Channel Frederator Blog

“I do not like to repeat successes,
I like to go on to other things.” - Walt Disney

Times have changed.

Here’s a recent press release from Disney in regards to some upcoming releases from Pixar:

TOY STORY TRIO GOES 3-D

Burbank, CA – January 24, 2008 - The Walt Disney Studios is taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology “to infinity and beyond” with ambitious plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D™ versions of Disney- Pixar’s “Toy Story” on October 2nd, 2009, and “Toy Story 2” on February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Both of these beloved animated features are being newly converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story 3,” which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture and will represent the state-of-the-art for the genre. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director “Toy Story 2”) is directing.

Academy Award®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two “Toy Story” films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “‘We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they’re going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful ‘Toy Story’ cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we’re excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere.”

Lasseter added, “The ‘Toy Story’ films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we’re so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With ‘Toy Story 3’ shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy’s room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way.”

In converting “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, “Toy Story” was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar® nominations for Original Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award “for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film.” “Toy Story 2” was released in 1999, and reunited voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz. The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and received an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song.

Q: Why is there a “Toy Story 3″?

A: Because that’s show business.

It’s not called “showart”. If it were, Buzz, Woody, and the gang would have been retired after the first film, content in the fact that their story had been told. Granted, the sequel was successful, and many people prefer it to he first film, but it’s still a retread of characters and plot lines in an effort to unnaturally extend the storyline to accommodate another feature and more money.

This got me thinking about feature animation in general, and how many original ideas have been done by the modern animation studios?

Pixar did two features, followed by a sequel. (”Toy Story”, “A Bug’s Life”, “Toy Story 2″) That’s not a very good run of original content. They’ve redeemed themselves with the films they have put out since “Toy Story 2″, but another “Toy Story” film? Who’s going to lose their arm this time?

Blue Sky released “Ice Age” and “Robots”, followed by a sequel film “Ice Age: The Meltdown”. Their next film, “Horton Hears a Who” was not only a book, but the characters have appeared in multiple animated pieces, including a short film of the same name. It’s not exactly a sequel, but it’s not a fresh idea, either.

Dreamworks seems to get a lot of flak in the animation community, but they went much farther before repeating themselves. (”The Prince of Egypt”, “Antz”, “The Road to El Dorado”, “Chicken Run”, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”, “Shrek”, “Sinbad”, “Shrek 2″) They put out seven films before creating their first sequel. That’s a pretty good run.

They have done two “Shrek” sequels however, and are working on a “Madagascar” sequel.

The only studio putting out features (meaning they have already done at least one) who hasn’t done sequels has been Sony Pictures Animation. Granted, they have only done two films so far “Open Season” and “Surf’s Up”, but they are both unique films.

Sequels have been very successful for the studios, almost always making more money than the first films in the series. Should more unique ideas be explored? Are you content to watch year after year to check in on Shrek’s kids or see what new toy Andy will get next?

What do you think?

-Floyd Bishop