ScreenCrave.com » John Lasseter

D23: Pixar Panel Round-Up

Damon Houx — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:04:52 +0000

For D23, there were a number of film presentations, but the highlight was much of the Pixar material. On top of the two newly announced titles, their slate through summer of 2014 was discussed, from the upcoming Brave through to those two announced untitled projects. John Lasseter was the tour guide through the animated material, but here’s a round up of the Pixar presentation.

Brave (6/22/12): John Lasseter describe the film as a “sorta fairy tale” which follows a female lead/princess Merinda (Kelly Macdonald) as she’s to be married, but follows “Wisp o’ Wills” to a witch (voiced by Julie Walters), who makes her a potion that leads to disasterous results. Her parents are played by Billy Connoly and Emma Thompson,and her suitors are payed by Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd and Robbie Coltrane. The presentation offered two scenes, one of Merinda practicing on her horse, the second focusing on trials for who gets to marry her, with an archery contest that reminds of Robin Hood. Lasseter, director Mark Andrews and producer Katherine Sarafian were on hand to talk about the challenges of telling a story about humans in Medeival Scotland, where the environments had to be way more specific (and more challenging to animate) than anything the studio had done previously. They also brought out Kelly McDonald and Kevin McKidd to briefly talk about how great it is to work on the film.
Monsters University (6/13/13): Lasseter described this one as a “animated college movie,” and though no footage was available, they showed the eighteen year old versions of James P. “Sully” Sulivan (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), and showed images of the campus jocks, goths, drama teachers, and scare mascot. The premise is that both Sull and Mike want to be scrarers, and there is a competition between them. If this prequel sounded sketchy on paper, the images and story presented sounded like fun. Also returning for the film is Steve Buscemi’s character Randall Boggs. The film is being helmed by Dan Scanlon, who was obviously excited about the project, and after a couple of words from a video presentation by Goodman and Crystal, they brought out Crystal to wave at the crowd. Also in the cast will be Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray and Pete Sohn.

After that they talked about their untitled projects, and gave the crowd cupcakes. Not so bad.

What of these titles excites you most?

Cars 2: Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:26:45 +0000

I’m often inclined to give family movies a pass (as evidenced by my favorable review of Mr. Popper’s Penguins), if only because sometimes you’ve got to drag the family to a movie theater just to get them all to shut up for 2 hours. Don’t worry, I sympathize here for you. If you needed this critic’s permission to pack up the family and go to the multiplex, here it is: Cars 2 is the ticket to buy this weekend. It’s a big, colorful, noisy spectacle that will please broad audiences looking for a good time, especially small children.

But this is a Pixar film! They’ve made some of the most emotionally resonant films of the last decade! It’s impossible not to compare Cars 2 to the rest of their catalogue, and as soon as you begin to, it breaks down. Read the rest of the review (and more car puns!), after the jump…

The Players

Directors- John Lasseter, Brad Lewis
Writers- Ben Queen, Dan Fogleman, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis
Stars- Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro
Original Music by- Michael Giacchino

Review Prequel:

Now before I even get into the sequel, let’s discuss for a moment why the first Cars movie is generally the most reviled of the Pixar works. Its story is derivative and unimaginative (who here remembers Doc Hollywood?), its characters are cliché and stereotypical (and racist! don’t forget, they’re kinda racist!), and its emotional substance is almost completely unmemorable. Cars is Pixar pandering to audiences who would rather have something familiar and easy, rather than living up to the potential they’ve proven to have film after film.

But it worked! Cars remains Disney and Pixar’s most profitable property, beating out Toy Story with over $2 Billion in merchandise and licensing sales per year. Every little boy in the world goes through a car phase, so all you have to do is slap a pair of googley eyes on the windshield, and a price tag on the box, and you’re good to start raking it in. Better Pixar than anyone else, I suppose. And a few critics’ whiney reviews about how “disappointed” they are couldn’t possibly stop them from taking this rainmaker out for another spin. Which brings me to…

The Plot:

When a loud mouthed Formula One race car (Turturro) goads Lightning McQueen (Wilson) into joining a worldwide racing tournament sponsored by an alternative energy impresario (Izzard), the gang hits the road! Along the way, McQueen’s best friend ‘Mater (the Cable Guy) accidentally joins a pair of English special agents (Caine & Mortimer) in an international spy plot, a la James Bond.

That’s right, a spy plot…a la James Bond. There’s gadgets, and chases, and explosions, and fighting (Like, kung-fu? How is this even possible?). In fact, we practically see more of these spy cars than we do of the characters from the first film! The ones who, according to revenue reports, adored and beloved by all! They’re barely in the movie! Except for ‘Mater, the lovable, idiot redneck. He’s all over this movie.

The plot moves at breakneck speed from the very beginning, and is full of more convoluted and contrived twists than I could count (which is to say, higher than 4). They’re the kind of plot elements that feel like they would only confuse a child. But I guess the little kids aren’t in it for the plot…they just wanna see the cars go vroom.

The story behind Cars 2 bears almost no resemblance to the first film, and just leaves you wondering why they even bothered putting these characters in it. You know what, I’m getting ahead of myself here. After all, there are a few nice things to be said about this movie. I’m not a complete monster.

The Good:

The World- True to the spy movie genre, there’s a whole lot of globetrotting in this film. We visit Japan, Italy, France, and England. Each new place is fully realized, bright, vivid, and overflowing with things to look at. The racetracks are much more interesting, now that they’re not circular Nascar tracks. They’re through cities, and towns, and mountains, letting the animators and designers really show their craft. Moreover, the 3-D adds wonderful depth and texture to the settings. Pixar really understand that 3-D is most effectively used when it creates an immersive world for the audience to feel like they’re entering this other world, rather than having it invade theirs.
Broader is Better?- To say that the first Cars spoke to a broader audience is actually a misstatement, I think. It’s actually speaking to a very specific audience: Nascar fans. Maybe their sensibilities are broader, but the fact is that film turns me off because it focuses on a sport which I couldn’t care less about. But you know what I love? Action movies. Who doesn’t love action movies?! And I don’t know how many Bond movies you’ve watched recently, but most of them are pretty dumb. But it doesn’t matter, because they’re lots of fun! That’s how it feels watching Cars 2; it’s fun in the moment, as long as you try not to think too hard during that moment.
John Turturro- Is always great. He puts on a funny Italian accent, and really seems to have the most appropriate amount of character and energy for his role. Now that the comic relief (‘Mater) is the star of the film, they needed a new character to fill that void, and they nailed it with John Turturro’s Francesco Bernoulli.

The Bad:

Mater – The breakout star of the first Cars was its comic relief, Tow ‘Mater, voiced by Larry T. Cableguy. But some one along the way must have misunderstood the function of a comic relief character when they insisted that he be the main character in this film. That never works, and is exactly why spin-off films for auxiliary characters in kid movies usually end up going straight to video. I can just hear the pitch meeting now: ”Reports indicate that kids love him the most, and I quote, ‘because he farts.’ So he’s got to be at the center of this flick. He should also fall in love with a pink car, so we can get the girls to buy some crap too.”
Toys - That’s all I see when I look at this movie. It’s just a vehicle (get it?!?) for introducing a whole new bunch of plastic junk for your kids to buy. The F-1 car, the rally car, the flying car, etc. When I look at Marlin, from Finding Nemo, I see a concerned father. Or when I look at Remy from Ratatouille, I see an artist struggling to gain recognition for his talents. Or when I look at Woody from Toy Story, I see…well, I see a toy. But he’s a toy with purpose, and friends, and feelings! There is not one reason to like or care about any of the characters in this movie, because there’s almost no opportunities for them to display any admirable qualities. The film is too caught up in its plot’s breakneck pace, so we’re just going to have to take them at their word when they tell us that Lightning and Mater are the best of friends. And that’s why you need to buy both action figures.
WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?! - This is something I’ve never been able to get past. Something about this universe has fried my suspension of disbelief circuits. I just don’t understand why everyone is car, and more importantly, what happened to all the humans? This is a world in which there are buildings, oil refineries, airports (the cars travel around in LIVING airplanes and boats, by the way), and stairs. Why are there stairs anywhere on this planet?!
Pope Problem: There’s one particularly brain melting shot during the race in Italy, where they show that the Pope-mobile is in attendance…and he’s riding in an identical, larger, sentient, Pope-mobile-mobile. This raises even more ridiculous questions: First of all, WHY DO CARS NEED A POPE?!? And if the Pope-Mobile-Mobile is secure, and identical to the Pope-mobile inside, why isn’t that just secure enough? It’s still bullet proof, right?! And why doesn’t the Car-God just prevent anything bad from ever happening to the Pope-Mobile?! By the way, I often have that last thought about the regular Pope.
World: As far as I’m concerned, this world is just some kind of weird parallel dimension in which the Terminator actually came back and killed Sarah Connor while she was pregnant. The machines took over the planet, killed all the humans, and then decided to build themselves as happy, adorable cars. Then they found religion, apparently.

Overall:

Though they’ve managed to broaden the appeal beyond Nascar audiences, and create a more viscerally enjoyable film than the first one, Cars 2 remains Pixar’s weakest film. But it doesn’t matter, because they’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Rating: 5/10

Cars 2 is in theaters June 24th!

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Interview: Cars 2 – John Lasseter, Michael Caine, Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard

Brendan Walsh — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:25:20 +0000

Disney and Pixar have really revved up the publicity for this week’s release of Cars 2! Did you see what I did back there, by the way? That was a hilarious car pun. Listen, I’m just trying to appeal to the Cars crowd here. It seemed to work for those studios, at least. Do you have any idea how popular this franchise is?! $2 Billion dollars a year in merchandise and licensing! I’m just trying to follow the formula here. Anyway, director John Lasseter (pictured above) gathered with the film’s stars, Michael Caine, Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Emily Mortimer, and Eddie Izzard, to discuss the new film with members of the press. Check out some highlights of what was said, after the jump…

As we’ve learned from the Toy Story 2 and especially in Toy Story 3, Pixar is extremely ambitious with their sequels. For Cars 2, Lasseter decided to take the cast of characters from the first film out of the sleepy town of Radiator Springs, and introduce them to the rest of the world. As if that weren’t enough, the gang also gets caught up in a case of international espionage. So it seems that this isn’t going to be a homespun yarn about enjoying a peaceful, quiet life, but will be an all out action/spy flick.

John Lasseter on the spy genre of Cars 2:

Lasseter: The spy movie came from Cars, [we had] a scene where Lightning and Sally were having a first date and it was set in a drive in movie theater, and we had a movie playing on the screen. And I love spy movies, my favorite TV show growing up was The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and my sons and I all love the Bourne movies…So we came up with this movie within a movie, and we had this character named Finn McMissile. That scene got cut, but I never forgot about it…Because in our world the spy and the cool spy car could be one and the same, and how cool would that be?

Lasseter on taking these characters around the world:

Lasseter: As I was traveling around the world after Cars doing publicity for it, I had cars characters on the brain, and as I went to places like Tokyo, London, Germany, Paris, Italy, I kept looking out the window and thinking how fun it would be to take our characters to these places. Because each of these places has their own automotive heritage and highways and types of driving…I also got turned on to the different types of racing, and [after] my first formula 1 race, I thought ‘Wow, this is cool.’ I just felt like a little kid, and I always trust that little boy in me for the stuff I find really fun.

These new story elements added a unique challenge of making everything in this newly expanded world more exciting and exotic. Lasseter went on to explain where they drew inspiration for some of the chase sequences:

Lasseter: The film’s pace has to do with the genre of the film, because I love spy movies and I think the Bourne movies upped the ante on how fast paced they can be. We set out not to make a parody of a spy movie, we set out to make a spy movie that just has cars as characters. So we studied the history of car chases, and really studied how they shoot them and cut them, and the energy. And you don’t get anything for free in animation, you really have to craft that.

Lasseter: We studied Ronin, the Robert DeNiro movie, we watched the Bourne Identity where he’s got the mini in Paris. We did an interesting study of the Ronin chases, because most of those chases cut in on the driver, but we don’t have that opportunity in a movie where the cars are the characters. So we did an experiment where we took those chases and we cut out all the shots of the drivers, and kept only the cars, and we learned a lot from that.

This film marks Lasseter’s return to directing (on top of his duties as chief creative officer of both Pixar and Disney Animation Studios). This was exciting news to the film’s star, Owen Wilson, who had this to say:

Wilson: The first voice session I went into a couple years back, all of a sudden he was there. I think he sort of decided at the last minute that he was going to be able, with his new duties at Disney, to direct this. So I was excited to work with him… [Working with John] It struck me how democratic it felt there…He’s not the big boss. It felt very collaborative, and he’s always excited like this is first movie.

Wilson on the differences between the two films:

Wilson: I thought it sounded like a completely new movie, and that it was now going to be this international racing, and I was excited to see how Pixar would show these cities, and this world, and it just seemed like a bigger canvas that the animators were going to get to paint on. The other one felt more heartfelt, and this felt more like a funny, bigger story.

Another stark difference between the two Cars films seems to be the significance of Larry the Cable Guy’s character, Tow Mater. Here, Larry discusses his realization that his character was much more central to the film’s plot:

Larry the Cable Guy: I’ve been involved with cars now since 2003…and I don’t use a sound alike, because I’m really proud of Mater, and when my kids hear mater, I want them to know that’s me I want. So every month, I do toys, games, video games– I’ve never really left the character. So when I heard we were gonna do Cars 2, I said, ‘oh, okay, that’s cool, awesome.” And I met with John [Lasseter], and he storyboarded it for me, and I was noticing there were a lot of scenes with mater, but it still had McQueen all through it. So I didn’t really think too much about it, ‘til when we started filming it [sic], almost every line I thought was really funny, and I’d say, ‘that’s a great line.’ But I just started noticing more…and I told john, and he said ‘Oh, well this is almost like Mater’s movie!’“

Larry the Cable Guy: Only then did I realize that Mater was really taking over that movie. But I’m glad I didn’t [‘til then]. I didn’t want to think about it. I just wanted to show up and do my job right, because if I knew I was gonna be the main guy I might do something different.

Mr. The Cable Guy went on to explain his acting method:

Larry the Cable Guy: I don’t get real technical with these things. I’m Mater, Mater is me…How would I say this line? That’s how I’ll say this line. The hardest part for me with this movie was showing the different emotional ranges because Mater’s never done that. He’s always just the guy that did the funny little quip, and everyone laughs and moves on. This is a whole different range, especially towards the end, and I just put myself in those situations, and I think it turned out pretty good.

Veteran star Michael Caine joins the cast of vehicles as Finn McMissile, super spy extraordinaire. Caine talked a bit about exactly why he was drawn to this film:

Michael Caine: I’ve got three grandchildren, and of course the reason I really wanted to do it was because I wanted them to see me. They gave me a car with my voice, a little model car, and I brought a model car back to them, and they played with it, and they know it’s me. So I’ve got this tremendous bond with my grandchildren because of this film. If you think about it, the films that I make, little children can’t go and see them. So it was a wonderful opportunity for me.”

The film also co-stars Emily Mortimer, who you likely remember as the Jack Donneghy’s hollow boned fiance from 30 Rock‘s second season. Her character, a rookie spy, was originally a peripheral character, but Lasseter loved her performance so much that they continued to expand her role.

Here, Miss Mortimer discusses the growth of her character:

Emily Mortimer: I thought it was just going to be like a day long gig, at first, and they kept bringing me back for more and more. It’s a really interesting way of working, because it’s so organic. You’re collaborating from the very beginning on development on your character, and it changed a lot. The first few sessions are where you put down the main body of the part, then you keep coming back and finessing it, and by the very end, I’d gone quite far away from how I’d started off.”

Emily Mortimer: I think John just likes hanging out, though…It was so easy being there with him, it was one of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever done. My husband thinks I’ve got a crush on him, and he’s probably right. It’s what filmmaking should be…so conscientious, so infectiously enthusiastic about what they’re doing. They’re passionate in a way that isn’t pretentious and annoying. They love what they do, and they’re incredibly rigorous and collaborative.

Rounding out the cast is the ever charming Eddie Izzard. Izzard seemed thrilled to have been included, and in his characteristic stammering stream of consciousness, seemed to sum up exactly why this film is going to be a success:

Eddie Izzard It’s a fun big romp, and they’re all cars as well…It’s quite weird that they’re all cars. I had toy trains when I was a kid, and toy story– well, they’re not really humans– but the fact that they’re cars [in this film] keeps throwing me…The second one is more about friendship, adventure, and cars that can shoot things into walls, and then fly…which is something I think we all want to be able to do.

So there you have it. Thoughts on the film from the folks who made it. Check back later in the week for ScreenCrave’s review of Pixar’s Cars 2!

John Lasseter Will Co-Direct Cars 2

Krystal Clark — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:45:22 +0000

Now that Toy Story 3 is in theaters making both children and adults cry with its sentimental tale it’s time to focus on another Pixar property, Cars. The 2006 animated film has a high profile sequel in the works and today some big news broke regarding its production. According to Cinemablend, Pixar co-founder and original Cars helmer John Lasseter has officially stepped in to co-direct the follow-up.

Brad Lewis was originally slated to direct Cars 2 (alone) making his directorial debut. Obviously, the studio didn’t feel too confident with that decision so they brought in old faithful aka Lasseter. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the film is in trouble. There are plenty of excellent and high quality movies under the Pixar banner that were reworked several times during their development (Ratatouille anyone?).

The studio is known for its high standards and people associate their films with a certain level of prestige. Therefore, if they bring in 3 more directors it shouldn’t matter as long as the final product is golden. Cars 2 is scheduled to hit theaters during the summer of 2011 and will be accompanied by a Toy Story short (no pressure there).

What do you think about John Lasseter stepping in to co-direct Cars 2?

D23: Toy Story Series and Pixar Casting

Mali Elfman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:12:21 +0000

D23 finished up yesterday with Toy Story and Cars, Director John Lasseter heading a presentation for Disney’s upcoming animation and Pixar films. Although they mainly rehashed news from the opening day announcements and re-confirmed the casting of Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Lasseter also confirmed quite a bit of casting news…

John Morris, the original actor who voiced the role of the child Andy in Toy Story and Toy Story 2, will be back for part 3 of the series. Andy is 18-years-old in the film and they decided that Morris, although 24-years-old, was the best man for the job. With Pixar and Disney working their magic, I’m sure they won’t have any problems shedding 6 years from his voice if need be. And what can I say, it’s nice to keep the original actors in place and not have to deal with re-casting.

As for Pixar casting news, they announced that Jeff Garlin (WALL-E), Bonnie Hunt (A Bug’s Life, Cars, Monsters Inc.), and new comer Whoopi Goldberg will all be playing parts in upcoming Pixar films. Sadly, they declined to mention WHICH films they would be in. Damn you! Let’s start speculating…

It seems plausible that they will make a sequel to wildly successful WALL-E, in which Garlin could reprise his role as Captain B. McCrea. And if we’re going with what’s most likely it’s that Hunt will have a role in a new Cars film. As for Whoopi, I’m not sure which film she’d most likely be a part of?

Which Pixar film would you like to hear Whoopi’s voice in?

Cars 2 Plot Details

Krystal Clark — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:55:43 +0000

Over at Empire they’ve got the inside scoop on the plot details for the highly anticipated sequel, Cars 2. The first film was a huge hit for Disney-Pixar back in 2006, and starred Owen Wilson, the late Paul Newman, and comedian Larry the Cable Guy. Earlier today, director John Lasseter spoke at a Disney panel presentation and divulged some long awaited details regarding the latest film, which is due to hit theaters in the summer of 2011.

The story sees Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), his pit team and new pit boss Mater head around the world for the Race of Champions, to take place in five different countries and involve the champions of different disciplines like Formula One and rally driving. First up is a race in Tokyo, starting at Mount Fuji and heading downtown; then there’s a German race through the Black Forest; then “Porto Corsa” in Italy, which is based partly on the Monte Carlo Grand Prix; then a 24-hour race around Paris (so somewhat like Le Mans then) and finally a thrilling climax in London, approaching Buckingham Palace (where the guards appear to be Land Rovers).

But all this racing is not the only focus. Mater, who we know from the series of cartoon shorts Mater’s Tall Tales (more on that in our blog in a minute) is prone to exaggeration, gets involved in a “Hitchcockian” case of mistaken identity, saves the life of a British secret agent called Finn McMissile (who looks a heck of a lot like an Aston Martin) and becomes embroiled in a huge spy thriller. Only no-one believes him. That too comes to a head at Buckingham Palace.

As you can see, Cars 2 will be very Euro-centric. The whole aspect of a world race, and jumping from various countries sounds like fun. The film will mark the Pixar directing debut of Brad Lewis who previously produced the hit animated film, Ratatouille. At the presentation, the audience was told some familiar voices would be returning for the film, but they didn’t specify who. We’ll have to wait and see who they have up their sleeve, but I’m sure whoever it is will be amazing.

What do you think about the plot details from Cars 2?

Pixar Honored at the Venice Film Festival

Krystal Clark — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:00:32 +0000

This year’s Venice International Film Festival is moving full speed ahead by honoring some of the most talented individuals in filmmaking. One of the major events that have already taken place at the festival involved Pixar Animation. According to Yahoo, the studio’s founding directors and producers including John Lasseter were recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pixar is currently under the Disney umbrella along with several other companies including the recently acquired Marvel Entertainment. But way before Woody, Nemo, or Sully ever touched the screen, a small studio comprised of a group of young animators had to take shape. Pixar was launched 23 years ago in Northern California and has broken barriers in the field of computer animation ever since.

“Filmmaking and animation is one of the most collaborative art forms there is in the world, and it is never more collaborative than it is at Pixar. We really set out to deeply entertain an audience, not just children but adults as well,” Lasseter told reporters Sunday.”

I think that statement sums up the Pixar viewing experience. The studio has only made 10 films since its inception, but out of those ten, four have gone on to win Oscars in the Best Animated Film category since it was introduced in 2001. On hand to present Lasseter and co. with the Golden Lion Award was super producer-director George Lucas. Pixar started as the Graphics Group within Lucasfilms back in 1979, before it was bought by Steve Jobs in 1986.

What do you think about Pixar receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award? Do they deserve it?

Interview with Ponyo’s Hayo Miyazaki and John Lasseter

Kara Stanford-Jones — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:55:20 +0000

At last weekend’s Comic-Con, I was able to interview the incredibly talented animator Hayo Miyazaki and director John Lasseter for their upcoming film Ponyo. Miyazaki is one of the most well known directors in his native country Japan, and although he’s not as well-known in the US, he was put on the map for his film Spirited Away, and is about to become a household name for his work in Ponyo. With help from director John Lasseter, the man behind many Pixar movies including, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story, and Cars, they have managed to make a groundbreaking animation. Needless to say, these are two very talented duo, and based of the ten minute clip we saw at Comic-Con, you will not be disappointed.

In the interview, Lasseter discusses the future of 3-D in Pixar films, how Miyazaki inspired him, and how they went about translating Ponyo for US audiences. Miyazaki talks about the personal and environmental themes within Ponyo and much more.

Check out the interview below…

You stated this was your most personal film to date, can you tell us about that?

HM: Ponyo just touches the entry point of my personal qualities. You would have to go much deeper in order to get more personal.

What is the biggest difference between your latest and previous film?

HM: I think the most obvious difference is that I have aged. This film is a result of my aging.

Should we expect the next film to dive any deeper?

HM: It is not in any form quite yet, but it is my position and my role, in Gihbli, is to search for those types of personal depth in films.

You seemed to criticize the English version of Spirited Away, how happy with you are the American version of Ponyo?

HM: I don’t think I criticized the English version before. I think they have always done a good job. I think Spirited Away was a very difficult film to understand, but I think they did the best they could; I think they did a good job with it. I don’t really feel critical of the English version.

How different is the Japanese version from the English version of Ponyo?

JL: The first thing we do is get an exact, word-for-word translation even though the sentences won’t make any sense. It is very important for me to understand what he is saying. Then we start putting it into proper English. Then we go from there and try to make it seem realistic for our ears, like what a mother would say to a child. The way they would normally say things. I never ever change the meaning of anything. I want to protect his vision and I am very dedicated to that. It is about keeping the audience in the same level of understanding as the Japanese audiences. For instance, in Spirited Away, when Sen walks up and sees a bathhouse, all Japanese audiences would know that that is a bathhouse just from the way it looks. No on in this country would know it is a bathhouse, so we added a line offstage saying, “Oh, it is a bathhouse.” It is the subtle things like that that communicate the meaning that much more. Ponyo has a few moments like that. This film was a little easier, although it is set in Japan it is the same level of understanding.

The elements of nature are dominant themes of your film, what elements should we expect in Ponyo?

HM: I think Ponyo’s natural strength is connected to the strength of the sea and ocean. I think when you look deep, the strength of people is connected to nature. That is why, when Ponyo reaches land, she uses the strength of the sea to come. It is not really a film about environmental or ecological issues in it, but more so about the strength and the power of nature.

Where do you see 3-D going in the future and how is the technology evolving in Pixar’s films?

JL: I am always inspired by new technology. Pixar is the studio that created the first computer animated film. What I think is important is to let the filmmakers really understand the technology and what you can and can’t do. All of our computer animated films, at Pixar and Disney Animation, will be in 3-D from here on.

As you start creating a film, you start to get used to it and start to try new things. All of the sudden, you start to see the designers start staging things more dynamically with 3-D. We don’t try to do the “coming at you” stuff all the time because, I believe, that pops the audience out of the film; what we try to do is envelope the audience and suck them into the story that much more.

Are you going to convert any other movies, besides Toy Story, to 3-D?

JL: Right now we don’t have any plans for anything else. It is something we can always do, as we look forward to the future of 3-D. If 3-D gets into the home, we may look at it. We have it, it is all data that we can bring back.

John, as an artist, what have you learned from Hayo Miyazaki?

JL: I think that in Miyazaki’s films, there are so many things that have inspired me as a filmmaker. I think his action sequences are so beautifully staged. They are so clear, but they are so inventive. That really ups our game. I think one of the biggest influences is that his films always celebrate the quiet moments. In American film-making, there tends to be a focus on faster and more action. I think what is so great about his films, in every one, there are all these quiet moments, that are kind of a breath, and they are so beautiful. They add depth to the film. Then it makes what comes after it and the contrast that much stronger. When you watch Up!, there are so many quiet, beautiful moments that come in contrast to action. I think it helps make the film deeper. That has been a huge inspiration.

Hayo, are you currently working on anything else at the moment?

HM: I am not making any feature length films at the time. I am supporting our young staff and currently training young animators.

Ponyo will be in theaters on August 14. Watch the trailer below…

Comic-Con Disney Schedule Includes Burton, Zemeckis, Miyazaki, Lasseter

Mali Elfman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:06:54 +0000

Disney is pulling out all the stops for Comic-Con this year! Animation greats Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter and directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton will all be taking part for the first time ever in Comic-Con, showing that the event is about more than just comic books. You can see your favorite animators and directors at the San Diego Convention Center July 23-24. If you won’e be able to make the event we’ll be live blogging it and trust me, we’re not missing any of these!

The filmmakers will be on hand to help Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures showcase a wide-ranging roster of upcoming films, including 3D juggernauts Alice in Wonderland, Tron 2, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, and animated gems The Princess and the Frog, Beauty and the Beast, Ponyo and Toy Story 3.

Check out the details below…

Zemeckis, Burton, Miyazaki and Lasseter will take part in the following industry panels:

COMIC-CON’S FIRST EVER 3D PANEL — Veteran directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton join TRON producers Sean Bailey and Steve Lisberger on Thurs., July 23 at 11 a.m. for an unprecedented presentation featuring behind-the-scenes filmmaker insights about the highly anticipated 3D adventures DISNEY’S A
CHRISTMAS CAROL, ALICE IN WONDERLAND and TRON. In addition to Q&A opportunities with each of the filmmakers, the 90-minute panel will feature never-before-seen concept art, trailers, actual 3D film footage and other Comic-Con-only footage debuts. In a groundbreaking technical feat, this is the first time ever that 3D footage will be shown at Comic-Con. Patton Oswalt will moderate.
ANIMATION PANEL — Animation legends Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter join veteran animation directors Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements and John Musker on Fri., July 24 at 12:45 p.m. for an animation panel which will highlight upcoming animated films, including Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY/TOY STORY 2 double feature, Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY 3, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ half-hour holiday TV special PREP & LANDING, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG and Miyazaki’s PONYO. John Lasseter will host the panel and Patton Oswalt will moderate a group Q&A following the presentation, which will include filmmaker insights, trailers and select film sequences.

ABOUT THE MOVIES

PONYO

From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” Already a box-office success in Japan, the story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by NOAH CYRUS) and her quest to become human features an outstanding roster of voice talent, including CATE BLANCHETT, MATT DAMON, TINA FEY, FRANKIE JONAS, CLORIS LEACHMAN, LIAM NEESON, LILY TOMLIN and BETTY WHITE. PONYO opens in U.S. theaters on Aug. 14, 2009.

TOY STORY & TOY STORY 2 – DOUBLE FEATURE (In Disney Digital 3D™)

Disney●Pixar’s TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2 return to the big screen in an exciting double feature Oct. 2, 2009—this time in Disney Digital 3D™.

TOY STORY

They’re toys, they talk—at least when people aren’t around—and they’re back… celebrating the return of the “Toy Story” franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3Dä! TOY STORY, the film that started it all, takes moviegoers back to that fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys— Woody (voice of TOM HANKS), the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear (voice of TIM ALLEN), the fearless space ranger. The comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences when circumstances separate them from their owner Andy and they find themselves on a hilarious adventure-filled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance.

TOY STORY 2

Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY 2 picks up as Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (voice of WAYNE KNIGHT), owner of Al’s Toy Barn, kidnaps Woody (voice of TOM HANKS). At Al’s apartment, Woody discovers that he is a highly valued collectible from a 1950s TV show called “Woody’s Roundup,” and he meets the other prized toys from that show – Jessie the cowgirl (voice of JOAN CUSACK), Bullseye the horse and Stinky Pete the Prospector (voice of KELSEY GRAMMER). Back at the scene of the crime, Buzz Lightyear (voice of TIM ALLEN) and the gang from Andy’s room – Mr. Potato Head (voice of DON RICKLES), Slinky Dog (voice of JIM VARNEY), Rex (voice of WALLACE SHAWN) and Hamm (voice of JOHN RATZENBERGER) – spring into action to rescue their pal from winding up as a museum piece. The toys get into one predicament after another in their daring race to get Woody home before Andy returns.

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (In Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D)

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3D motion picture event. Ebenezer Scrooge (JIM CARREY) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (GARY OLDMAN) and his cheery nephew (COLIN FIRTH). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late. Opens in theaters nationwide on Nov. 6, 2009.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” comes a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (ANIKA NONI ROSE), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG marks the return to hand-drawn animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements, with music by Oscar®-winning composer Randy Newman. Opens on November 25, 2009 in NY and LA, and on December 11, 2009 nationwide.

PREP & LANDING

PREP & LANDING is ABC’s first television special produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The half-hour holiday special reveals the never-before-told tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing. Every Christmas Eve, this high-tech organization ensures that homes around the world are properly prepared for a visit from the Big Guy (aka Santa Claus). After working tirelessly on Prep & Landing for 227 years, an elf named Wayne (voice of Dave Foley) is upset when he doesn’t receive an expected promotion to be the Director of Naughty List Intelligence. Instead, Magee (voice of Sarah Chalke), the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator (NPCECCC for short), partners Wayne with Lanny (voice of Derek Richardson), an idealistic rookie who has an undying enthusiasm for Christmas. During their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (In Disney Digital 3D™)

Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™, introducing a whole new generation to the Disney classic with stunning new 3D imagery. Opening Feb. 12, 2010, the film captures the fantastic journey of Belle (voice of PAIGE O’HARA), a bright and beautiful young woman who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of ROBBY BENSON) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince. Featuring unforgettable music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and an enormously talented vocal ensemble, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was the first—and only—animated feature to receive a Best Picture nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (In Disney Digital 3D™)

From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. JOHNNY DEPP stars as the Mad Hatter and MIA WASIKOWSKA as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes ANNE HATHAWAY, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and CRISPIN GLOVER; Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking-Glass” (1871) with stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history, ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ on March 5, 2010.

TOY STORY 3 (In Disney Digital 3D™)

The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”) directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. TOY STORY 3 comes to theaters nationwide in Disney Digital 3D™ on June 18, 2010.

TRON (title not final) (In Disney Digital 3D™)

TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

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