Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs creates world's biggest meatball

CANCÚN, Mexico, August 4, 2009 - With Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Sony Pictures Animation's mouth-watering 3-D animated event, about to hit theatres worldwide, the world's largest meatball ever created has also descended. The announcement was made by Hannah Minghella, president of production for Sony Pictures Animation, Inc., and Carlos Martinez, adjudicator, Guinness World Records.

The meatball, weighing in at 49.5 kg, or 109 lbs. was cooked up by the chefs at The Ritz Carlton in Cancún, Mexico, to promote the upcoming animated film, in which a budding inventor causes food to fall from the sky like rain. The Hotel's Executive chef Rainer Zinngrebe along with banquet chef Aldo Novoa accomplished the appetizing feat, surpassing a previous record set in 2008 that stood at 32.93 kg, or 72 lbs., 9 oz. The new record was confirmed by Martinez, and after the record was confirmed, the meatball was cut up into normal-sized portions and served to everyone at the record-setting event.

Commenting on the announcement, Hannah Minghella, president of production for Sony Pictures Animation, said, "During the production of this movie we had a lot of fun creating the look, texture and sounds of the giant-sized meatballs [among other foods] that Flint makes rain from the sky... and now we know what they taste like."

"We apply very strict criteria to our records," said Guinness World Record's Carlos Martinez. "In this particular case, not only did the meatball have to beat the standing record, but also be fully cooked and edible, as verified by myself and food and health inspectors present at the event. Guinness World Records takes pride in its high standards, and as a result, not every record attempt is successful!"

In the film, aspiring inventor Flint Lockwood is the socially awkward genius behind some of the most bizarre contraptions ever conceived. But even though all of his inventions, from spray-on shoes to a monkey thought translator, have been spectacular failures that caused trouble in his small town, Flint is determined to create something that will make people happy. When Flint's latest machine, designed to turn water into food, accidentally destroys the town square and rockets up into the clouds, he thinks his inventing career is over.


Then something amazing happens: cheeseburgers start raining from the sky. His machine actually works! The food weather is an instant success, and Flint forges a fast friendship with Sam Sparks, the weathergirl who comes to town to cover what she calls "the greatest weather phenomenon in history." But when people greedily ask for more and more food, the machine starts behaving erratically, unleashing spaghetti tornadoes and giant meatballs. With the town about to be buried beneath mountains of marshmallows and waves of watermelons, it's up to Flint and Sam to use their combined expertise to shut down the machine and put everything right.

The film features the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, and Will Forte. The film is written for the screen and directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. Produced by Pam Marsden. Based upon the book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett.