[school bell rings]
- Children, my brother Ka'Brett,
a famous art critic from New York
has come all the way to Rackleff
to give us some pointers. Who knows?
Maybe one of you will be discovered.
- [laughs] He means me.
- Let's give my brother a warm PS 38 welcome.
- Mm-hmm, uh, thank you, Ken.
- In front of the children, please call me Mr. Rosa.
- No. - [groans]
- Let's see what I'm working with.
Oh, ugh, absolutely not.
Did you use a brush or your feet?
[chuckles] That's not paint.
What is it? - No idea.
- [barks]
- But it grows under my house,
and I know that you can feed it.
[giggles] It tickles.
- [laughs]
Wait till he sees what I can do compared to these hacks.
- Nate here is an extremely talented artist.
- Hmm.
Here's some advice. - Mm.
- Give up now.
- Don't be discouraged.
It's just one person's opinion, Nate.
- Right, I mean, hey, I know I'm good.
Don't worry, Mr. Rosa. I'm fine.
[somber music]
[upbeat music]
- * Don't want to go to school today *
* The sun is red hot and I wanna play *
* But if I get caught they'll make me pay *
* Detention again *
- * Big Nate, Big Nate *
- * Math and social studies just ain't my thing *
- * Big Nate, Big Nate *
- * Rocking with my band is where I'm king *
* Stealing the teacher's teeth or bailing on a test *
- * Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh *
* Big Nate *
[loud clang]
[loud crash]
Ugh, ugh!
[chuckles] - Nate! There you are.
How's the "Cesspool" comic coming along for the yearbook?
Oh, my God, ugh. - Huh? What?
Oh, sorry, I'll have it soon. - Cool, no worries.
You know, if there's anything going on
you want to talk about, some of us have noticed
you're not your usual "I'm awesome" self.
- My awesome is fine, Francis.
I'm just having a touch of artist's block,
which nobody's gonna find out about
because you're going to keep your mouth shut.
- Sure, of course.
Nate lost his awesomeness! - Gasp!
- [gasps] - Ugh!
- You wanted to see me, chief.
- Ken, come in, come in.
- Ka'Brett, I thought you'd gone back to New York.
- Change of plans. Right, big P?
- Big P! [laughs]
Oh, no, no, that is so clever.
'Cause the P stands for principal.
- Yeah, got that. So what are you doing here?
- I've been telling this astute academic
that your art department is a virtual gold mine.
- Your wonderful brother says he can teach the students
to make art that actually sells,
and because they'll be creating it on school property,
we'll get all the profits. Cha-ching!
- Is that legal?
[both laughing]
- [groans angrily]
Ugh, it's useless!
- Everything okay, champ?
- Hey, Dad, um, have you ever felt off,
like you've lost your awesome? - Lots of times.
Except in my day, we called it mojo
or sometimes man sparkle, but I always got it back.
- So you've still got your man sparkle?
- [laughs] Oh, heck no.
If I did, I wouldn't be selling
my old socks as bespoke oven mitts.
- [panting] - Ugh, ew!
- But I don't see you having that problem, Nate.
You've got a gift, and no one can take that away
unless you let 'em.
[tender music]
- Ugh, what's going on in my head?
Why can't I draw you?
- [panting]
I'm telling you, you've got the wrong doctor!
[grunts]
Uh, maybe I could offer you a second opinion.
- [roars] - [screams]
- Don't waste your time trying to "find your voice and style."
Instead, figure out what everyone likes
and draw that.
Ken! - Ugh.
- Each of you will receive my soon to be best-selling
self-published workbook, "Just Draw, Monkey,"
which will have you on your way
to your first art sale in no time.
- Workbooks are not generally part--
- Eh, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta. Ta.
- [sighs] - Where's Nate?
Art is his favorite class.
- [snoring]
- [gasps] Nate!
- Nate! - Huh?
- See? He looks awful.
Classic case of an all-nighter.
How'd the "Cesspool" comic come out, bro?
- Huh? What's a Cesspool? - Huh?
- Nate, he's one of your characters,
one of your best characters. - Oof!
[soft dramatic music]
[sighs] - Look.
- Okay, haha, yeah, that's a cool drawing,
but that's not mine.
- I knew I was worried for a reason.
Nate, I think you really are losing your awesomeness.
- No, it's the end of the world!
[bricks clatter]
- Guys, I have never had a character named Dr...
what was it? Cesspool? - [screaming]
- What if Cesspool's not his first?
Do you remember Moe Mentum, Hollywood stuntman?
- Yes.
- Luke Warm, private investigator?
- Of course, yes. - Ultra Nate?
- Duh, he's basically me, yes.
- Dan Cupid, love consultant? - Haha, trick question.
Barf, no. - [screams]
- Should I have heard of him?
Maybe something really is happening to my awesomeness.
How can I be losing my characters?
- We're all doomed!
- Okay, just throwing this out there--
aliens might be abducting you while you sleep
and erasing your memory. - Nate, go home.
Lock yourself in your bedroom, and whatever you do,
don't fall asleep. - [whimpers]
[eerie music]
* *
Okay, aliens or whatever you are,
you are not getting past me tonight.
[owl hooting]
[heavy thumping]
[screams]
[whimpering]
[smooth mysterious music]
- You sure this is the right bureau?
- [sighs] It's the only bureau.
Eyes open, Mr. Fish, both sides.
- It's the beast! He found us!
[both screaming]
- Oh, uh, wha--who are you?
Why are you trying to steal my awesomeness?
- That doesn't sound like a beast.
- [screaming] Ugh.
- Nate, is that you, lad? - How do you know my name?
- Because you created us. - Don't you remember?
The summer between third and fourth grade,
your friends were all on vacation.
You needed a project, so you created a comic book
detective story starring us.
- We were supposed to solve the mystery of how Ellen
could possibly be your sister when she's so lame.
- That case remains open.
- Moose, Fish! Yeah, I do remember you.
But this is insane. How can you be here?
- We came 'cause the very thing that makes you awesome,
your art, your creativity, well, it's in danger, son.
- This bow and arrow belonged to a friend of ours,
Dan Cupid.
You created him, Nate, but you don't remember him
because there's a beast living in your imagination,
and he's taking your characters.
- Huh?
- We need you to help us solve the mystery of why.
* *
- Oh? Whoa!
[fireworks boom]
[bicycle bell chimes]
[car lock chirps]
[chicks chirping]
- Oh.
- Live from Nate's mind.
* *
- [roars] - [roars]
- Wait a minute, these all came from my imagination?
- These and more. - We should get going.
It's a long walk to the Butt Forest.
- There's a Butt Forest?
* *
[flatulence]
There is a Butt Forest! I remember now.
I made this up as a joke for Teddy and Francis
back in, like, third grade.
- We found Dan Cupid's bow and arrow not far from here...
[muffled sobbing] But no Dan!
- Save the fluids, Mr. Fish, your scales will dry out.
We need to be careful, mate.
This is Green Hat Gnome territory.
- Wow, I drew comics about Green Hat Gnomes?
- No, that's the problem.
You've never drawn comics about Green Hat Gnomes,
and they're not happy.
They've declared war on your imagination,
so stay on your toes.
They could sneak up on us if we're not careful.
* *
- All of this is from my imagination?
Wow, I am so creative. Cool.
- Do you see anything at all that could help us? Any clues?
- No, but hey, wait, when I created the Butt Forest,
I also created a Butt Guru to watch over it.
- We've heard tale of the Butt Guru,
but we've never seen him. - I am here, Nate Wright!
[triumphant music]
I, the wise, old Butt Guru.
I would've preferred just wise and old and no butt.
But what should I expect from an 11-year-old boy?
- You know, technically, I was actually eight at the time.
Very advanced for my age.
- This does not make being a butt any easier.
Speak your question.
- Something is trespassing in my imagination
and stealing my characters. We want to know why.
- I sense a dark presence, one my butt wisdom
has never felt before. - [gasps]
The beast!
- A dark presence that was brought here by you,
Nate Wright! - Me?
But why would I hurt my own characters?
- You have been given awesomeness, Nate Wright,
and yet you squander it.
That is why the dark presence is here.
- [roars]
[ominous music]
- It's here. The beast!
- [flatulence] Heed my warning, Nate Wright.
And draw me some arms, next time!
[flatulence]
- [roars]
- Stop there, evil doer!
[energetic rock music]
- Ultra Nate!
- Never fear, citizens!
Ultra Nate is here to vanquish--
[screaming]
It's eating me alive! No, not my elbows!
Not my elbows!
- No!
[panting]
Oh.
[soft dramatic music]
Was it-- was it just a dream?
* *
- No, Gina, the green is not green enough.
Reread chapter eight. Clean your brush. Start over.
Ken! [snaps]
- Mm. - Go ahead, clean your brush.
- [whimpers]
- That's it, Gina. Really rub it in there.
Yeah, get that green off... - Guys!
- That dirty, dirty green.
- [screaming and grunting]
- And then I woke up, but I know I wasn't dreaming.
I saw this beast or whatever it is
eat Ultra Nate.
- But this time, you remembered because you were there.
- Then we need to be there too.
- Since we don't know what we're dealing with,
I had Uncle Pedro give me a grab bag of his best
and most ridiculous alien catching devices.
- What's the plan? We just wait?
- Yeah, pretty much, but stay alert,
and whatever you do, don't fall asleep.
[all snoring]
[deep rumbling]
- Whoa, huh? Guys?
Guys, guys, it's happening again.
[door thuds]
Guys?
[soft dramatic music]
[door squeaks]
- Hello, son.
- Moose, Fish, you're okay.
- [sobs] He cares about us!
- No crying! Now, mate, a lot has happened.
Word of the beast has spread throughout your imagination.
- [gasps]
[dramatic music]
- The beast is coming! - [screaming]
- The beast is coming! - Oh, man, this is bad.
- Uh, Nate, there's one other thing.
- Attack!
- The Green Hat Gnomes have vowed to start a civil war
unless you give 'em a storyline.
- With real plots, not just gags and screaming,
and a cool theme song. - Yeah!
[energetic rock music]
- [sobs] I don't want to go this way.
- Oh! - [grunts]
- [groaning]
Now lad, run!
* *
- [gulps]
- Oh, no, oh, no. Wake up! Wake up!
Wake up, you guys!
Nate won't wake up! - Ooh, yeah, I got this.
Nate has extremely sensitive pits.
Tickle, tickle, tickle. [gasps]
Oh, the Teddy Tickle Torture didn't work?
Dios mío!
- Which can only mean one thing.
Guys, I think Nate is trapped inside his own imagination.
[soft dramatic music]
- Yes, yes, hmm, hmm, huh, huh, I see.
It is good you came to me.
Your friend is clearly unconscious.
- We know that, Pedro, but can you help him?
- Of course I can, boy plagued by the regrets
of yesteryear. - [gasps]
How does he know?
- I purchased this from the militaries,
Project Brain Ripper.
It was created to get into the minds of enemy combatants.
- What do you use it for?
- Mostly to get free Wi-Fi from the clown next-door.
[whimsical music]
- This is going to work, right?
- I used it many times during my career
as a hamster therapist with 100% success.
Except for Mr. Wiggles. Poor, tormented soul.
Just couldn't get him off the wheel.
- Uh, okay, but how does this work on people?
- Let's find out!
[console beeping]
[energy pulsating]
[televisions humming]
* *
- [screams]
* *
- Huh, you know, weirdly, this is exactly what
I pictured Nate's imagination looking like.
- Teddy, look, it's Godfrey-Zilla!
- [screaming]
- Giant Elton! Can we stay here forever?
- Huh?
- Hey! - I know you.
Claude the Stupid Ideas Fairy. - Please let me go.
I need to get away. I've been flying for hours.
- You were flying in a circle. - I was?
- Where's Nate?
- The Green Hat Gnomes have taken the great creator
to the Butt Forest.
[flatulence]
- There's a Butt Forest? Sweet!
- Take us there, Claude.
- What about a Western storyline
called "Gnome on the Range."
- Or a comedy, "America's Funniest Gnome Videos."
- Ooh, that's catchy.
- [roars distantly] - Ah!
[butts rumbling]
- [roars]
- [screams] Run away!
- [screams] It's the beast!
The beast is a giant snail! - No, no, no, no!
I think, uh, that's my band logo?
- * Fear the Mollusk *
- And my friends!
- This is so unsanitary.
- I can't believe you guys are in my brain.
[laughter]
- [screaming] - The gnomes are coming back!
[all screaming]
- The beast!
[dramatic music]
- [roars]
[all scream] - [whimpers]
- Ugh, ah.
* *
- [roars]
[growls]
I've seen that mole before! That's Ka'Brett!
[screaming] - [laughing]
[roars]
- Why are you doing this?
Why are you destroying everything I care about?
- This is your world, Nate! Fight back!
Don't doubt yourself!
- Don't doubt myself.
[energetic rock music]
* *
Guys, I know how to get my characters back!
- Mr. Rosa, you going somewhere?
- Yep, I'm taking a trip to Loserville
to reassess my life choices and do a lot of crying.
- Mr. Rosa, I know you're leaving
because of your brother Ka'Brett, but you can't.
- Not that simple, Nate. Okay, it is that simple.
I can't look at his man bun one more day.
- Amen, bro.
A man bun is just one step away from a mullet.
- A beast invaded my imagination
and started eating my characters,
and that beast is your brother. Don't you see?
It all makes sense now. He's doubt.
He makes me doubt myself as a cartoonist.
He's chipping away at my awesomeness,
and I can't stop him alone. I need your help.
- Mr. Rosa, you okay?
- You know, I became a teacher
because I loved seeing kids transformed by art.
That's what are does, changes us.
It changed me when I was your age,
but Ka'Brett never understood that.
To him, art isn't worth anything
unless there's a price tag on it.
He came here to my school filled with my students
and tried to ruin my dream to make me doubt my art!
[triumphant music]
I won't let him do that to you, Nate,
or anyone else ever again. Tell me what you need me to do.
- Yeah! - Whoo-hoo!
* *
[all screaming]
- [sobbing]
[energy whooshing]
- What are you doing?
- [sobs] He came back.
- The creator. - It really is him.
- I had no idea he was so short.
- Yes, it is I, Nate Wright! Hold your applause please.
- They weren't applauding.
- Your world-- that I created,
thank you so much-- is under threat from a beast
that feeds on doubt!
This beast-- - His name is Ka'Brett.
Actually, that's not true. His real name's Brian.
Then he changed it to Brett.
Then he added the "ka" because he thought
it sounded more artsy, and then--
- Okay, Mr. Rosa, please,
I'm trying to sound inspiring here.
- Oh, right.
- The Ka'Brett beast wants us scared and unfocused,
creating more doubt for him to feed on.
- But I'm scared. - And I'm unfocused!
- We need to cut off his food source
and fight back!
[all cheering]
- But do you have a plan?
- [laughs] Yeah, duh.
I just need a volunteer.
- Okay, Claude, remember, you're the bait.
Is bait the same as birthday? Is it my birthday?
- [roars]
[dramatic music]
- Well, hello there.
- Are you my birthday present?
[screams]
- [laughs]
- Hey, Ka'Brett!
I mean, hey, Brian!
You're trespassing in my imagination!
I want my characters and my awesomeness back!
Attack!
[all screaming]
[Royal Blood's "Figure It Out"]
- [roars]
- Whoa! - [screams]
[truck horn blares]
- You don't have the talent to defeat me.
- We'll see about that. Battle cry!
[upbeat rock music]
- Ah!
- [laughs]
- Ah! Huh?
[screams] Oh!
- [groans]
[engine rumbles]
[tires squealing]
[together] Whoa!
- Huh? - [laughing]
- [grunts]
* *
- * I let it go 'cause I won't see you later *
* And we're not allowed to talk it out *
[both screaming]
- [chuckles] - [growls]
- Huh?
[gnomes chomping]
- Get off!
- * I said I'd go *
* Yeah, I won't see you later *
* And we're not allowed to figure it out *
- Ugh! [grunts]
[roars]
[screams]
[laughs]
[all screaming]
- [gulps] - [roars]
- * Just a kid like me *
* Trying to cut some teeth *
* Trying to figure it out *
- You know, I'm no fan of Godfrey,
but in this case, go Godfrey! Uh-oh.
- [gulps]
[roars]
[chuckles]
* *
- [screams]
* *
[groans] No.
[all screaming]
- [sighs]
- You've got a gift, and no one can take that away
unless you let 'em.
[dramatic music]
- Everyone, stop fighting!
Lay your weapons down!
- Huh? - What did he say?
- What? Bro, have you lost your dang mind?
- Trust me, we need to stop fighting
and walk away.
* *
- Giving up already? [chuckles]
- No, see, you're my doubt, and acknowledging you
just makes you stronger, so you know what?
We're gonna ignore you.
- That won't work. I'm too powerful to resist.
Come back and fight me!
[grunts]
Ah, oh, my, what's happening?
[screams]
Oh, oh. [burps]
[flatulence]
You're not talented enough to succeed!
To succeed! To succeed!
* *
[both grunting]
- How do you feel, Nate?
- I feel...awesome!
- One, two, three, four.
- * Armed only with a pencil *
* And 8x10 lined paper *
* He leads a life that's awesome *
* That's why they call him Big Nate *
[upbeat rock music]
[laughter] - Yeah!
- * If you need a toilet *
* To detonate by lunch time * - Whoo-hoo!
- * Or perhaps a burrito *
* In your teacher's pants *
- * His destiny *
* As a god of awesomeness *
* Is to ride a mighty llama *
* That probably breathes fire *
* And take his place *
* Among the legendary pranksters of yore *
* Who will welcome him into Valhalla *
* This is the Ballad of Big Nate *