AuthorHouse Recommends "The Orange Chihuahua" Be Considered for Full-Feature or Animated Film Production

 

 

Hollywood Coverage Date: 3/18/15

 

Title: The Orange Chihuahua

Author: Kelly Ann Guglietti

Genre: Children’s

Best Medium for Adaptation:  Feature Film or Animated-Feature Film

 

Logline: A humble Chihuahua assumes an exciting alter ego by night, thanks to a pair of magic slippers.

 

Setting: Mahahual, Mexico

 

Period: Modern Day

 

Brief Summary:

After spending his days beside his owner, a Chihuahua named Amador slips on his master’s 

enchanted slippers and transforms into bright orange Chile by night. The boisterous and outgoing 

Chile is the life of the party, although some of the other dogs begin to grow tired of his antics 

and ego. One day, Amador discovers that his master has gotten a new pair of slippers and he is 

no longer able to transform into Chile. He goes to his friends and tells them the truth about his 

charade, but they reply that, given the choice, they would prefer to spend time with him rather 

than Chile. Amador becomes more confident and comfortable as himself.

 

Synopsis:

In Mahahual, Mexico, a Chihuahua named AMADOR lives with his owner SEÑOR PEDRO. 

Pedro runs a small souvenir shop, and Amador spends his days napping in the shop or 

accompanying his master on walks down to the docks to eat lunch and play with the other dogs. 

Amador befriends other local Chihuahuas, including ALITA, NOVIA, ‘JOLES and RIZ.

At home in the evenings, Amador snoozes lazily at the foot of Pedro’s easy chair. However, after 

Pedro has fallen asleep for the night in front of the TV, Amador secretly slips into the man’s old 

woven slippers.

 

Upon putting on the slippers, Amador transforms into his alter ego, Chile. His normally sandy 

brown coat turns bring orange, and he sprouts a magnificent bushy moustache. Donning a 

sombrero, serape and a garland of chili peppers to complete the look, Chile marches off into the 

night to party. 

 

Summoned by a call that only they can hear, all of the local dogs flock to Chile’s side and a 

raucous party commences. Chile sings and dances passionately, and regales all of his fellow 

canines with exciting tales of stowing away in tourists’ luggage to get on board cruise ships and 

explore the other Mexican ports. 

 

Many of the other dogs are thrilled by Chile’s lively antics and stories. Others, however, grumble 

behind his back, calling him pompous and a complete phony. They doubt his outlandish claims 

and plan to expose him. 

 

One evening, when Amador goes to make his big transformation into Chile, he runs into a 

problem. Pedro has replaced his worn, old slippers with a brand new pair. Amador tries on the 

new slippers, but they have no magic and he is unable to become Chile, perhaps forever.

Forlornly, Amador treks out to the party spot as himself. He feebly calls out into the night, and 

his four friends soon appear. They express surprise at seeing him out so late and wonder aloud 

where Chile is.

 

Amador reveals the entire story of his secret identity and the now-missing magic slippers. His 

friends admit that Chile was fun and exciting, but they assure Amador that they much prefer to 

spend time with him as Amador. Chile was a bit full of himself and not a very good listener. 

Amador is happy to relax, without the pressure of having to be Chile, which tended to be a bit 

exhausting. He learns to be himself around his friends and figures out the simple things that he 

actually enjoys doing. Amador accepts who he really is on the inside, and his friends do, too.

 

Concept: Good

Story: Fair

Characters: Fair

 

Comments/Suggestions for Adaptation:

The visually rich setting and endearing animal characters in THE ORANGE CHIHUAHUA

seem well-suited for a cartoon adaptation. In order to work as a feature-length film, the story 

would have to be developed and expanded, both to increase its scope and scale, and to fill the 

allotted run time. 

 

Chile’s tales of stowing away on cruise ships offer numerous opportunities for expanding the 

narrative. While the implication is that these boastful stories are fabricated, it might be fun to see 

the dashing little dog actually executing such a daring plan. Taking Chile out into the world 

would infuse his journey with a bit more adventure and excitement, perhaps putting him in 

jeopardy and forcing him to think fast and act bravely in order to return home safely. However, 

the story would have to account for Señor Pedro’s reaction to his dog (and his slippers) going 

missing for a day or two. 

 

As Chile is out in the world, having his adventures, it might also be interesting to play up his 

reluctance to return home and take off the slippers at the end of each night. Amador sees Chile as 

a better, more exciting version of himself, and it would make sense that he might consider the 

appeal of staying that way all of the time. 

 

Chile is an interesting character to explore and develop. He first appears entertaining and 

impressive, but gradually, his boastfulness and self-centered nature can become grating. The 

other characters, and by extension, the audience, must both like and dislike him. Finely tuning 

this delicate balance and transitioning it at the proper time is important.

 

The magical slippers could also be explored. There might be some Cinderella-esque element to 

them. For example, they might only transform Amador into Chile until sunrise each morning, 

which would of course lead to one or two mad scrambles to slip away and get back home before 

his secret is discovered. 

 

As for the resolution of the story, the message that Amador must leave Chile behind and become 

comfortable in his own skin is a wonderful and apt lesson to teach young viewers. To expand 

upon this, it might be nice to show Amador doing a bit more than just earning the acceptance of 

his peers and settling into a happy, normal life. It could be empowering to watch him find the 

courage to be the adventurous hero, sans-slippers. He might not be as flamboyant or dashing as 

Chile, but showing that he can still do great things when the need arises would be a welcome 

addition to the uplifting message.

 

Aside from Amador/Chile, the other characters could be more fleshed out and allowed to 

contribute uniquely to the story. Each of Amador’s friends might react differently to his absence 

and have differing opinions on Chile and his antics. It would also be good to create a named 

antagonist to lead the Chile-detractors among the other dogs. A nemesis and henchmen plotting 

to expose and humiliate Chile would add another layer of intrigue and adventure. Watching 

Chile foil the plots could be fun and exciting. Amador could then win some decisive victory over 

them without the slippers, thereby proving that he no longer needs Chile.

 

Recommendation: Consider