Scott Campbell picks 6 movies to pair with ‘Cabin Head and Tree Head’
In Pairings, artists and creators pick the movies that complement their latest work.
Scott Campbell is an author, video game art director, and illustrator best known for the children’s books Hug Machine, SKULLS!, Zombie in Love, If Dogs Run Free, and more. His newest book Cabin Head and Tree Head is out now wherever you get your books!
We asked Scott to pick a few movies that pair well with his new book.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
This is the film most often compared to Cabin Head and Tree Head. And to be honest, it’s the film I had in mind most while writing it. The constant positive energy Bill and Ted exude when adventuring and coming up against obstacles is not only true for Cabin Head and Tree Head, but also the characters I write about in general. The way Bill and Ted see the world and are eager to bring people together and inspire everyone to just have good times and “Be Excellent to Each Other” is quite uplifting.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
I love all of Wes Anderson’s films, but the overall tone of Fantastic Mr. Fox is very much in tune with the tone of Cabin Head and Tree Head. They have a similar feel: the world is painted in similar autumnal colors and some of the watercolor scenes in my book are reminiscent of the hand-made scenes in the film. The unique dialogue stylings of the movie also remind me of the way the characters speak to each other in Cabin Head and Tree Head. There is quite a large variety of characters in the book that also remind me of the ensemble cast of this film. I find comfort in ensemble casts!
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Pee-wee Herman is another very excitable childlike character that I identify with, but the special thing about Pee-wee is that he is also a little ornery to his friends and the people he meets. Everyone wants to hang out with Pee-wee, but Pee-wee has boundaries. He’s too cool to pin down—cool, naive confidence. By the end of the film all of the people he meets on his adventure gather at the drive-in to see his movie: the guys from the train, the criminals in the prison bus, the motorcycle gang… Everyone loves Pee-wee. I feel like everyone in the books loves Cabin Head and Tree Head in a similar fashion. They enjoy watching their good times and have great respect for their friendship and want to hang out with them. And they are usually very welcoming, but just like Pee-wee, sometimes they just need a break.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Another huge influence on everything I create is Jim Henson and the Muppets. Jim Henson is my idol for his positivity and charismatic characters and humor. The Muppets have always been a phenomenon for me because of their very smart humor that appeals to adults and children. My dream is for adults and children to enjoy the Cabin Head and Tree Head books in a similar way. The ensemble cast of the Muppets has always been very comforting and inspiring to me. A colorful cast of characters that each bring a unique vibe to the group is very similar to the ever-growing cast of characters in this Head World do. I have not figured out what to call this world really, but I guess it is a world much like Muppet World.
Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
This is another film centered around two very tight buddies who like to pump each other up and only really need each other. They are completely on the same wavelength—their humor, their style, their wackiness. They’re inseparable. I love how Romy and Michele are just as committed to their friendship as they are to having good times. When Michele is invited to dance with Sandy, she says yes but only if Romy could dance with them. Which is something Cabin Head and Tree Head would do for each other most definitely.
Step Brothers (2009)
Another buddy movie I love. Just nonstop activities for Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, just like Cabin Head and Tree Head. I love to envision these buddies all hanging out together with their quadruple-decker bunkbeds. A throughline with all of these movies is that they contain solidly written jokes that can appeal to a wide audience—something I hope for my books as well.