Senior Lecturer in Classical Animation at Nanyang Polytechnic|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquespmuller|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> [[David Bowers (director)|David Bowers]], [[Andreas Deja]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Jacobson|first=Colin|title=An Interview with Animator Andreas Deja|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/interviewandreasdeja.shtml|date=March 11, 2003|publisher=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Deja">{{cite news|last=P.|first=Ken|title=An Interview with Andreas Deja|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/31/an-interview-with-andreas-deja|date=March 31, 2003|publisher=IGN|access-date=January 10, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030413235838/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/391/391632p1.html|archive-date=April 13, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Deja|first=Andreas|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjPoPVu-I98|title=Ostrich Animated Clip|date=August 18, 2021|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Searle|first=Tyler B.|title=Andreas Deja's 10 Best Disney Characters, Ranked|url=https://collider.com/andrea-deja-disney-characters-ranked/|date=December 20, 2023|publisher=Collider|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Deja|first=Andreas|title=Would the Real Roger Rabbit Please Stand Up!|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DDItKcey3aC|date=December 3, 2024|publisher=Instagram|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> Russell Hall,<ref>{{cite AV media|author=TheThiefArchive|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRnCArCidP4|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Russell Hall and Richard Williams Interviews|date=June 30, 2010|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Deja"/> [[Mike Gabriel]], [[Chris Jenkins (film producer)|Chris Jenkins]], [[Phil Nibbelink]], [[Nik Ranieri]],<ref>{{cite AV media|last=Ranieri|first=Nik|title=Roger Rabbit 210/22, 23, 25, 26, 27|url=https://archive.org/details/NikRanieri/Roger+Rabbit+21022%2C23%2C25%2C26++27.mp4|date=January 21, 2023|publisher=Internet Archive|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> Roy Naisbitt,<ref name="AniMag">{{cite magazine|last=Clarke|first=Jeremy|title=Richard Williams and Who Framed Roger Rabbit – Page 2|url=https://www.animatormag.com/archive/issue-24/issue-24-page-13/|date=1988|magazine=Animator|issue=24|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Pulling Rabbit 4">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Roy Naisbitt – technical layout artist extraordinaire|url=https://pullingarabbitoutofahat.com/london-calling/roy-naisbitt/|date=July 11, 2018|publisher=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dudok de Wit|first=Alex|title=RIP Roy Naisbitt, Master Layout Artist And Longtime Collaborator Of Richard Williams|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/rip/rip-roy-naisbitt-master-layout-artist-and-longtime-collaborator-of-richard-williams-204657.html|date=April 16, 2021|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title=Layout Artist Roy Naisbitt Dies at Age 90|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/04/layout-artist-roy-naisbitt-dies-at-age-90/|date=April 26, 2021|publisher=Animation Magazine|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> [[Simon Wells]],<ref name="AniMag"/><ref name="animatedviews">{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Josh|title=Mars Needs Moms, but Earth needs Director Simon Wells!|url=http://animatedviews.com/2011/earth-needs-simon-wells/|date=August 15, 2011|publisher=Animated Views|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last=Mir|first=Jawad|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jghTCd8DGk|title=From Arrogance to Humility: Simon Wells' Journey|date=June 26, 2024|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> [[Matthew O'Callaghan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Matthew O'Callaghan - Animation Director|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-o-callaghan-b39586a|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> Chuck Gammage,<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.cganim.com/about-us|publisher=Chuck Gammage Animation|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> [[Harald Siepermann]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Amidi|first=Amid|title=Harald Siepermann (1962-2013)|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/harald-siepermann-1962-2013-78050.html|date=February 16, 2013|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=May 10, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221151050/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/harald-siepermann-1962-2013-78050.html|archive-date=February 21, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Harald Archive">{{cite web|title=Escape from Toontown storyboard|url=https://haraldsiepermann.com/2018/04/25/escape-from-toontown-storyboard/|date=April 25, 2018|publisher=The Harald Siepermann Archive|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> Hans Bacher,<ref name="Harald Archive"/> [[Bruce W. Smith]], Peter Western,<ref>{{cite news|last=Beck|first=Jerry|title=Roger Rabbit crew photos on Facebook|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/roger-rabbit-crew-photos-on-facebook-18962.html|date=December 12, 2009|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://peter-western.squarespace.com/index#/who-framed-roger-rabbit/|publisher=Peter Western|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pete Western - Comics artist at The77 Publications Limited|url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/petewestern|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref> Uli Meyer,{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=41}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Uli's Showreeel Early 90s|url=https://www.ulimeyer.com/uli-meyer-animation/2019/3/8/ulis-showreel-early-90s|date=8 March 2019|publisher=Uli Meyer|access-date=11 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Adamson|first=Heather|title=Uli Meyer interview|url=https://www.koreropress.com/news/uli-meyer-interview/|date=2 August 2022|publisher=Korero Press|access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Meyer|first=Uli|title=Trip down Roger Rabbit memory lane|url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ulimeyer_trip-down-roger-rabbit-memory-lane-these-activity-7273986653558394880-xQfB|date=2025|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> Dave Spafford,{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=46}}<ref name="Spafford">{{cite AV media|last=Machi|first=Phil|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66uzm9yoco|title=Who Hired Dave Spafford? - Stay 'Tooned! with Phil Machi|date=May 25, 2019|publisher=YouTube|access-date=October 15, 2025|archive-date=January 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128180320/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66uzm9yoco|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark Kausler,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Kausler - Selected Filmography|url=https://www.itsthecat.com/MKauslerFilms.htm|publisher=It's The Cat|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="35th Anniversary"/> [[Alexander Williams (cartoonist)|Alexander Williams]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Steve|title=Interview: Animator Alex Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Lion King, Iron Giant)|url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/interview-animator-alex-williams-who-framed-roger-rabbit-lion-king-iron-giant/|date=June 16, 2011|publisher=Skwigly|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>Alexander Williams, "The Making of ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''", Escape Studios Animation, July 30, 2019.</ref> Fraser MacLean,<ref>{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Steve|title=Fraser MacLean: "Setting the Scene" Book Review and Interview|url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/fraser-maclean-setting-the-scene-book-review-and-interview/|date=December 14, 2021|publisher=Skwigly|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> and Ron Dias;<ref>{{cite news|last=Edwards|first=C.|title=Background Painter Ron Dias Dies at 76|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/rip/background-painter-ron-dias-dies-at-76-86917.html|date=August 3, 2013|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> Williams and associate producer [[Don Hahn]] spearheaded the animation production,<ref>{{cite news|last=Jacobson|first=Colin|title=An Interview with Producer Don Hahn|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/interviewdonhahn.shtml|date=March 10, 2003|publisher=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=P.|first=Ken|title=An Interview with Don Han|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/01/an-interview-with-don-hahn|date=April 1, 2003|publisher=IGN|access-date=January 10, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070924102052/http://movies.ign.com/articles/391/391875p1.html|archive-date=September 24, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Hohn">{{cite news|last=Wolf|first=Scott|title=DON HAHN talks about 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'|url=http://www.mouseclubhouse.com/Interviews/don-hahn/don-hahn-beauty-roger-rabbit.htm|date=2008|publisher=Mouse Clubhouse|access-date=December 31, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908053504/http://www.mouseclubhouse.com/Interviews/don-hahn/don-hahn-beauty-roger-rabbit.htm|archive-date=September 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Turns 20"/> with the former animating almost every frame of Baby Herman, whom Williams said was his favorite character.<ref name="AniMag"/><ref name="LaughPlace"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Steve|title=Richard Williams Interview: Part Two|url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/richard-williams-interview-part-two/|date=October 8, 2014|website=Skwigly Animation Magazine|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> The animation production was split between Walt Disney Animation UK and a specialized unit in Los Angeles, set up by [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] and supervised by Baer.<ref name="Hohn"/> Kathleen Swain of Ocatillo Pictures produced backgrounds for the ''Somethin's Cookin''' and Toontown scenes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Credits|url=https://www.ocatillopictures.com/SinglePageSite/Single-Credits.html|publisher=Ocatillo Pictures|access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> The production budget continued to escalate, while the shooting schedule ran longer than expected. When the budget reached $40 million, Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]] seriously considered shutting down production, but studio chairman [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] talked him out of it.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=87}} Despite the budget escalating to over $50 million, Disney moved forward on production because they were enthusiastic to work with Spielberg.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/86 86]}}

[[VistaVision]] cameras installed with [[motion-control]] technology were used for the photography of the live-action scenes, which would be composited with animation. Rubber mannequins of Roger Rabbit, Baby Herman, and the Toon Patrol portrayed the animated characters during rehearsals to teach the actors where to look when acting with "open air and imaginative cartoon characters".<ref name="ears"/><ref name="AniCine">{{cite news|last=Turner|first=George E.|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit? A Crew of 1,000s, That's Who!|url=https://theasc.com/articles/who-framed-roger-rabbit|date=June 22, 2021|publisher=The American Society of Cinematographers|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> Many of the live-action props held by cartoon characters were shot on set with the props either held by robotic arms (designed by [[George Gibbs (special effects artist)|George Gibbs]]) or manipulated with strings, similar to a [[marionette]].<ref name="comment"/><ref name="AniCine"/><ref name="NoFilm">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Alyssa|title=This Is How the Animated Characters Used Real-World Props in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'|url=https://nofilmschool.comanimated-characters-with-real-props/|date=January 16, 2022|publisher=No Film School|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> For example, a test was shot at [[Industrial Light & Magic]] (ILM) where an actor playing the detective would climb down a fire escape and the rabbit is supposed to follow and he knocks down some stacked boxes. Naturally, there would not be a rabbit during the test, so the camera would go down the fire escape and the boxes would fall when a wire was pulled.<ref name="Gross"/> Puppeteers included [[Don Austen]], Michael Barclay, [[David Barclay (puppeteer)|David Barclay]],<ref name="Bad Influence">{{cite magazine|last=White|first=Steve|url=https://archive.org/details/badinfluencemag/BI_issue2/page/n39/mode/2up|title=It's the computer skill that breathes life into puppets... ANIMATRONICS!|magazine=[[Bad Influence!|Bad Influence! Magazine]]|issue=2|publisher=[[Europress]]|date=January 1993|pages=78|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.davebarclay.com/|publisher=David Barclay Studio|access-date=January 10, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010831095916/http://www.davebarclay.com/|archive-date=August 31, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dex|first=Andrew|title=Dave Barclay • 'My Life With Animatronics. Movies, Puppets and Beyond'|url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/dave-barclay-my-life-with-animatronics-movies-puppets-and-beyond/|date=May 6, 2025|publisher=Starburst Magazine|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> [[Mike Quinn (puppeteer)|Mike Quinn]],<ref name="Bad Influence"/><ref>Mitchell Stein, "Interview with Disney Puppeteer and Animator Mike Quinn: Part 1", The Mickey Mindset, February 6, 2015.</ref> Toby Philpott,<ref name="Toby Philpott">{{cite web|title=Toby's Other Film Work|url=https://sites.google.com/site/jabbahutt2/otherfilmwork|publisher=Jabba at Home|access-date=January 10, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503105632/https://sites.google.com/site/jabbahutt2/otherfilmwork|archive-date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> Christopher Leith, Geoff Felix,<ref name="Geoff Felix">{{cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae|url=https://www.geofffelix.com/felixcv.html|publisher=Geoff Felix|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> Ian Tregonning,<ref name="Toby Philpott"/> David Bulbeck, Michael Bayliss, [[Marcus Clarke (puppeteer)|Marcus Clarke]],<ref>{{cite web|title=CV-Resume|url=https://www.handsuppuppets.com/html/CV.html|publisher=Marcus Clarke|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> William Todd-Jones,<ref>{{cite web|title=William Todd-Jones|url=https://www.wild-connect.com/people/william-todd-jones/|publisher=Wild Connect|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Leins|first=Tom|title=Interview: Billy O'Brien and William Todd-Jones|url=https://www.devon-cornwall-film.co.uk/2017/03/02/interview-billy-obrien-william-todd-jones/|date=March 2, 2017|publisher=D&CFilm|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> Patty Webb, James Barton, [[Mak Wilson]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Rutger|title=Interview with Mak Wilson|url=http://www.tmntautographs.com/interviewwilson.html|date=March 17, 2009|publisher=Rutger's TMNT Autograph Collection|access-date=January 10, 2026}}</ref> John Reed, Sue Dacre, Frazer Diamond, and Charles Schneider. Bob Hoskins studied his daughter Rosa playing with her imaginary friends to get the feel of acting with cartoon characters,<ref name="Animated Investigator">{{cite web|last=Pirani|first=Adam|title=Bob Hoskins - Animated Investigator|url=https://www.dix-project.net/document/starlog-magazine_1988-08_bob-hoskins-animated-investigator|date=August 1988|pages=37–41, 69|website=DIX Project|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> and performed his own stunts for the film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pirani|first=Adam|title=Bob Hoskins, Animated Investigator|url=https://www.angelfire.com/celeb/bobhoskins/interviews/animated.html|date=August 1988|magazine=[[Starlog]]|issue=133|publisher=Starlog Group, Inc.|access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> The actor who provided the voice of Roger, Charles Fleischer, insisted on wearing a Roger Rabbit costume while on the set, to get into character.<ref name="ears"/> [[Principal photography]] began on December 12, 1986,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95710/who-framed-roger-rabbit/#notes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802135805/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95710/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit/#notes|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 2, 2011|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit – Miscellaneous Notes|website=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref> and lasted for seven and a half months at Elstree Studios, with an additional month in Los Angeles and at ILM for [[Chroma key|blue screen]] effects of Toontown.<ref name="Optical VFX">{{cite news|last=Failes|first=Ian|title='Who Framed Roger Rabbit' Hits 30: A Look Back At ILM's Astonishing Old-School Optical VFX|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/who-framed-roger-rabbit-hits-30-a-look-back-at-ilms-astonishing-old-school-optical-vfx-158471.html|date=June 21, 2018|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=October 18, 2025}}</ref> 

The [[Dimco Buildings]] in London were dressed as the fictional [[Acme Corporation|Acme Factory]].<ref name="dimco3">{{cite web|author=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit filming locations|url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/w/whoframed.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060326214824/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/w/whoframed.html|archive-date=26 March 2006|access-date=2007-10-02}}</ref> The entrance of [[Red Studios Hollywood|Desilu Studios]] in Los Angeles served as the fictional Maroon Cartoon Studio lot.<ref>[[Robert Zemeckis]], [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]], [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman|Jeffrey Price]], [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman|Peter Seaman]], [[Steve Starkey]], and [[Ken Ralston]]. ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Blu-ray audio commentary'', 2013, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref> The exterior scene in front of Eddie's office was filmed at the now demolished Farr apartment building which was located on South Hope Street between 11th and 12th Street in Downtown Los Angeles;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Filming Locations for Who Framed Roger Rabbit around Los Angeles, London and Essex.|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/w/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit.php|website=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations}}</ref> the exterior street scene around Eddie's office including the Pacific Electric Railway Station built set was also filmed on the same street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)|url=https://sites.google.com/site/80sfilmlocations/Film-List/who-framed-roger-rabbit-1988|website=80s Film Locations}}</ref> The scene in which a flattened Judge Doom reinflates himself was made using [[stop motion]] animation, done by Tom St. Amand. The puppets were made by Paula Lucchesi and Sheila Duignan.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pettigrew|first=Neil|title=The Stop-Motion Filmography: A Critical Guide to 297 Features Using Puppet Animation|url=https://archive.org/details/stopmotionfilmog0000pett/page/768/mode/2up|date=1999|pages=769–771|publisher=McFarland|isbn=0786404469|access-date=December 25, 2025}}</ref>{{sfn|Anderson|2019|p=66}} The scene in which Roger sees birds instead of stars after a refrigerator falls on him during the shooting of the cartoon ''Somethin's Cookin''' at the beginning of the film was the last scene ever shot.<ref name="Lou Hirsch" />

===Animation and post-production===
[[Post-production]] lasted for 14 months.<ref name="comment"/> ILM had already used [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] and [[digital compositing]] in a few movies, such as the stained glass knight scene in ''[[Young Sherlock Holmes]]'', but the computers were still not powerful enough to make a complicated movie like ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'', so all the animation was done using [[cel]]s and [[Optical printer|optical compositing]].<ref name="Optical VFX"/><ref name="ears"/> First, the animators and layout artists were given black-and-white printouts of the live-action scenes (known as "photostats"), and they placed their animation paper on top of them. The artists then drew the animated characters in relationship to the live-action footage. Due to Zemeckis' dynamic camera moves, the animators had to confront the challenge of ensuring the characters were not "slipping all over the place."<ref name="comment"/><ref name="ears"/> Ensuring this did not happen and that the characters looked real, Zemeckis and Spielberg met for about an hour and a half and came up with an idea: "If the rabbit sits down in an old chair, dust comes up. He should always be touching something real."<ref name="Gross"/> After the rough animation was complete, it was run through the normal process of traditional animation until the cels were shot on the [[rostrum camera]] with no background. Williams came up with the idea of making the cartoon characters "2.5-dimensional", and the animated footage was sent to ILM for compositing, where technicians animated three lighting layers (shadows, highlights, and tone mattes) separately, to give the characters a sense of depth and create the illusion of them affected by the set lighting.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welk|first=Brian|title='Who Framed Roger Rabbit' Creators on How They Broke All the Rules|url=https://www.thewrap.com/why-who-framed-roger-rabbit-broke-all-rules-30th-anniversary/|date=June 19, 2018|website=TheWrap|access-date=November 1, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ears"/> Finally, the lighting effects were optically composited on to the cartoon characters, who were, in turn, composited into the live-action footage. One of the most difficult effects in the film was Jessica's dress in the nightclub scene because it had to flash [[sequin]]s, an effect accomplished by filtering light through a [[plastic bag]] scratched with [[steel wool]].{{sfn|Kagan|2003|pp=93–117}}

===Music===
{{See also|Who Framed Roger Rabbit (soundtrack)}}
Regular Zemeckis collaborator [[Alan Silvestri]] composed the [[film score]], performed by the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] (LSO) under the direction of Silvestri. Zemeckis joked that "the British [musicians] could not keep up with Silvestri's [[jazz]] tempo". The performances of the [[theme (music)|music themes]] written for Jessica Rabbit were entirely [[Improvisation|improvised]] by a jazz combo performing with the LSO. The work of American composer [[Carl Stalling]] heavily influenced Silvestri's work on ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''.<ref name="comment"/><ref name="ears"/> The film's soundtrack was originally released by [[Buena Vista Records]] on June 22, 1988, and reissued on CD on April 16, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/roger_rabbit.html|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Alan Silvestri)|publisher=Filmtracks|date=April 16, 2002|access-date=November 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116001431/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/roger_rabbit.html|archive-date=November 16, 2011}}</ref>

On January 23, 2018, [[Intrada Records]] released a three-CD set with the complete score, alternates, and a remastered version of the original 1988 album, plus music from three [[Roger Rabbit short films]], composed and conducted by [[Bruce Broughton]] and [[James Horner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.11361/.f?sc=13&category=-113|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (3CD)|publisher=Intrada's official press-release|date=January 23, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012704/http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.11361/.f?sc=13&category=-113|archive-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> [[Darren Tate|Mondo Records]] and [[Walt Disney Records]] reissued the original 1988 album on vinyl on September 17, 2021.

The film features performances of "[[Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2|Hungarian Rhapsody]]" ([[Tony Anselmo]] and [[Mel Blanc]]), "[[Why Don't You Do Right?#Amy Irving version|Why Don't You Do Right?]]" ([[Amy Irving]]), "[[The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down]]" ([[Charles Fleischer]]), and "[[Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!]]" (Toon Chorus; the film's animators<ref name="Barbican '88"/><ref name="Flyin Chunks"/><ref name="D23"/>{{sfn|Anderson|2019|pp=69–70}}).

==Release==
[[Michael Eisner]], then-[[CEO]], and [[Roy E. Disney]], who was the vice chairman of [[The Walt Disney Company]], felt the film was too risqué with adult themes and sexual references.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=88}} Eisner and Zemeckis disagreed over various elements of it but since Zemeckis had [[final cut privilege]], he refused to make alterations.<ref name="ears"/> Roy E. Disney, head of [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] along with studio chief [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]], felt it was appropriate to release the film under the studio's adult-oriented [[Touchstone Pictures]] banner instead of the flagship [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=88}}

=== Box office ===
The film opened in the United States on June 22, 1988, grossing $11.2 million in 1,045 theaters during its opening weekend; it was in first place at the US box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1988W26/|title=Weekend Box Office Results for June 24-26, 1988|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|date=June 27, 1988|access-date=September 4, 2014|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101191654/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1988W26/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was Disney's biggest opening weekend ever at the time of its release.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|title=Leading North American Film Boxoffice Weekends in History|last=Murphy|first=Arthur D.|date=October 31, 1989|page=53}}</ref> It went on to gross $154.1 million in the United States and Canada and $197.4 million internationally, coming to a worldwide total of $351.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Numbers: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit#tab=international|website=The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC.|access-date=July 1, 2022|ref=box office}}</ref> At the time of release, it was the 20th-highest-grossing film of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1987806721/|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=September 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912225645/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1987806721/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the second-highest-grossing film of 1988, behind only ''[[Rain Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=1988 Domestic Totals|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1988/|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031003800/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1988/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the film also set a record opening for a Disney film.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=20 December 1993|title='Aladdin' isn't sharing B.O. wealth|page=16|last=Groves|first=Don}}</ref>

===Home media===
The film was first released on [[VHS]] on October 12, 1989,<ref>{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Mary|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-10-13-8901220676-story.html|title=More Toons For Grownup 'Roger' Fans|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 13, 1989|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510120851/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-10-13-8901220676-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and on [[DVD]] on September 28, 1999.

On March 25, 2003, [[Buena Vista Home Entertainment]] released it as a part of the "Vista Series" line in a two-disc collection with many extra features including a documentary, ''Behind the Ears: The True Story of Roger Rabbit''; a [[deleted scene]] in which a pig's head is "tooned" onto Eddie's; the three Roger Rabbit shorts, ''[[Tummy Trouble]]'', ''[[Roller Coaster Rabbit]]'', and ''[[Trail Mix-Up]]''; as well as a booklet and interactive games. The only short on the 2003 VHS release was ''Tummy Trouble''. The 2003 DVD release is also [[THX]] certified and presents the film in Full Screen (1.33:1) on Disc 1 and Widescreen (1.85:1) on Disc 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews2/rogerrabbitvista.html|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Vista Series|website=The Digital Bits }}</ref>

On March 12, 2013, Disney released the film on [[Blu-ray]] and DVD combo pack special edition for the film's 25th anniversary.<ref name="HF">{{cite news|url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/who-framer-roger-rabbit-and-more-modern-disney-classics-head-to-blu-ray|title='Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and more modern Disney classics head to Blu-ray|last=Lewis|first=Dave|date=December 18, 2012|work=[[HitFix]]|access-date=January 28, 2013|archive-date=April 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417200543/http://www.hitfix.com/news/who-framer-roger-rabbit-and-more-modern-disney-classics-head-to-blu-ray|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CB">{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit-Three-More-Disney-Titles-Hit-Blu-ray-March-34691.html|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit And Three More Disney Titles To Hit Blu-ray In March|last=Rawden|first=Jessica|date=December 18, 2012|publisher=Cinemablend.com|access-date=January 28, 2013|archive-date=December 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223100507/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/who-framed-roger-rabbit-three-more-disney-titles-hit-blu-ray-march-34691.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was also [[Film preservation#Digital Film Preservation|digitally restored]] for the release; frame-by-frame digital restoration was done by [[Prasad Studios]] removing dirt, tears, scratches, and other defects.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013095312/http://www.prasadgroup.org/downloads/pg-restore-v9-1.pdf prasadgroup.org, Digital Film Restoration]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit-Gets-Digital-Restoration-25th-Anniversary-Screening-36149.html|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit Gets Digital Restoration For 25th Anniversary Screening|last=Venable|first=Nick|date=March 4, 2013|publisher=Cinemablend.com|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=June 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617232945/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit-Gets-Digital-Restoration-25th-Anniversary-Screening-36149.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] released the film on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on December 7, 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title=Cult Classic 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' Debuts on 4K in December|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/cult-classic-who-framed-roger-rabbit-debuts-on-4k-in-december/|date=August 19, 2021|publisher=Animation Magazine|access-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref>

After in-house production of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment shut down on April 14, 2026, the film is currently owned by Disney (via Walt Disney Pictures).<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Drew|date=April 14, 2026|title=Disney’s 1,000-Person Layoffs Claim Entire PR Teams, Specialty Divisions {{!}} Exclusive|url=https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/disney-layoffs-marvel-publicity-teams-2026/|access-date=April 18, 2026|work=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' received near-universal acclaim from critics, making ''[[Business Insider]]''{{'}}s "best comedy movies of all time, according to critics" list.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-comedy-movies-all-time-critics-2018-3|last=Lynch|first=John|date=March 16, 2018|title=The 100 best comedy movies of all time, according to critics|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727223226/https://www.businessinsider.com/best-comedy-movies-all-time-critics-2018-3|url-status=live}}</ref> Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on 76 reviews, and an average rating of 8.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' is an innovative and entertaining film that features a groundbreaking mix of live action and animation, with a touching and original story to boot."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/who_framed_roger_rabbit/|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=June 21, 1988|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=October 15, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930193220/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/who_framed_roger_rabbit|url-status=live}}</ref> Aggregator [[Metacritic]] has calculated a [[weighted average]] score of 83 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/who-framed-roger-rabbit/critic-reviews|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040311230559/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/whoframedrogerrabbit/|archive-date=March 11, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' was placed on 43 critics' top ten lists, third to only [[The Thin Blue Line (1988 film)|''The Thin Blue Line'']] and ''[[Bull Durham]]'' in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McGilligan|first1=Pat|last2=Rowland|first2=Mark|title=100 Film Critics Can't Be Wrong, Can They? : The critics' consensus choice for the 'best' movie of '88 is . . . a documentary!|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-08-ca-257-story.html|access-date=June 27, 2020|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 8, 1989|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308123835/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-08-ca-257-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 20, 2018|title=Cinemascore :: Movie Title Search|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|archive-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four stars out of four, calling it "sheer, enchanted entertainment from the first frame to the last-- a joyous, giddy, goofy celebration of the kind of fun you can have with a movie camera." He writes that the opening cartoon is "a masterpiece; I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard at an animated short. But then when a stunt goes wrong and the cartoon 'baby' stalks off the set and lights a cigar and tells the human director to go to hell, we know we're in a new and special universe."<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/who-framed-roger-rabbit-1988|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=June 22, 1988|access-date=March 23, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413104818/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/who-framed-roger-rabbit-1988|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' praised the film's "dazzling, jaw-dropping opening four-minute sequence"; he noted that the sequence alone took nearly nine months to animate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siskel|first1=Gene|title=Tooned In|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74160723/gene-siskel-on-who-framed-roger/|access-date=March 23, 2021|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|volume=142|issue=185|date=July 3, 1988|page=59|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506211036/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74160723/gene-siskel-on-who-framed-roger/|url-status=live}}</ref> Siskel gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siskel|first1=Gene|title=Siskel's Flicks Picks|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74160932/gene-siskels-35-star-review-of-who/|access-date=March 23, 2021|work=Chicago Tribune|volume=142|issue=344|date=December 9, 1988|page=179|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506211001/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74160932/gene-siskels-35-star-review-of-who/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ebert and his colleague Siskel spent a considerable amount of time in the ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|Siskel & Ebert]]'' episode in which they reviewed the film analyzing its painstaking filmmaking.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit/Aria/The Great Outdoors|series=Siskel & Ebert & the Movies|first1=Roger|last1=Ebert|first2=Gene|last2=Siskel|network=Syndicated|date=June 25, 1988|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bwyuw7igyk|access-date=March 23, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109013728/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bwyuw7igyk&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> In evaluating their top ten films of the year, Siskel ranked it number two<ref>{{cite news|title=TOP TEN MOVIES: 1969-1998|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-10-15-9910200020-story.html|access-date=March 23, 2021|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 15, 1999|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105043457/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-10-15-9910200020-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while Ebert ranked it as number eight.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=December 31, 1988|title=The Best 10 Movies of 1988|publisher=Roger Ebert's Journal|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-10-movies-of-1988|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-date=July 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725093123/http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-10-movies-of-1988|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commented that this is "a film whose best moments are so novel, so deliriously funny and so crazily unexpected that they truly must be seen to be believed."<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Janet Maslin|first=Janet|last=Maslin|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/22/movies/review-film-new-laws-of-gravity-twist-humor-too-in-roger-rabbit.html|date=June 22, 1988|access-date=June 7, 2012|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525091220/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/22/movies/review-film-new-laws-of-gravity-twist-humor-too-in-roger-rabbit.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Desson Thomson]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' considered ''Roger Rabbit'' to be "a definitive collaboration of pure talent. Zemeckis had Walt Disney Pictures' enthusiastic backing, producer Steven Spielberg's pull, Warner Bros.'s blessing, Canadian animator Richard Williams' ink and paint, [[Mel Blanc]]'s voice; [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]]'s witty, frenetic screenplay; [[George Lucas]]' Industrial Light and Magic, and Bob Hoskins' comical performance as the burliest, shaggiest private eye."<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Desson Thomson|first=Desson|last=Thomson|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/whoframedrogerrabbitpghowe_a0b16f.htm|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 24, 1988|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=November 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111130734/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/whoframedrogerrabbitpghowe_a0b16f.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gene Shalit]] on the ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today Show]]'' also praised the film, calling it "one of the most extraordinary movies ever made".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlVLnju0xq0|title=Roger Rabbit TV spot|website=[[YouTube]]|date=June 27, 2010|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715192028/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlVLnju0xq0&feature=youtu.be|archive-date=July 15, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Filmsite.org]] called it "a technically-marvelous film" and a "landmark" that resulted from "unprecedented cooperation" between Warner Bros. and Disney.<ref>[https://www.filmsite.org/whof.html AMC Filmsite: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106232834/https://www.filmsite.org/whof.html|date=November 6, 2020}} Retrieved December 15, 2014</ref> On [[CNN]]'s 2019 miniseries ''[[The Movies (miniseries)|The Movies]]'', [[Tom Hanks]] called it the "most complicated movie ever made."<ref>{{cite news|last=Croot|first=James|date=October 20, 2019|title=The Movies: Why you need to see Tom Hanks' impressive chronicle of US cinema|publisher=[[Stuff (company)|stuff]]|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/116274917/the-movies-why-you-need-to-see-tom-hanks-impressive-chronicle-of-us-cinema|access-date=May 2, 2021|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502203820/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/116274917/the-movies-why-you-need-to-see-tom-hanks-impressive-chronicle-of-us-cinema|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Richard Corliss]], a film critic for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, wrote: "The opening scene upstages the movie that emerges from it". Corliss was mainly annoyed by the [[Homage (arts)|homages]] to the [[Golden Age of American animation]].<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Richard Corliss|first=Richard|last=Corliss|url=https://time.com/archive/6712601/cinema-creatures-of-a-subhuman-species-who-framed-roger-rabbit/|title=Creatures of A Subhuman|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=June 27, 1988|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714045504/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967766,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chuck Jones]] criticized the film in his book ''Chuck Jones Conversations''. Among his complaints, Jones accused Zemeckis of robbing Richard Williams of any creative input and ruining the piano duel that both Williams and he had storyboarded.<ref>{{cite book|last=Furniss|first=Maureen|author-link=Maureen Furniss|date=2005|title=Chuck Jones: Conversations|pages=152–153|series=Conversations with Comic Artists|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=1-578067-2-86}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! {{Reference column heading}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[61st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]
| Art Direction: [[Elliot Scott]]; <br> Set Decoration: [[Peter Howitt (set decorator)|Peter Howitt]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989|title=The 61st Academy Awards (1989) Nominees and Winners|access-date=July 31, 2011|work=oscars.org|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502001817/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| [[Dean Cundey]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| [[Arthur Schmidt (film editor)|Arthur Schmidt]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Robert Knudson]], [[John Boyd (sound engineer)|John Boyd]], [[Don Digirolamo]], and [[Tony Dawe]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Effects Editing]]
| [[Charles L. Campbell]] and [[Louis Edemann]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| [[Ken Ralston]], [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]], [[Edward Jones (visual effects artist)|Edward Jones]], and [[George Gibbs (special effects artist)|George Gibbs]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Special Achievement Academy Award|Special Achievement Award]]
| Richard Williams
| {{won}}
|-
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical|Best Edited Feature Film]]
| Arthur Schmidt
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[Annie Awards]]
| Best Individual Achievement: Technical Achievement
| Richard Williams
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[BMI Film & TV Awards]]
| Film Music Award
| [[Alan Silvestri]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 1988|Boston Society of Film Critics Awards]]
| Special Award
| Richard Williams
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://bostonfilmcritics.org/past-winners-1980s/|title=BSFC Winners: 1980s|website=[[Boston Society of Film Critics]]|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[42nd British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="5"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1989/film|title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 1989|website=[[BAFTA]]|year=1989|access-date=16 September 2016|ref={{harvid|BAFTA|1989}}}}</ref>
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| Dean Cundey
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| Arthur Schmidt
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]
| Elliot Scott
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| George Gibbs, Richard Williams, Ken Ralston, and Edward Jones
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Society of Cinematographers#Award categories|British Society of Cinematographers Awards]]
| [[British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film|Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film]]
| Dean Cundey
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://bscine.com/media/uploads/awards/bsc-cinematography-feature-film.pdf?v|title=Best Cinematography in Feature Film|access-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604021621/https://bscine.com/media/uploads/awards/bsc-cinematography-feature-film.pdf?v|archive-date=June 4, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists|Cahiers du Cinéma]]
| Best Film
| rowspan="3"| [[Robert Zemeckis]]
| {{draw|5th Place}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[14th César Awards|César Awards]]
| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academie-cinema.org/evenements/ceremonie-des-cesar-1989/|title=The 1989 Caesars Ceremony|publisher=[[César Awards]]|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1988|Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]]
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/1988-97|title=Chicago Film Critics Awards – 1988–97|publisher=[[Chicago Film Critics Association]]|access-date=July 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422075211/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/1988-97|archive-date=22 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[David di Donatello|David di Donatello Awards]]
| Best Foreign Producer
| [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]] and [[Robert Watts]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[41st Directors Guild of America Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Feature Film|Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures]]
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1980s/1988.aspx?value=1988|title=41st DGA Awards|website=[[Directors Guild of America Awards]]|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[DVD Exclusive Awards]]
| Best Menu Design
| John Ross
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[Evening Standard British Film Awards#1988 Winners|Evening Standard British Film Awards]]
| Best Actor
| [[Bob Hoskins]] {{small|(also for ''[[The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne]]'')}}
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[46th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/who-framed-roger-rabbit|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit – Golden Globes|website=[[HFPA]]|access-date=July 10, 2021|ref={{harvid|HFPA|1989}}}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| Bob Hoskins
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors#Golden Reel Awards|Golden Reel Awards]]
| [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Dialogue and ADR for Feature Film|Best Sound Editing – ADR]]
| Larry Singer, Jessica Gallavan, Alan Nineberg, Charleen Richards, <br> and Lionel Strutt 
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| colspan="3"| [[Goldene Kamera|Golden Screen Awards]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[31st Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score <br> Written for a Motion Picture or Television]]
| ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit (soundtrack)|Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'' – Alan Silvestri
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/31st-annual-grammy-awards|title=31st Annual GRAMMY Awards|publisher=[[Grammy Awards]]|access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hugo Award]]s
| [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
| Robert Zemeckis, Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, and [[Gary K. Wolf]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1989-hugo-awards/|work=The [[Hugo Award]]s|title=The Hugo Awards: 1989|date=July 26, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612033831/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1989-hugo-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jupiter Award (film award)#11th Jupiter Award / 1989|Jupiter Awards]]
| Best International Film
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[1989 Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie|Favorite Movie]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[1988 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]
| Special Citation
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1988.php|title=The 14th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|website=[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[National Film Preservation Board]]
| colspan="2"| [[National Film Registry]]
| {{won|Inducted}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| Online Film & Television Association Awards
| colspan="2"| Film Hall of Fame: Productions
| {{won|Inducted}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/|title=Film Hall of Fame Productions|website=Online Film & Television Association|access-date=May 15, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511220305/http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sant Jordi Awards]]
| Best Foreign Film
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="8"| [[16th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]]
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="8"| <ref>{{cite web|title=Past Saturn Awards|url=https://www.saturnawards.org/past.html|work=[[Saturn Award]]s Organization|access-date=November 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219234921/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html|archive-date=December 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Bob Hoskins
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Christopher Lloyd]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| [[Joanna Cassidy]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]]
| Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
| Alan Silvestri
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
| George Gibbs, Ken Ralston, and Richard Williams
| {{won}}
|-
| [[45th Venice International Film Festival|Venice International Film Festival]]
| Children and Cinema Award
| Robert Zemeckis
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americancinemapapers.com/files/VENICE_1988.htm|title=VENICE 1988 – THE 45TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL|access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[41st Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium]]
| Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551|title=Awards Winners|work=wga.org|publisher=Writers Guild of America|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551|archive-date=2012-12-05|access-date=2010-06-06}}</ref>
|}

==Legacy==
{{See also|Who Framed Roger Rabbit (franchise)|Toontown Online|Disney Renaissance}}
[[File:Mickey-mouse-bugs-bunny-113.jpg|thumb|right|''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' marks the first and so far only time in animation history that characters from Disney's [[Mickey Mouse Universe|Mickey Mouse]] and [[Warner Bros. Cartoons|Warner Bros]]' [[Looney Tunes]] franchises officially appeared on-screen together; in order for Disney to use Warner Bros.' characters for the film, both companies came to an agreement in which the screen time for the Warner Bros. characters would be equal to that of the Disney characters]]
The critical and commercial success of the film rekindled an interest in the Golden Age of American animation, and in addition to sparking the [[Modern animation in the United States|Silver Age of American animation]] and the [[Disney Renaissance]], it has also gained a cult following.<ref name="Gore"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Nina|title=Animated Cult Classics Worth Checking Out|url=https://movieweb.com/best-cult-classic-animated-movies/|date=June 23, 2023|website=MovieWeb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821031811/https://movieweb.com/best-cult-classic-animated-movies/|archive-date=August 21, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 1988, a few months after the film's release, Roger Rabbit made a guest appearance in the live-action/animated television special ''[[Mickey's 60th Birthday]]'', meant to coincide with the 60th anniversary of [[Mickey Mouse]]. In 1991, [[Walt Disney Imagineering]] began to develop [[Mickey's Toontown]] for [[Disneyland Park (Anaheim)|Disneyland]], based on the Toontown that appeared in the film. The attraction also features a ride called [[Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin]].{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=88}} Three [[Roger Rabbit short films|theatrical animated shorts]] were also produced: ''[[Tummy Trouble]]'' was shown before ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]''; ''[[Roller Coaster Rabbit]]'' was shown before ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]''; and ''[[Trail Mix-Up]]'' was shown before ''[[A Far Off Place]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/19/movies/marketing-magic-with-rabbit-for-disney-films.html|title=Marketing Magic, With 'Rabbit', for Disney Films|work=The New York Times|date=July 19, 1989|at=Section 3, p. 15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417200927/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/19/movies/marketing-magic-with-rabbit-for-disney-films.html|archive-date=April 17, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Maria">{{cite news|last=Eftimiades|first=Maria|title=It's Heigh Ho, as Disney Calls the Toons to Work|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/29/movies/film-it-s-heigh-ho-as-disney-calls-the-toons-to-work.html|work=The New York Times|date=April 29, 1990|at=Section 2, p. 26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251010221444/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/29/movies/film-it-s-heigh-ho-as-disney-calls-the-toons-to-work.html|archive-date=October 10, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> The film also inspired a short-lived comic book and video game [[Spin-off (media)|spin-offs]], including [[Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988 video game)|two]] [[Hare Raising Havoc|PC games]], the Japanese version of ''[[The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle]]'' (which features Roger instead of Bugs), a [[Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES game)|1989 game]] released on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], and a [[Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1991 video game)|1991 game]] released on the [[Game Boy]].<ref name="Maria"/>

In December 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|title=With "20,000 Leagues," the National Film Registry Reaches 700|date=December 14, 2016|website=[[Library of Congress]]|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126213919/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' served as inspiration for various [[Live-action animated|live-action/animation]] films in the following decades including ''[[Cool World]]'', ''[[Space Jam]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Failes|first=Ian|date=2016-11-15|title=The Oral History of 'Space Jam': Part 1 - Launching the Movie|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/oral-history-space-jam-part-1-launching-movie-144935.html|access-date=2024-03-25|website=Cartoon Brew|language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Tom & Jerry (2021 American film)|Tom & Jerry]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Fowler|first=Matt|title=Tom and Jerry Director on the Film's Roger Rabbit Influences|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/tom-and-jerry-director-on-the-films-roger-rabbit-influences|date=February 23, 2021|publisher=IGN|access-date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (film)|Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers]]'' (which also features a cameo appearance by Roger),<ref>{{cite news|last=Silverio|first=Ben|title=Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers Writers Doug Mand And Dan Gregor Talk About Creating A Spiritual Successor To Who Framed Roger Rabbit|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/869710/chip-n-dale-rescue-rangers-writers-doug-mand-and-dan-gregor-talk-about-creating-a-spiritual-successor-to-who-framed-roger-rabbit-interview/|date=May 20, 2022|publisher=/Film|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref> and the upcoming ''[[Coyote vs. Acme]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Rourke|first=Ryan|date=January 27, 2023|title=Will Forte Details What It's Like Starring With the Looney Tunes in ''Coyote vs. Acme'' [Exclusive]|url=https://collider.com/coyote-vs-acme-will-forte-comments-looney-tunes/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127222347/https://collider.com/coyote-vs-acme-will-forte-comments-looney-tunes/|archive-date=January 27, 2023|access-date=January 28, 2023|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>

===Controversies===
With the film's [[LaserDisc]] release, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' first reported in March 1994 that observers uncovered several scenes of antics from the animators that supposedly featured brief nudity of Jessica Rabbit. While undetectable when played at the usual rate of 24 [[film frame]]s per second, the LaserDisc player allowed the viewer to advance frame-by-frame to uncover these visuals. Whether or not they were actually intended to depict the nudity of the character remains unknown.<ref>{{cite news|title=No Underwear Under There|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-03-22-9403220085-story.html|access-date=August 18, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 22, 1994|archive-date=September 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922120511/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-03-22-9403220085-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/jessica-rabbit-revealed-119154/|title=Jessica Rabbit revealed|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 14, 1994|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=April 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412045520/http://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/jessica-rabbit-revealed-119154/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many retailers said that within minutes of the LaserDisc debut, their entire inventory was sold out. The run was fueled by media reports about the controversy, including stories on [[CNN]] and various newspapers.<ref>{{cite news|author=Adam Sandler|url=https://variety.com/1994/digital/features/rabbit-frames-feed-flap-119269/|title=''Rabbit'' frames feed flap|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 16, 1994|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=July 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716162835/http://variety.com/1994/digital/features/rabbit-frames-feed-flap-119269/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another frequently debated scene includes one in which Baby Herman [[the finger|extends his middle finger]] as he passes under a woman's dress and re-emerges with drool on his lip.<ref name="Variety"/><ref name="Snopes1">{{cite news|last=Mikkelson|first=David|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/who-stripped-jessica-rabbit/#add|title=Naked Jessica Rabbit|website=[[Snopes.com]]|date=August 6, 1996|access-date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122200434/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/who-stripped-jessica-rabbit/#add|url-status=live}}</ref> In the scene where [[Daffy Duck]] and [[Donald Duck]] are dueling on pianos, some heard Donald call Daffy a "goddamn stupid nigger", rather than the scripted and recorded line "doggone stubborn little".<ref name="Schweizer">{{cite book|last1=Schweizer|first1=Peter|last2=Schweizer|first2=Rochelle|title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed.|publisher=Regnery|year=1998|pages=[https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/143 143 & 144]|isbn=0-89526-387-4|url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/143}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mikkelson|first=David|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/quacking-wise/|title=Quacking Wise|date=December 30, 1998|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506211001/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/quacking-wise/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Dave|title=[[Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>

===Legal issue===
Gary K. Wolf, author of the novel ''Who Censored Roger Rabbit?'', filed a lawsuit in 2001 against The Walt Disney Company. He claimed he was owed royalties based on the value of "gross receipts" and merchandising sales. In 2002, the trial court in the case ruled that these only referred to actual cash receipts Disney collected and denied Wolf's claim. In its January 2004 ruling, the California Court of Appeal disagreed, finding that expert testimony introduced by Wolf regarding the customary use of "gross receipts" in the entertainment business could support a broader reading of the term. The ruling vacated the trial court's order in favor of Disney and remanded the case for further proceedings.<ref>{{cite news|author=Paul Sweeting|title=Disney, ''Roger Rabbit'' author in spat|work=Video Business|date=February 5, 2004|url=https://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA614737.html|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=February 1, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020201210442/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA614737.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a March 2005 hearing, Wolf estimated he was owed $7 million. Disney's attorneys not only disputed the claim but also said Wolf owed Disney $500,000–$1 million because of an accounting error discovered in preparing for the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jesse Hiestand|url=https://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4903763-1.html|title=Roger Rabbit Animated In Court|work=[[AllBusiness.com]]|date=March 22, 2005|access-date=November 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108212723/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4903763-1.html|archive-date=January 8, 2009}}</ref> Wolf won the decision in 2005, receiving between $180,000 and $400,000 in damages.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1409831/disney-to-pay-wolf-rabbit-royalties|title=Disney To Pay Wolf 'Rabbit' Royalties|magazine=Billboard|date=July 5, 2005|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-date=July 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709120348/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1409831/disney-to-pay-wolf-rabbit-royalties|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cancelled sequel===
Spielberg discussed a sequel in 1989 with [[J. J. Abrams]] as writer and Zemeckis as producer. Abrams' outline was eventually abandoned.<ref>{{cite AV media|author1=[[J. J. Abrams]]|author2=[[Dan Trachtenberg]]|date=March 11, 2016|title=Episode 791: Nerdist Podcast - J.J. Abrams and Dan Trachtenberg|language=en|url=https://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-j-j-abrams-and-dan-trachtenberg/|time=01:24:55|access-date=June 13, 2016|publisher=[[The Nerdist Podcast]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624024531/http://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-j-j-abrams-and-dan-trachtenberg/|archive-date=June 24, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Nat Mauldin was hired to write a prequel titled ''Roger Rabbit: The Toon Platoon'', set from 1941 to 1943. Similar to the previous film, ''Toon Platoon'' featured many cameo appearances by characters from [[Golden age of American animation|The Golden Age of American Animation]]. It began with Roger Rabbit's early years, living on a farm in the midwestern United States.<ref name="Gore" /> With human Ritchie Davenport, Roger travels west to seek his mother, in the process meeting Jessica Krupnick (his future wife), a struggling Hollywood actress. While Roger and Ritchie are enlisting in the Army, Jessica is kidnapped and forced to make pro-[[Nazi German]] broadcasts. Roger and Ritchie must save her by going into [[Nazi-occupied Europe]] accompanied by several other Toons in their Army platoon. After their triumph, Roger and Ritchie are given a [[Hollywood Boulevard]] parade, and Roger is finally reunited with his mother, and his father, [[Bugs Bunny]].<ref name="Gore">{{cite book|author=[[Chris Gore]]|title=The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made|date=July 1999|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|location=New York City|chapter=Roger Rabbit Two: The Toon Platoon|pages=[https://archive.org/details/50greatestmovies00gore/page/165 165–168]|isbn=0-312-20082-X|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/50greatestmovies00gore/page/165}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2005/08/07/script-review-roger-rabbit-ii-the-toon-platoon/|title=Script Review: Roger Rabbit II: Toon Platoon|work=FilmBuffOnline.com|access-date=September 7, 2012|archive-date=November 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116205015/http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2005/08/07/script-review-roger-rabbit-ii-the-toon-platoon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mauldin later retitled his script ''Who Discovered Roger Rabbit''. Spielberg left the project when deciding he could not satirize [[Nazism|Nazis]] after directing ''[[Schindler's List]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Steve Daly|url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192040,00.html|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 16, 2008|title=Steven Spielberg and George Lucas: The Titans Talk!|access-date=April 17, 2008|archive-date=April 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420105220/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192040,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="world">{{cite news|author=Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman|title=Who Screwed Roger Rabbit?|work=Animation World Magazine|url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1739|date=April 3, 2003|access-date=November 3, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218205551/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1739|archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref> Eisner commissioned a rewrite in 1997 with [[Sherri Stoner]] and [[Deanna Oliver]]. Although they kept Roger's search for his mother, Stoner and Oliver replaced the WWII subplot with Roger's inadvertent rise to stardom on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] and Hollywood. Disney was impressed and [[Alan Menken]] was hired along with [[Glenn Slater]] to write five songs for the film and offered his services as executive producer.<ref name="world"/> One of the songs, "This Only Happens in the Movies", was recorded in 2008 on the debut album of Broadway actress [[Kerry Butler]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butlers-Faith-Trust-and-Pixie-Dust-Set-For-May-Release-20080228|title=Kerry Butler's 'Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust' Set For May Release|work=Broadway World|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026135505/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butlers-Faith-Trust-and-Pixie-Dust-Set-For-May-Release-20080228|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Eric Goldberg (film director)|Eric Goldberg]] was set to be the new animation director, and began to redesign Roger's new character appearance.<ref name="world"/>

Spielberg became busy establishing [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]],<ref name="world"/> so James Pentecost was set to be the producer, collaborating with remaining producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy.<ref name="Pentecost">{{cite magazine|last=Cox|first=Dan|title=Pentecost, Mouse reup|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/pentecost-mouse-reup-1117477936/|date=June 26, 1998|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912091633/https://variety.com/1998/film/news/pentecost-mouse-reup-1117477936/|archive-date=September 12, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="world"/><ref name="CGtest">{{cite news|last=Beck|first=Jerry|title=Roger Rabbit CG test|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cgi/roger-rabbit-cg-test-28194.html|date=September 20, 2010|website=Cartoon Brew|access-date=November 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810184905/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cgi/roger-rabbit-cg-test-28194.html|archive-date=August 10, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Test footage for ''Who Discovered Roger Rabbit'' was shot sometime in 1998 at the Disney animation unit in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]; the results were a mix of [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]], traditional animation, and live-action that did not please Disney. A second test had the toons completely converted to CGI.<ref name="world"/> The tests were animated by Tom Bancroft,<ref name="CGtest"/><ref name="Test Uncovered">{{cite news|last=Sciretta|first=Peter|title=Roger Rabbit 2 Update And 1998 CGI Test Uncovered|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/511227/roger-rabbit-2-update-and-1998-cgi-test-uncovered/|date=September 21, 2010|publisher=/Film|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Pulling Rabbit 5">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Roger Rabbit Sequel/CGI Test|url=https://pullingarabbitoutofahat.com/commercials-television-shorts-and-sequels/roger-rabbit-sequel-cgi-test/|date=May 19, 2018|publisher=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat|access-date=September 3, 2024}}</ref> Barry Temple,<ref name="Test Uncovered"/><ref name="Pulling Rabbit 5"/> Trey Finney, David Nethery, Sherrie Sinclair, James Harris, Teresa Quezada, Jason Peltz, Lon Smart,<ref name="Test Uncovered"/> Eric Guaglione,<ref name="CGtest"/><ref name="Test Uncovered"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Guaglione|first=Eric|title=Roger Rabbit 2|url=https://vimeo.com/134229629|date=July 22, 2015|via=Vimeo|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Guaglione|first=Eric|title=Eric Guaglione - Director - Animation Supervisor - Screenwriter|url=https://www.ericguaglione.com/_files/ugd/d91b00_5e2bc58308e44553b102e538bfc1ad6f.pdf|date=2024|publisher=Eric Guaglione|access-date=November 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208051214/https://www.ericguaglione.com/_files/ugd/d91b00_5e2bc58308e44553b102e538bfc1ad6f.pdf|archive-date=December 8, 2024}}</ref> Rob Bekhurs,<ref name="CGtest"/><ref name="Test Uncovered"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Bekuhrs Old Disney Demo Reel|url=https://vimeo.com/161583056|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Vimeo|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref> and Guner Behich.<ref>{{cite web|last=Behich|first=Guner|title=3D EFX Showreel|url=https://vimeo.com/45694837|date=July 13, 2012|publisher=Vimeo|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref> The second test was dropped as the film's projected budget would escalate past $100 million. Eisner felt it was best to cancel the film.<ref name="world"/> In March 2003, producer [[Don Hahn]] doubted a sequel, arguing that public tastes had changed since the 1990s with the rise of computer animation. "There was something very special about that time when animation was not as much in the forefront as it is now."<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-03-26-rabbit_x.htm|title=Don't expect a ''Rabbit'' sequel|work=[[USA Today]]|date=March 26, 2003|access-date=September 5, 2014|archive-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629044818/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-03-26-rabbit_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2007, Marshall stated that he was still "open" to the idea,<ref name="Frank">{{cite news|last=Adler|first=Shawn|title=''Roger Rabbit'' Sequel Still In The Offing? Stay Tooned, Says Producer|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2007/12/11/roger-rabbit-sequel-still-in-the-offing-stay-tooned-says-producer/|date=September 11, 2007|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|access-date=November 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017173326/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/12/11/roger-rabbit-sequel-still-in-the-offing-stay-tooned-says-producer/|archive-date=October 17, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and in April 2009, Zemeckis revealed he was still interested.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Ditzian|title=Robert Zemeckis 'Buzzing' About Second 'Roger Rabbit' Movie|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|date=April 29, 2009|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2009/04/29/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-buzzing-about-second-roger-rabbit-movie/|access-date=April 29, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627064600/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/04/29/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-buzzing-about-second-roger-rabbit-movie|archive-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> According to a 2009 [[MTV News]] story, Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman were writing a new script for the project, and the animated characters would be in traditional two-dimensional, while the rest would be in [[motion capture]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ditzian|first=Eric|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2009/11/03/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-indicates-hell-use-performance-capture-and-3-d-in-roger-rabbit-sequel/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Robert Zemeckis Indicates He'll Use Performance-Capture And 3-D In 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=Moviesblog.mtv.com|access-date=November 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101103072903/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/11/03/exclusive-robert-zemeckis-indicates-hell-use-performance-capture-and-3-d-in-roger-rabbit-sequel/|archive-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref> In 2010, [[Bob Hoskins]] had agreed to sign on for a sequel, but expressed scepticism about the use of "performance capture" in the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.contactmusic.com/bob-hoskins/news/roger-rabbit-sequel-perplexes-bob-hoskins_1167555|title=Roger Rabbit Sequel Perplexes Bob Hoskins|last=Irwin|first=Lew|date=2010-09-22|website=contactmusic.com|publisher=Contact Music|accessdate= 2023-01-09}}</ref> Zemeckis said that the sequel would remain hand-drawn animated and live-action sequences will be filmed, just like in the original film, but the lighting effects on the cartoon characters and some of the props that the toons handle will be done digitally.<ref>{{cite web|last=Estrada|first=Juan Carlos|url=https://toontownantics.blogspot.com/2010/07/roger-rabbit-2-in-3d.html|title=Toontown Antics - Roger Rabbit's adventures in real and animated life: Roger Rabbit 2 – In 3D?|publisher=Toontownantics.blogspot.com|date=July 20, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2011|archive-date=October 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003162428/http://toontownantics.blogspot.com/2010/07/roger-rabbit-2-in-3d.html|url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2010, Hahn, who was the film's original associate producer, confirmed the sequel's development in an interview with ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''. He stated, "Yeah, I couldn't possibly comment. I deny completely, but yeah... if you're a fan, pretty soon you're going to be very, very, very happy."<ref>{{cite web|last=de Semlyen|first=Nick|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28191|title=Exclusive: The Lion King To Go 3D! &#124; Movie News|website=Empire|access-date=November 12, 2011|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021034315/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28191|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hoskins retired from acting in 2012 after a [[Parkinson's disease]] diagnosis a year earlier, and died from [[pneumonia]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|author=ITV staff|url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-08-08/bob-hoskins-retires-from-acting/|title=Bob Hoskins retires from acting|publisher=Itv.com|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123334/http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-08-08/bob-hoskins-retires-from-acting/|archive-date= October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Marshall confirmed that the film would be a prequel, similar to earlier drafts, and that the writing was almost complete.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weintraub|first=Steven|url=https://collider.com/frank-marshall-roger-rabbit-2-sequel-bourne-legacy/|title=Frank Marshall Talks WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT 2 Sequel, THE BOURNE LEGACY, THE GOONIES 2, More|website=Collider|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=October 18, 2012|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065805/http://collider.com/frank-marshall-roger-rabbit-2-sequel-bourne-legacy/187006|url-status=live}}</ref> During an interview at the premiere of his film ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'', Zemeckis stated that the sequel was still possible, despite Hoskins' absence, and the script for the sequel was sent to Disney for approval.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fischer|first=Russ|title=Despite Bob Hoskins' Retirement, the 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel is Still Possible|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/despite-bob-hoskins-retirement-the-roger-rabbit-sequel-is-still-possible/|date=October 15, 2012|publisher=/Film|access-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121017234155/http://www.slashfilm.com/despite-bob-hoskins-retirement-the-roger-rabbit-sequel-is-still-possible/|archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref>

In February 2013, Gary K. Wolf, writer of the original novel, said Erik Von Wodtke and he were working on a development proposal for an animated Disney buddy comedy starring Mickey Mouse and Roger Rabbit called ''The Stooge'', based on [[The Stooge|the 1952 film of the same name]]. The proposed film was to be a prequel, taking place five years before ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' and part of the story is about how Roger met Jessica. Wolf has stated the film was wending its way through Disney.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30567|title=View topic - Mickey Mouse & Roger Rabbit in The Stooge|date=March 13, 2013|website=Dvdizzy.com|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728130030/http://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30567|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2016, while promoting his film ''[[Allied (film)|Allied]]'' in England, Zemeckis stated that the sequel "moves the story of Roger and Jessica Rabbit into the next few years of period film, moving on from film noir to the world of the 1950s". He also stated that the sequel would feature a "digital Bob Hoskins", as Eddie Valiant would return in "ghost form". While the director went on to state that the script was "terrific" and the film would still use hand-drawn animation, Zemeckis thinks that the chances of Disney green-lighting the sequel are "slim". As he explained more in detail, "The current corporate Disney culture has no interest in Roger, and they certainly don't like Jessica at all".<ref>{{cite news|last=Brew|first=Simon|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 would include "digital Bob Hoskins"|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/45599/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2-would-include-digital-bob-hoskins|date=November 29, 2016|publisher=Den of Geek|access-date=November 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130054422/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/45599/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2-would-include-digital-bob-hoskins|archive-date=November 30, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2018, while promoting his film ''[[Welcome to Marwen]]'' and given the 30th anniversary of ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'', Zemeckis reiterated in an interview with [[Yahoo! Movies]] that though the sequel's script was "wonderful", Disney was still unlikely to ever produce it, and he did not see the possibility of producing it as an original film for the streaming service [[Disney+]], as he felt that it does not make any sense as there was no "[[Disney Princess|Princess]]" in it.<ref>{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Tom|title=Robert Zemeckis on 'Welcome To Marwen', 'Back To The Future, and 'Roger Rabbit 2'|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/robert-zemeckis-welcome-marwen-back-future-roger-rabbit-2-110025983.html|date=December 28, 2018|publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228185850/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/robert-zemeckis-welcome-marwen-back-future-roger-rabbit-2-110025983.html|archive-date=December 28, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2024, while promoting his latest film ''[[Here (2024 film)|Here]]'', Zemeckis again said that one of the reasons Disney would never produce the script, "as good as it is", was that Disney finds Jessica Rabbit "too hot", citing that they dressed her in a [[trench coat]] in the [[Disneyland]] attraction [[Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin]]. Zemeckis said that the original film was made at the right time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sharf|first=Zack|title=Jessica Rabbit Too Hot for Disney? Robert Zemeckis Says Studio 'Can't Make a Movie With Her' Anymore: 'They Put Her in a Trench Coach' at Disneyland|date=November 1, 2024|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jessica-rabbit-sexy-disney-robert-zemeckis-calls-out-studio-1236197376/|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 2, 2024}}</ref> In 2025, Gary K. Wolf would note in an interview that all the rights to Roger Rabbit and associated characters had returned to him. Wolf stated at the time he was working on a film adaptation of his novel ''Jessica Rabbit: XERIOUS Business''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lang|first=Jamie|title=Roger Rabbit Creator Gary K. Wolf Reclaims His Toon Universe, Teases New Projects|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/gary-k-wolf-roger-rabbit-property-256596.html|date=November 11, 2025|publisher=Cartoon Brew|access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Golden age of American animation]]
* [[List of films featuring fictional films]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Ross|title=Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat: The Making of Roger Rabbit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUOWDwAAQBAJ|year=2019|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-496-82230-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Kagan|first=Norman|title=The Cinema of Robert Zemeckis|year=2003|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|location=Lanham, Maryland|chapter=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|pages=93–117|isbn=0-87833-293-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Stewart|first=James B.|author-link=James B. Stewart|title=[[DisneyWar]]|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|year=2005|location=New York|isbn=0-684-80993-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Williams|first=Richard|title=The Animator's Survival Kit|url=https://archive.org/details/TheAnimatorsSurvivalKitRichardWilliams/|year=2001|publisher=Faber and Faber|isbn=0-5712-0228-4}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Bonifer|first=Mike|title=The Art of Who Framed Roger Rabbit|date=June 1989|publisher=First Glance Books|isbn=0-9622588-0-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Foster|first=Bob|title=Roger Rabbit: The Resurrection of Doom|year=1989|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]|others=Comic book sequel between ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' and the theatrical short ''[[Tummy Trouble]]''|isbn=0-87135-593-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Noble|first=Martin|title=Who Framed Roger Rabbit|date=December 1988|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|others=[[Novelization]] of the film|isbn=0-352-32389-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Wolf|first=Gary K.|author-link=Gary K. Wolf|title=Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit?|date=July 1991|publisher=[[Villard (imprint)|Villard]]|others=[[Spin-off (media)|Spin-off]] from the film and Wolf's ''Who Censored Roger Rabbit?''|isbn=978-0-679-40094-3}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wiktionary|Appendix:Roger Rabbit}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' essay [https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/WhoFramedRogerRabbit.pdf] by Alexis Ainsworth at [[National Film Registry]]
* {{IMDb title|0096438|Who Framed Roger Rabbit}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{AFI film|59159|Who Framed Roger Rabbit}}
* {{TCMDb title|95710|Who Framed Roger Rabbit}}
* {{cite news|author=Ken P|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/01/an-interview-with-don-hahn|title=An Interview with Don Hahn|work=[[IGN]]|date=April 1, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070924102052/http://movies.ign.com/articles/391/391875p1.html|archive-date=September 24, 2007|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite news|author=Ken P|url=http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/391/391632p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030413235838/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/391/391632p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2003|title=An Interview with Andreas Deja|work=[[IGN]]|date=March 31, 2003}}
* {{cite news|author=Wade Sampson|url=https://www.mouseplanet.com/8606/The_Roger_Rabbit_That_Never_Was|title=The Roger Rabbit That Never Was|work=Mouse Planet|date=December 17, 2008}}
* {{cite news|url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3840&page=1|author=Andrew, Farago|author2=Bill Desowitz|title=Roger Rabbit Turns 20|work=[[Animation World Network]]|date=November 30, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217083816/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3840&page=1|archive-date=December 17, 2008}}

{{Navboxes
|list1=
{{Roger Rabbit}}
{{TV series and movies set in the Mickey Mouse universe}}
{{Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies}}
{{Bugs Bunny in animation}}
{{Daffy Duck in animation}}
{{Mickey Mouse in animation}}
{{Donald Duck in animation}}
{{Disney's Pinocchio}}
{{Woody Woodpecker}}
{{Robert Zemeckis}}
{{Chuck Jones}}
{{Richard Williams}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{Disney theatrical animated features}}
{{Pacific Electric Railway}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit''
|list1 =
{{Academy Award Best Sound Editing}}
{{Academy Award Best Visual Effects}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation 1981–2002}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film 1973–1990}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Director}}
}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Who Framed Roger Rabbit}}
[[Category:1988 films]]
[[Category:1988 crime films]]
[[Category:1988 comedy films]]
[[Category:1988 fantasy films]]
[[Category:1988 American animated films]]
[[Category:1988 controversies]]
[[Category:1988 English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s crime comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s mystery films]]
[[Category:American crime comedy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American self-reflexive films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:American crossover films]]
[[Category:American detective films]]
[[Category:American mystery films]]
[[Category:American films with live action and animation]]
[[Category:Surreal comedy films]]
[[Category:Comedy crossover films]]
[[Category:Postmodern films]]
[[Category:Metafictional works]]
[[Category:Rotoscoped films]]
[[Category:Animated crime films]]
[[Category:Animated crossover films]]
[[Category:BAFTA winners (films)]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation–winning works]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Sound Editing Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing Academy Award]]
[[Category:Disney controversies]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in film]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in animation]]
[[Category:English-language crime comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:Who Framed Roger Rabbit| ]]
[[Category:Looney Tunes films]]
[[Category:Bugs Bunny films]]
[[Category:Daffy Duck films]]
[[Category:Elmer Fudd films]]
[[Category:Foghorn Leghorn films]]
[[Category:Marvin the Martian films]]
[[Category:Porky Pig films]]
[[Category:Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog films]]
[[Category:Speedy Gonzales films]]
[[Category:Sylvester the Cat films]]
[[Category:Tweety films]]
[[Category:Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner films]]
[[Category:Yosemite Sam films]]
[[Category:Mickey Mouse films]]
[[Category:Donald Duck films]]
[[Category:Goofy (Disney) films]]
[[Category:Betty Boop]]
[[Category:Droopy]]
[[Category:Woody Woodpecker films]]
[[Category:Puppet films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on mystery novels]]
[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Animated films about rabbits and hares]]
[[Category:Films about babies]]
[[Category:Animated films about weasels]]
[[Category:Animated films about talking animals]]
[[Category:Films about films]]
[[Category:Films about animation]]
[[Category:Films about the film industry]]
[[Category:Films about murder]]
[[Category:Films about Hollywood, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films set in studio lots]]
[[Category:Films set in 1947]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Films shot in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios]]
[[Category:Films directed by Robert Zemeckis]]
[[Category:Films produced by Robert Watts]]
[[Category:Films produced by Frank Marshall]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alan Silvestri]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures animated films]]
[[Category:Amblin Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Amblin Entertainment animated films]]