5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Casper’

Lauren Novak Yesterday, 9:00 am

CASPER, Casper, Christina Ricci, 1995, ghost — Universal/Everett Collection

When Casper floated into theaters on May 26, 1995, audiences were charmed by the idea of a friendly ghost and touched by the film’s surprising emotional depth. With Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman leading the cast, and a ghostly blend of comedy, heart and groundbreaking effects, the movie became a ’90s favorite that still haunts our memories in the best way. It was certainly one of my favorites growing up! Who didn’t swoon when Casper finally, but briefly, turned back into a boy? Here are five fun facts about Casper in honor of its 30th anniversary:

1 First film to feature a fully CGI lead character

CASPER, Christina Ricci, Casper the Friendly Ghost, 1995

Universal/Everett Collection

While we’re certainly used to digital characters now, Casper was the first movie to star a fully computer-generated character in a leading role. That was a big deal in 1995, explains Collider. The visual effects team at Industrial Light & Magic spent months perfecting his translucent look, giving him a gentle glow and expressive features that helped sell the emotion behind the animation. During filming, the stars actually had to talk to tennis balls in places the ghosts were added in later. It took more than a year to animate all the ghostly scenes, with the team layering in each shot over the live-action footage. The film’s use of CGI was groundbreaking at the time and paved the way for other digital characters to take the spotlight in future films.

2 J.J. Abrams helped write the script

CASPER, from left: Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, 1995

David James/Universal Pictures/Everett Collection

Long before he rebooted Star Trek or launched a galaxy far, far away with The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams did some uncredited polishing on the Casper script. He was brought in to help balance the movie’s mix of humor, heart and spooky fun. Though he doesn’t appear in the credits, his touch can be felt in the film’s emotional arc. The movie walks a tricky line between slapstick comedy and moments of real grief, especially in scenes dealing with the loss of loved ones.

3 The set was almost all practical

Universal/Everett Collection

Even though the ghosts were animated, the mansion they haunted was built from the ground up. The set for Whipstaff Manor was constructed on a soundstage and included spiral staircases, secret passages and vast rooms, all designed to feel like a spooky funhouse. It also allowed the visual effects team to seamlessly integrate CGI ghosts with the live-action environment, rather than relying on green screens. Interestingly enough, the house was also used to film scenes from the Backstreet Boys‘ music video, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

4 Dan Aykroyd made a surprise cameo as a Ghostbuster

Columbia/Everett Collection

In one of the film’s funniest cameos, Dan Aykroyd appears dressed as Dr. Ray Stantz from Ghostbusters. He runs out of the haunted house saying, “Who you gonna call? Someone else,” in a nod to his famous role. It marked one of the first crossover cameos of its kind in a major studio film, a trend that’s only become more popular in the decades since, shares Screen Rant.

5 Casper’s voice actor was kept a secret

Universal/Everett Collection

While Malachi Pearson provided Casper’s ghostly voice for most of the movie, the human version of Casper was played by Devon Sawa in a memorable transformation scene. The casting choice was a surprise for audiences, and producers kept it under wraps during promotion. That scene, when Casper becomes human to dance with Kat, has become one of the most beloved moments in the movie. Sawa only appears on screen for a minute, but it was enough to launch a teen heartthrob status that followed him for years.