Editing All Dogs Go to Heaven

{{short description|1989 animated film directed by Don Bluth}}
{{about|the film|the television series|All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series{{!}}''All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series''|the ''Supernatural'' episode|All Dogs Go to Heaven (Supernatural){{!}}All Dogs Go to Heaven (''Supernatural'')|the Glaive EP|All Dogs Go to Heaven (EP){{!}}''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' (EP)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox film
| name        = All Dogs Go to Heaven
| image       = AllDogsGotoHeaven.jpg
| caption     = Theatrical release poster
| director    = [[Don Bluth]]
| screenplay  = [[David N. Weiss]]
| story       = {{plainlist|
* Don Bluth
* Ken Cromar
* [[Gary Goldman]]
* Larry Leker
* Linda Miller
* Monica Parker
* [[John Pomeroy]]
* Guy Schulman 
* David J. Steinberg
* David N. Weiss
}}
| producer    = {{plainlist|
* Don Bluth
* Gary Goldman
* John Pomeroy
}}
| starring    = {{plainlist| 
* [[Loni Anderson]]
* [[Judith Barsi]]
* [[Dom DeLuise]]
* [[Melba Moore]]
* [[Charles Nelson Reilly]]
* [[Burt Reynolds]]
* [[Vic Tayback]]
}}
| editing     = John K. Carr
| music       = [[Ralph Burns]]
| studio      = {{unbulleted list|[[Goldcrest Films]]|[[Sullivan Bluth Studios|Sullivan Bluth Studios Ireland Limited]]}}
| distributor = [[United Artists]]/[[MGM/UA Communications Co.]] (United States)<br>[[Rank Film Distributors]] (United Kingdom/Ireland)
| released    = {{film date|1989|11|17|United States|1990|2|8|United Kingdom|1990|4|6|Ireland}}
| runtime     = 84 minutes<ref name="AFI" />
| country     = {{unbulleted list|United Kingdom|Ireland|United States}}
| language    = English
| budget      = $13 million<ref name="AFI">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/69952 |title=''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' |website=AFI Catalog |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214220542/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/69952 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross       = $27.1 million<ref name="Mojo">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=alldogsgotoheaven.htm |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044647/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=alldogsgotoheaven.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''''All Dogs Go to Heaven''''' is a 1989 animated [[Musical film|musical]] [[Fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy-drama]] film directed by [[Don Bluth]] and co-directed by [[Gary Goldman]] (his [[List of directorial debuts|directorial debut]]) and [[Dan Kuenster]].<ref name=RottenTomatoes1>{{cite web|title=All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/all_dogs_go_to_heaven/|publisher=RottenTomatoes|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=October 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015011513/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/all_dogs_go_to_heaven/|url-status=live}}</ref> Set in [[New Orleans]] in 1939, it tells the story of Charlie B. Barkin (voiced by [[Burt Reynolds]]), a [[German Shepherd]] who is murdered by his former friend, Carface Carruthers (voiced by [[Vic Tayback]]). Charlie escapes from Heaven to return to Earth where his best friend, Itchy Itchiford (voiced by [[Dom DeLuise]]), still lives, in order to take revenge on Carface. Instead, he ends up befriending a young orphan girl named Anne-Marie (voiced by [[Judith Barsi]] in her final film role). In the process, Charlie learns an important lesson about kindness, friendship and love.

The film is an Irish, British and American venture, produced by [[Goldcrest Films]] and [[Sullivan Bluth Studios|Sullivan Bluth Studios Ireland Limited]]. On its cinema release, it competed directly with [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]]'s ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'', released on the same day. While it did not repeat the box-office success of Sullivan Bluth's previous features, ''[[An American Tail]]'' and ''[[The Land Before Time (film)|The Land Before Time]]'', it was successful on home video, becoming one of the biggest-selling [[VHS]] releases ever. It was followed by a [[All Dogs Go to Heaven 2|theatrical sequel]], a [[All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series|television series]], and a [[An All Dogs Christmas Carol|holiday direct-to-video film]].

== Plot ==
In 1939 [[New Orleans]], Charlie B. Barkin escapes from the [[Animal shelter|dog pound]] with the help of his best friend Itchy Itchiford and returns to their casino riverboat on the [[Bayou Corne sinkhole|bayou]]. His business partner, Carface Caruthers is surprised to see Charlie alive and is reluctant to share the profits with him. Carface had secretly been responsible for Charlie getting committed to the pound due to greed and decides to get rid of him for good this time by killing him with a car. Despite not having done any good lifetime deeds Charlie is automatically sent to [[Heaven]]. He is then greeted by a [[whippet]] angel who explains to him that because dogs are inherently good and loyal, all dogs go to Heaven and are entitled to paradise. Taking advantage of her kindness, Charlie cheats death by stealing a pocket watch representing his life and winding it back. As Charlie descends back to Earth, the whippet angel tells him that he can never return to Heaven.

When Charlie returns he reunites with Itchy and plots revenge in the form of a rivaling business. They soon discover that Carface's success has been from a kidnapped young orphan girl named Anne-Marie for her [[animal language|ability to talk to animals]], which proves helpful when betting on races. While Charlie rescues her and promises to feed the poor and help her find a family, he takes her to a race track the following day to gamble. Charlie steals a wallet from a couple as they talk to Anne-Marie and become concerned by her rough appearance. Charlie and Itchy use their winnings to build a successful casino in the junkyard where they live. Anne-Marie threatens to leave when she realizes she has been used, but Charlie persuade her to stay by bringing pizza to a family of poor puppies and their mother (Flo) at an abandoned church. Although initially a success, Anne-Marie becomes angry at Charlie when she discovers the stolen wallet.

As Charlie has a nightmare in which he is condemned to Hell, Anne-Marie returns the wallet to the couple who introduce themselves as Kate and Harold. As they privately discuss adopting her Charlie arrives and tricks her into leaving with him. Charlie and Anne-Marie narrowly escape an ambush by Carface and his assistant Killer and hide in an abandoned building, but the ground breaks and they fall into the lair of a giant alligator named King Gator. He and Charlie bond over a love of music and he lets them go, but Anne-Marie catches [[pneumonia]] in the process. Carface and his thugs destroy Charlie's casino and assault Itchy. Feeling abandoned, Itchy limps back to the church to confront Charlie about his relationship with Anne-Marie. Charlie retorts in exasperation that he is using her and will eventually "dump her in an [[orphanage]]". A heartbroken Anne-Marie overhears the conversation and tearfully runs away before she is kidnapped by Carface. Charlie follows them to Carface's casino, where he is ambushed by his thugs. As they fight with Charlie they inadvertently start an oil fire that soon engulfs the whole structure. Charlie's pained howls from their bites summon King Gator, who chases down and devours Carface.

During the chaos both Anne-Marie and the watch fall into the water, but Charlie is unable to rescue both at the same time. He then decides to choose Anne-Marie by placing her onto some driftwood and pushes her toward safety, but Charlie's life ends as the watch stops before he can retrieve it. As Killer finishes pushing her to shore Kate and Harold are waiting with police and medical personnel, alongside Itchy, Flo, and the other dogs from New Orleans. Sometime later, Kate and Harold adopt Anne-Marie, who has also adopted Itchy. Charlie, having sacrificed himself to save Anne-Marie, has earned back his place in Heaven, and is allowed to return in [[ghost]] form to reconcile with Anne-Marie. Leaving Itchy in her care, Charlie returns to Heaven, where, in a [[Post-credits scene|mid-credits scene]], Carface finally arrives and takes his own watch, vowing revenge against King Gator. As the whippet angel chases him and warns against using it, Charlie assures the audience that "he'll be back".

== Voice cast ==
* [[Burt Reynolds]] as Charlie B. Barkin, a brash [[German Shepherd]] and a former [[Confidence trick|con artist]].
* [[Dom DeLuise]] as Itchy Itchiford, a paranoid, anxious but loyal [[Dachshund]] and Charlie's best friend.
* [[Judith Barsi]] (Lana Beeson, singing voice) as Anne-Marie, a 7-year-old orphan girl with the ability to talk to and understand animals. This was Barsi's final film role before her murder in 1988; the end credits song "Love Survives" was dedicated in her memory.
* [[Vic Tayback]] as Carface Carruthers, a violent, sadistic [[Bulldog]] gangster. This was Tayback's final film role before his death in 1990.
* [[Charles Nelson Reilly]] as Killer, a misnamed, fidgety, [[Neurosis|neurotic]] and spectacles-wearing [[Schnoodle]] who is Carface's [[comic relief]] sidekick.
* [[Loni Anderson]] as Flo, a female [[Rough Collie]] and one of Charlie's friends.
* [[Melba Moore]] as a [[Whippet]] angel who welcomes deceased dogs into Heaven.
* [[Ken Page]] as King Gator, an [[American alligator]] and [[New Orleans voodoo|voodoo]] [[witch doctor]] living below the streets of [[New Orleans]].
* Rob Fuller and Earleen Carey as Kate and Harold, a kindly married couple who later become Anne-Marie's adoptive parents.
* [[Godfrey Quigley]] as [[Terrier]], a dog that appears when Itchy tells everyone Anne-Marie is in danger.
* [[Anna Manahan]] as Stella Dallas, a horse that appears when Anne-Marie, Charlie and Itchy are at the derby.
* [[Candy Devine]] as Vera, a female gambling dog.
* Dan Molina (uncredited) as the [[hellhound]] in Charlie's nightmare and at the finale.

== Production ==
The earliest idea was conceived by Don Bluth after finishing work on ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]''. The [[film treatment|treatment]] was originally about a canine [[private investigator|private eye]], and one of three short stories, making up an [[anthology film]]. The character of a shaggy German Shepherd was designed specifically for Burt Reynolds. However, Bluth's first studio, [[Don Bluth Productions]], was going through a period of financial difficulty, ultimately having to declare bankruptcy, and the idea never made it beyond rough storyboards. The concept was revived by Bluth, [[John Pomeroy]] and [[Gary Goldman]], and rewritten by [[David N. Weiss]], collaborating with the producers from October through December 1987. They built around the title ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' and drew inspiration from films, such as ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'', ''[[Little Miss Marker (1934 film)|Little Miss Marker]]'' and ''[[A Guy Named Joe]]''. The film's title came from a book read to Bluth's fourth-grade class, and he resisted suggestions to change it, stating he liked how "provocative" it sounded, and how people reacted to the title alone.

During the production of their previous feature film, Sullivan Bluth Studios had moved from [[Van Nuys, California]], to a state-of-the-art studio facility in [[Dublin]], Ireland, and the film was their first to begin production wholly at the Irish studio. It was also their first to be funded from sources outside of Hollywood, the previous two feature films, ''An American Tail'' and ''The Land Before Time'', had been backed by [[Amblin Entertainment]] and [[Universal Pictures]], and executive producers [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[George Lucas]] (for ''The Land Before Time'' only) exercised a degree of control over the content of the films, a situation Bluth found disagreeable.<ref name="cawley_tail">{{cite web |author=Cawley, John |url=http://www.cataroo.com/DBtail.html |title=Don Bluth American Tail |publisher=The Animated Films of Don Bluth |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-date=January 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128093052/http://www.cataroo.com/DBtail.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cawley_land">Cawley, ''[http://www.cataroo.com/DBland.html The Land Before Time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228022358/http://www.cataroo.com/DBland.html |date=2019-12-28 }}''</ref> The studio found investment from UK-based Goldcrest Films in a US$70m deal to produce three animated feature films (though only two, ''[[Rock-a-Doodle]]'' and it, were completed under the deal).<ref name="cawley_ireland">Cawley, ''[http://www.cataroo.com/DBireland.html At Home in Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129091753/http://www.cataroo.com/DBireland.html |date=2009-11-29 }}''</ref> The three founding members of the studio, Bluth, Pomeroy, and Goldman, had all moved to Ireland to set up the new facility, but during the film's production, John Pomeroy returned to the United States to head up a satellite studio which provided some of the animation for the film. Pomeroy also used his presence in the United States to generate early publicity for the film, including a presentation at the 1987 [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref name="cawley_dogs">{{cite web |author=Cawley, John |url=http://www.cataroo.com/DBdogs.html |title=Don Bluth All Dogs Heaven |access-date=October 20, 2015 |publisher=The Animated Films of Don Bluth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103084802/http://www.cataroo.com/DBdogs.html |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film's lead voices, [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Dom DeLuise]], had previously appeared together in five films. For this one, they requested them to record their parts in the studio together (in American animation, actors more commonly record their parts solo). Bluth agreed and allowed the duo to [[ad-lib]] extensively; Bluth later commented that "their ad-libs were often better than the original script",<ref name="beck">*{{cite book|last=Beck|first=Jerry|title=The Animated Movie Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck|url-access=registration|date=October 2005|publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=1-55652-591-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/13 13–14]}} p.14</ref> but Reynolds was more complimentary of the draft, warmly quipping, "Great script, kid", as he left the studio. Another pair of voices, those of Carface and Killer ([[Vic Tayback]] and [[Charles Nelson Reilly]], respectively), also recorded together. [[Loni Anderson]], who voices Flo, was Reynolds' then-wife.<ref name="cawley_dogs" /> Child actress [[Judith Barsi]], who voiced [[List of The Land Before Time characters#Ducky|Ducky]] in Bluth's previous film ''The Land Before Time'', was selected to voice Anne-Marie; she was killed in an apparent murder-suicide over a year before ''All Dogs'' was released.<ref name="cawley_dogs" />

As production neared completion, the studio held test screenings and decided that some scenes were too intense for younger viewers. Pomeroy decided to shorten Charlie's nightmare about being condemned. Goldman also agreed to the cut, recognizing that the concession needed to be made in the name of commercial appeal. Bluth owned a private 35-mm print with the excised scenes and planned to convince Goldcrest on releasing a director's cut after returning from Ireland in the mid-1990s, but the print was eventually stolen from Bluth's locked storage room, diminishing hopes of this version being released on home media.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name       = All Dogs Go to Heaven Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = various artists
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = July 1, 1989<ref name=Amazon>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/All-Dogs-Heaven-Various-artists/dp/B00R4PB5E4 |title=All Dogs Go To Heaven: Various artists |website=Amazon |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613141618/https://www.amazon.com/All-Dogs-Heaven-Various-artists/dp/B00R4PB5E4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = Soundtrack
| length     = 33:18
| label      = [[Curb Records]]
| producer   = [[Ralph Burns]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = Don Bluth Music of Films
 | type       = soundtrack
 | prev_title = [[The Land Before Time (film)|The Land Before Time]]
 | prev_year  = 1988
 | title      = All Dogs Go to Heaven
 | year       = 1989
 | next_title = [[Rock-a-Doodle]]
 | next_year  = 1992
}}
}}
The music for ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' was composed by [[Ralph Burns]] with lyrics by [[Charles Strouse]], T.J. Kuenster, [[Joel Hirschhorn]], and [[Al Kasha]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-mw0000207040 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=October 15, 2015 |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven - Original Soundtrack |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309192058/http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-mw0000207040 |url-status=live }}</ref> An official soundtrack was released on July 1, 1989, by [[Curb Records]] on [[compact cassette|audio cassette]] and [[compact disc|CD]] featuring 13 tracks, including seven vocal songs performed by various cast members.<ref name=Amazon /> The track "Let Me Be Surprised" contains a [[profanity|swear word]] in a dialogue cut from the final product.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} "Love Survives", the end credits song and overall theme, was dedicated to Anne-Marie's voice actress Judith Barsi, who was shot by her father, József, along with her mother, Maria, before the film's release on July 25, 1988.

{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000207040|pure_url=yes}}]
}}

=== Songs ===
Original songs performed in the film include:
{{track listing
|headline=Songs on the ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' soundtrack 
| extra_column    = Performer(s)

|title1  = You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down 
|writer1 = [[Charles Strouse]]
|extra1  = [[Burt Reynolds]] & [[Dom DeLuise]]

|title2  = Let Me Be Surprised 
|writer2 = [[Charles Strouse]]
|extra2  = [[Melba Moore]] & [[Burt Reynolds]]

|title3  = What's Mine is Yours
|writer3 = [[Charles Strouse]]
|extra3  = [[Burt Reynolds]] & Chorus

|title4  = Soon You'll Come Home
|writer4 = T.J. Kuenster 
|extra4  = Lana Beeson

|title5  = Let's Make Music Together
|writer5 = [[Charles Strouse]]
|extra5  = [[Ken Page]] & [[Burt Reynolds]]

|title6  = Hallelujah 
|writer6 = T.J. Kuenster
|extra6  = [[Candy Devine]]

|title7  = Love Survives 
|writer7 = [[Al Kasha]], [[Joel Hirschhorn]] & [[Michael Lloyd (music producer)|Michael Lloyd]]
|extra7  = [[Irene Cara]] & [[Freddie Jackson]]
}}

== Reception and legacy ==
=== Critical response ===
''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' received mostly mixed reviews,<ref name="cawley_dogs"/> maintaining a 46% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 28 reviews,<ref name=RottenTomatoes1 /> and a 50 out of 100 score from [[Metacritic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/all-dogs-go-to-heaven |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712211601/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/all-dogs-go-to-heaven |url-status=live }}</ref> Reviewers often drew unfavorable comparisons to ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'', criticizing the disjointed narrative, the quality of the animation, and the songs by Charlie Strouse and T.J. Kuenster.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rainer|first=Peter|title=All Dogs Go to Heaven (review)|work=L.A. Times|date=November 17, 1989}}</ref> The film received a "thumbs down" from [[Gene Siskel]] and a "thumbs up" from [[Roger Ebert]] on a 1989 episode of their television program ''[[At the Movies (US TV series)|At the Movies]]''. While Siskel found it to be "surprisingly weak" given director Don Bluth's previous works, largely due to its "confusing story" and "needlessly violent" scenes, Ebert was a huge fan of the film's "rubbery and kind of flexible" animation, stating that it was a good film despite not being an "animated classic".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siskelandebert.org/video/2HXX7H1NH7AA/Back-to-the-Future-Part-II--All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven--Henry-V-1989 |publisher=Siskel & Ebert.org |access-date=October 30, 2015 |title=Back to the Future Part II / All Dogs Go to Heaven / Henry V (1989) |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030003101/http://siskelandebert.org/video/2HXX7H1NH7AA/Back-to-the-Future-Part-II--All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven--Henry-V-1989 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Some also found the darker subject material objectionable in a family film,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kempley|first=Rita|title='All Dogs Go to Heaven' (G)|work=New York Times|date=November 17, 1989|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/alldogsgotoheaven.htm|access-date=October 20, 2015|archive-date=August 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817214208/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/alldogsgotoheaven.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Carr|first=Jay|title=All Dogs Go to Heaven Review|work=Boston Globe|date=November 17, 1989}}</ref> given the film's depictions of death, violence, theft, drinking, smoking, gambling, murder, demons, and images of Hell. Other reviews were mostly positive, with critics praising the film's emotional qualities, humor, and vibrant color palette.<ref name=Ebert>{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=All Dogs Go to Heaven Movie Review|publisher=RogerEbert.com|date=November 17, 1989|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-1989|access-date=October 20, 2015|archive-date=October 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026161742/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-1989|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kehr|first=Dave|title=All Dogs Go to Heaven Review |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 17, 1989}}</ref> Roger Ebert, who was unimpressed with Bluth's previous film ''An American Tail'', gave it three out of four stars, remarking that the animation "permits such a voluptuous use of color that the movie is an invigorating bath for the eyes" and that although he preferred ''The Little Mermaid'', which opened on the same day, he still found ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' to be bright and inventive.<ref name=Ebert/> In contrast, film critic [[Leonard Maltin]] gave it one-and-a-half out of four stars, due to unappealing characters, confusing storytelling, and forgettable songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoviegeek.com/moviedetail.php?id=1039 |title=Movie Detail: All Dogs Go to Heaven |access-date=October 26, 2015 |publisher=The Movie Geek |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080934/http://www.themoviegeek.com/moviedetail.php?id=1039 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Common Sense Media]] was concerned about the depictions of illegal drug usage and excessive dark thematic elements in a family oriented movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/all-dogs-go-to-heaven|title=All Dogs Go To Heaven|work=[[Common Sense Media]]|date=8 September 2009|access-date=12 September 2019|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824054417/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/all-dogs-go-to-heaven|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
Dissatisfied with the terms imposed by [[Universal Pictures]], which had distributed their previous two films, the studio found an alternative distributor in [[United Artists]]. Somewhat unusually, production investors Goldcrest Films covered the cost of the [[release print]]s and the promotional campaign, in return for a greatly reduced distribution fee from UA. This was similar to the arrangement with United Artists when they distributed Bluth's first feature film, ''The Secret of NIMH''. Goldcrest Films invested $15 million in print and promotion. Due to contractual issues, very little tie-in merchandise accompanied the film's theatrical release;<ref name="cawley_dogs"/> [[All Dogs Go to Heaven (video game)|a computer game adaptation]] for the [[Amiga|Commodore Amiga]] system (with a free software package) was released, and restaurant chain [[Wendy's]] offered toys with their Kids' Meals or regular fries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/186/ |title=Wendy's All Dogs Go to Heaven Toys |publisher=Retro Junk |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606172606/http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/186/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film opened in North America on November 17, 1989, concurrent with Disney's 28th full-length animated motion picture ''The Little Mermaid''; once again, Sullivan Bluth would be vying for box-office receipts with Disney, just as their last two films (''An American Tail'' and ''The Land Before Time'') had. On its theatrical release, the film was only moderately successful as its  performance fell short of the studio's previous box-office successes, grossing $27 million in North America alone, just over half of what ''An American Tail'' and ''The Land Before Time'' each took.<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/people/directors/DBLU.php|title=Don Bluth - Box Office|publisher=The Numbers|access-date=October 20, 2015|archive-date=December 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105623/http://www.the-numbers.com/people/directors/DBLU.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

This would be Bluth's final box office hit until [[Anastasia (1997 film)|''Anastasia'']] was released eight years later in 1997, which ended up becoming his highest-grossing film.

== Awards and honors ==
''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' received a nomination for "Best Family Motion Picture: Adventure or Cartoon" at the [[11th Youth in Film Awards|11th Annual Youth in Film Awards]] ceremony, being beaten by Disney's ''The Little Mermaid''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://youngartistawards.org/pastnoms11.htm |title=11th Annual Awards |publisher=Young Artist Awards |access-date=October 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906180308/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms11.htm |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The home video release received an Award of Excellence from the [[Film Advisory Board]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmadvisoryboard.com/aoe/OnVideo.php |title=Film Advisory Board, Inc. |access-date=December 30, 2014 |publisher=Film Advisory Board |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101215054/http://www.filmadvisoryboard.com/aoe/OnVideo.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' was nominated for Best Family Motion Picture: Adventure or Cartoon at the [[Young Artist Award|Youth in Film Award]]s.

== Home media ==
''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' was released on [[VHS]], [[S-VHS]], [[8 mm video format|8mm video]] and [[LaserDisc]] in both regular<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/02699/ML101868/All-Dogs-go-to-Heaven |publisher=LaserDisc Database |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven [ML101868] |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124171442/http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/02699/ML101868/All-Dogs-go-to-Heaven |url-status=live }}</ref> and special [[Constant angular velocity|CAV]] standard play editions<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/02700/ML102043/All-Dogs-go-to-Heaven |publisher=LaserDisc Database |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven [ML102043] |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124150740/http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/02700/ML102043/All-Dogs-go-to-Heaven |url-status=live }}</ref> by [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM/UA Home Video]] on August 28, 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/08/24/all-animals-go-to-heaven-and-to-video/ |title=All Animals Go To Heaven And To Video |author=Steven, Mary |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 24, 1990 |access-date=October 29, 2015 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124160819/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-08-24/entertainment/9003110552_1_animator-don-bluth-heavenly-whippet |url-status=live }}</ref> The film became a [[sleeper hit]] due to its home video release; a strong promotional campaign helped it become one of the top-selling VHS releases of all time, selling over 3 million copies in its first month.<ref name="lenburg">Lenburg, p.32</ref> The film was followed by another VHS release under the MGM/UA Family Entertainment label in 1994, which was available exclusively through [[Warner Home Video]].

A [[DVD]] was made available for the first time on March 6, 2001, under the MGM Kids label<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000056H26 |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven |date=6 March 2001 |publisher=Amazon |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> and was later released as a double feature with ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven 2]]'' on March 14, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E33W0S |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven 1 and 2 (Double Feature) |date=14 March 2006 |publisher=Amazon |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> On March 29, 2011, the film made its debut on [[Blu-ray]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-Blu-ray/20659/ |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113021938/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-Blu-ray/20659/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which was later included as a bundle with its sequel on October 7, 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-1-and-2-Blu-ray/110875/ |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven 1 and 2 Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113022856/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-1-and-2-Blu-ray/110875/ |url-status=live }}</ref> along with a re-release of the compilation on DVD.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MP2FHOK |publisher=Amazon |access-date=October 25, 2015 |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven 1 & 2 |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106225313/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MP2FHOK |url-status=live }}</ref> The Blu-ray version was also packaged with another Don Bluth film, ''[[The Pebble and the Penguin]]'', on October 8, 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-and-The-Pebble-and-the-Penguin-Blu-ray/83142/ |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven/The Pebble and the Penguin Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331130457/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/All-Dogs-Go-to-Heaven-and-The-Pebble-and-the-Penguin-Blu-ray/83142/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and again with eight other MGM films as part of the company's 90th anniversary "Best of Family Collection" on February 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/MGM-Best-of-Family-Collection-Blu-ray/92898/ |title=MGM Best of Family Collection Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022052535/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/MGM-Best-of-Family-Collection-Blu-ray/92898/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[video game]] based on the film, also titled ''All Dogs Go To Heaven'', was released in 1989 for [[DOS]] and in 1990 for [[Amiga]]. The game features ten mini-games loosely tied together to form a story mode, with three difficulty levels. The game's minigames include rat racing, watch catching, horizontal ball and paddle, maze navigating, shape stacking, maze running, hangman, jigsaw puzzle, street navigating and dog fighting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Dogs Go to Heaven - release date, videos, screenshots, reviews on RAWG |url=https://rawg.io/games/all-dogs-go-to-heaven |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=rawg.io |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819161727/https://rawg.io/games/all-dogs-go-to-heaven |url-status=live }}</ref> An activity center game based on the film, titled ''All Dogs Go To Heaven Activity Center'', was released for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows PC]] in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Dogs Go To Heaven Activity Center (Game) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-activity-center/3030-80707/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819161725/https://www.giantbomb.com/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-activity-center/3030-80707/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Sequels ==
The success of the film, particularly its performance on home video, prompted several follow-up productions. A theatrical sequel, ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven 2]]'' (1996), a television series, ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series]]'' (1996–1998), and ''[[An All Dogs Christmas Carol]]'' (1998), a Christmas television film based on Charles Dickens' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', were made. Bluth and his studio had no involvement with any of them, and Reynolds did not reprise his role as Charlie after the first film; he was replaced in the sequel film and television series by [[Charlie Sheen]] and [[Steven Weber (actor)|Steven Weber]], respectively. Reilly declined to return for the sequel film, but voiced Killer for the television productions. DeLuise played Itchy through the entire franchise.

== See also ==
* [[List of films about angels]]

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

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last=Cawley|first=John|title=The Animated Films of Don Bluth|date=October 1991|publisher=Image Pub of New York|isbn=0-685-50334-8|url=http://www.cataroo.com/DBconts.html}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators|date=June 2006|publisher=Applause Books|isbn=1-55783-671-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb/page/32 32]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb/page/32}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{AFI film|69952}}
* {{IMDb title|96787}}
* {{TCMDb title|10893}}
* {{Mojo title|alldogsgotoheaven}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|all_dogs_go_to_heaven}}
* [https://elisoftware.org/w/index.php/All_Dogs_Go_To_Heaven_Activity_Center_(PC_and_Mac,_CD-ROM)_MGM_Interactive_-_1997_USA,_Canada_Release All Dogs Go To Heaven Activity Center]

{{All Dogs Go to Heaven}}
{{Don Bluth}}
{{Gary Goldman}}
{{Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatrical animated features}}
{{Authority control}}

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