Knight School

Knight School is a 2023 American animated comedy film produced by Cartoon Network Studios, DreamWorks Pictures and Smashup Productions and directed by Andrew Adamson and Conrad Vernon. The film stars Anna Kendrick, who voices the main protagonist; joined by Ben Schwartz, John Cleese, and Rupert Everett. The film centers around a high school student transferred to Knight School to learn more about medieval history.

The story was thought up by Xavier Shaquille in 2020, and had the idea of having a theatrical Cartoon Network film in computer-animation before going with flash animation after having developed bad terms with an old friend. This is the first ever original feature film released by Cartoon Network Studios, and not based on the studio's existing shows.

Knight School premiered in the Hollywood in May 12, 2023 and released worldwide in June 2, by Universal Pictures. The film grossed $412.2 million worldwide against a $50 million and was met with average response, with praise for the voice acting (mostly Kendrick and Cleese) while criticism was met with its use of profane swearing. Its success established Cartoon Network Studios' return to the feature film business. A sequel, two holiday specials, and a prequel had soon followed.

Plot
Ellenor is an optimistic and easygoing teenage girl who achieved her grades in Yeoll High. One day, she fails in Medieval history by saying what she knew was there in her own simple way rather than doing the research. The school principal calls her parents about her failing and recommends they transfer their daughter to Knight School, a high school for teaching students about the medieval times, run by Professor Gerald Reginald III.

On her first day, she makes the best of it. While she enjoys the food in the cafeteria and makes new friends, she fails all her classes. Taking advice from one of his classmate, Lance, she does research on medieval history. The next day, she aces her classes, much to Reginald's amazement and befuddlement. Meanwhile, Wellington Snide, Reginald's assistant, plots his great-great-grandfather Lord Snide's plan to take over Yeoll.

Later that day, Lance, who developed a crush on Ellenor since her second day, digs up the courage to ask her out on a date, to which she accepts as she never got asked out before back at her old school. Beforehand, she introduces him to her parents, Anthony and Gretchen; Anthony was proud she chose an ordinary boy, but Gretchen was disappointed she did. On their date, they go to the Local Theater for a movie, then to a random fast-food restaurant for dinner. While Lance had mixed feelings about their first date, he was just glad he got to know Ellenor.

The next day, Snide goes through his great-great grandfather's old diary, and it reveals that the only way Snide could take over Yeoll was by using his magical staff, which Lord Snide hid in the woods in a cave long ago. Only problem was, he did not know where in the woods it was, and that "only a cynical but kindhearted would know that cave's whereabouts", leaving Snide puzzled since there are seven students he knows that are as described. Meanwhile, Ellenor competes with Hugh in an eating contest in the cafeteria, in which she wins. Lance comes by and asks Ellenor if she wanted to come over to his house after class, which she agrees to on account of having a free schedule. There, she admires how his house is a two-story kind and how he is a regular type of boy, but his parents are pretty worried about him dating a girl.

As the school year ends, Reginald asks Ellenor into his office; he was very proud of how she took her time studying the knowledge of medieval history than any of his other students, he rewards her by making her into a Class III. With Snide, he looks into his great-great grandfather's diary, and that the "cynical but kindhearted" person would be a female, as the figure on the page resembled one. Realizing that Ellenor is the only female in his class, he goes to her about the cave, to which she knows one near the Oak Forest. After persuading Reginald to take Ellenor out on a walk in the woods, she leads him to the cave she knows.

Arriving there, she shows him the staff she found in it, which is the one from Lord Snide's diary. Snide immediately takes it from her and reveals that it is his great-grandfather Lord Snide's magical staff that was hidden for eternity for one day a chosen soul would take on his legacy, and he will continue his goal in taking over Yeoll. As Ellenor tried to take the staff back from him, Snide knocks her out hard with it. He leaves her for dead. Wondering about Ellenor's whereabouts, Snide returns and claims to the school that Ellenor was killed by a bear during their walk, much to the class' heartbroken dismay and Lance's suspicion. Waking from her unconsciousness, Ellenor heads into town to warn the citizens about Snide's takeover.

After Lance researched that bears are not located in Yeoll, he eavesdrops on Snide, and discovers about his attempt to take over the town. He records his plan as evidence to show to the class. Meanwhile, Ellenor tells everyone to evacuate town before Snide takes over, only to result in the police to arrest her for disturbing the piece. Before they could, a storm cloud towers over the town. Snide arrives and terrorizes the town and the citizens cower from Snide's takeover. Upon showing Reginald the proof, he and Lance arrive to convince him to stop, only for him to turn Reginald into stone and have Lance captive. Ellenor reaches Snide by borrowing a horse from the school, and faces off with him through a sword duel, until it ends with Snide snatching her sword and stabbing her through the chest. As he enjoys wounding Ellenor, he did not notice he dropped the staff; Lance grasps it and subdues Snide via levitation, as well as heal Ellenor. Ellenor takes over dealing with Snide and tasks Lance to evacuate the town. Snide tries to manipulate her into letting him go and let her take over the town with him, only to Ellenor to launch him into space.

The citizens congratulate her for saving Yeoll and receives the respect from Reginald, who saw the whole event while frozen in stone, and Ellenor professes her love to Lance. Back at Knight School, the students have a dance party, in which Ellenor requested to Reginald.

Cast

 * Anna Kendrick as Ellenor, a former student of Yeoll High who gets transferred to Knight School.
 * Ben Schwartz as Lance, a Class V student in Knight School who develops a crush on Ellenor.
 * John Cleese as Professor Gerald Reginald III, the teacher and founder of Knight School.
 * Rupert Everett as Wellington Snide, Reginald's assistant in his class who is a descendant to his great-great grandfather Lord Snide who takes on his legacy to reign over the town of Yeoll.
 * William Shatner as Anthony, Ellenor's father.
 * Jane Lynch as Gretchen, Ellenor's mother.
 * Damon Wayans Jr. as Oliver Jade, the only African-American student in Reginald's class.
 * Mick Wingert as Ivan, one of Reginald's students that puts gum under where he sits.
 * Chris Hardwick as Bill, one of Reginald's students that smuggles outside food in spite of the cafeteria rule.
 * Jerry Trainor as Troy, one of Reginald's students that is egotistical and attractive but dense.
 * Conrad Vernon as Principal Begley, principal of Knight School.
 * Cedric the Entertainer as Mike, the janitor of Knight School.
 * Avril Lavigne as Darcey, Ellenor's shy but laid-back friend and a student in Yeoll High.
 * Abby Elliott as Jane, Ellenor's vitriolic friend and student of Yeoll High.
 * Cheri Oteri as Principal Wilson, principal of Yeoll High.
 * Adam Pally as Whitey, teacher of Yeoll High.
 * Jon Hamm as Myer, Lance's father.
 * Leslie Mann as Hollie, Lance's mother.

Development
Xavier Shaquille, producer and co-writer of the film, had the idea in late May 2020. It was one of his ideas to bring Cartoon Network Studios back into the theatrical feature film business, and this idea was a fully computer-animated film, before he opted in going for 2D-animation for the film after his former friend Gabriel Garcia refused to make anymore CGI-stylized versions of his artwork.

Animation
The film was animated with flash animation, provided by Mercury Filmworks, to give the film a vibe that it is "a TV movie in theaters".

Music
Knight School is the fourth animated film (and only film outside DreamWorks Animation) with Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell composing a score, after Antz (1998). Chicken Run (2000) and Shrek (2001). The score was released by WaterTower Music, a WarnerMedia-based company like Cartoon Network Studios.

Knight School used classic pop music such as Smash Mouth's "Come On, Come On" in the opening credits and "Magic" near the end. Other songs include Eels' "Beautiful Freak" and Bowling for Soup's "High School Never Ends".

Release
Knight School was released in theatrically by Universal Pictures on June 2, 2023; Shaquille suggested Universal after Warner Bros. Pictures failed financially with The Powerpuff Girls Movie.

Home media
The film was released on digital on September 12, 2023 and on DVD and Blu-ray on October 3, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. One of the special features includes an individual character interview with the film's characters Ellenor (voiced by Anna Kendrick), Lance (voiced by Ben Schwartz), and Gerald Reginald III (voiced by John Cleese).

Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 71% based on 90 reviews and an average rating of 7.26/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "With its big-name cast and well as its original storyline, this shows Knight School can stand on its own." Metacritic gave the film a score of 62 out of 100 based on 26 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gives the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.

Sequel
Before the film was picked up, Shaquille had plans on for a sequel to Knight School. The film had the entire cast reprising their roles with Tom Hiddleston and Kelly Marie Tran joining the cast.

Originally, its title was simply Knight School 2, before the '2' was replaced with a Roman numerals variant of it due to changing the premise. The original cast for the sequel consisted of Julie Andrews, Julia Sawalha, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Tudyk, and Rebel Wilson. Earlier choices were Alec Baldwin, Chloe Bennet, and Lake Bell. Harry Gregson-Williams returned as composer without John Powell. It was released in July 2026.

Prequel
A prequel film entitled Yeoll High was released in September 2028; starring Kendrick alongside Avril Lavigne, Abby Elliott, Cheri Oteri and Adam Pally reprising their roles. John Krasinski, Chloe Bennet, Katie Ladner, and George Salazar star alongside.

Television special
Knight School Before Christmas is a 22-minute television special that aired on December 13, 2023 on TBS. Set after the film, Ellenor's uncle Bob visits for Christmas, much to her and father Anthony's chagrin. Meanwhile, Lance never celebrated Christmas since his family is Jewish, so Ellenor and company introduce him to it. Anna Kendrick, Ben Schwartz, John Cleese, Jane Lynch, William Shatner, Jon Hamm, Leslie Mann, Seann William Scott, Mick Wingert, and Chris Hardwick all reprise their roles from the film. The special is also directed by Randy Myers and written by Jonathan Aibel &amp; Glenn Berger.

Television series
A television series based on the film, entitled Back to Knight School, premiered on Peacock and ran for two seasons. The show features Amanda Leighton as Ellenor in place of Kendrick.