Thomas & Mike 2

Thomas & Mike 2 (a.k.a. Thomas & Mike: The Movie 2) is a 2010 American computer-animated comedy film produced by 20th Century Fox Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The sequel to 2004's Thomas & Mike: The Movie (which in turn was based on the comic strip of the same name by Chance S.), the film was directed by Phil Anderson with Chance S. and Aaron Springer returning as executive producers. Billy West, Zach Galifianakis, Will Forte, and Tom Kenny reprise their roles from the first film, alongside newcomers Gary Cole, Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Jason Bateman, and Will Ferrell. The plot involves Thomas, Mike, Cole, and Tyler going to visit Danny Slambloni, Thomas' father's old friend and assistant, along with his two enthusiastic children TBA and TBA Slambloni. But the reunion quickly takes a bizarre turn when a new foe arrives in Tuckerdale, with plans to kidnap Tyler and use him to develop a superweapon that will turn everyone in Tuckerdale into mutants, allowing him to rule over it.

Thomas & Mike 2 was released in the United States on TBA 2010, and grossed over $574 million worldwide against its budget of $70 million. It received generally positive reviews from critics, though it was deemed inferior to its predecessor. A third movie was released in 2017. The film was dedicated to John Hughes, whose work were some of the inspirations for the original comic, who died in August of 2009.

Cast

 * Billy West as Thomas Shamowski
 * Zach Galifianakis as Mike Whitman
 * Will Forte as Cole Seltzer
 * Tom Kenny as Tyler Hansen
 * Gary Cole as Danny Slambloni
 * Charlie Day as Stan Slambloni
 * Jenny Slate as Savannah Slambloni
 * Jason Bateman as Dr. Morozov
 * Will Ferrell as Shawn, Morozov's henchman

Production
The first news of the sequel came out in May 2006, when website io9 reported that the original directors, David Silverman and Aaron Springer, won't return for the sequel. In August 2007, it was reported that Phil Anderson, the story artist on the first film, would direct the sequel, with Springer serving as executive producer. In July 2009, it was announced that the sequel would be titled Thomas & Mike: The Movie 2, but it was later retitled to Thomas & Mike 2.

Animation
Animation services were provided by Animal Logic, who hired 3D animators with a passion for 2D animation for the project, and utilizing a style where the characters would be cel-shaded, while the environments would be regularly shaded. The strategy the animators used was to base the animation off a stylized 3D/CGI VFX modeling medium through 2D finish by creating innovative rigging, animation techniques used to create 2D animation, and custom tools such as lighting and rendering, resulting in the film's 3D/CGI animation maintaining the look, feel, and spirit of 2D animation, in the veins of the original film.

Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 77% based on 163 reviews, with an average rating of 8.01/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 29 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.