Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the January 23rd Fabulous Disney Babe column at: <a href="News-ID112280.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID112280.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By JustBob Great article, FAB! One thing - I thought that the first full length film from PIXAR was supposed to be "The Brave Little Toaster". Am I confusing stories? Do you know anything about the genesis of that film and whether it was to be computer driven at one point?
Originally Posted By arstogas Great article, Fab... a lot of fun and very informative. Have a martini on me. As to TOASTER - Lasseter was already involved with Pixar, though I believe he consulted on the project. It WAS something he wanted to do while at Disney -- several of the animators who worked on it had pushed it at Disney, as did Tom Wilhite, who eventually ended up leaving Disney and producing the film himself. Wilhite is the unsung hero who actually STARTED the Disney animation renaissance, BEFORE Katzenberg and Eisner and Wells arrived. He recruited new talent and oiled up the mentoring program again. He also embraced and encouraged a young Tim Burton, giving him extra studio money to do special projects. Wilhite founded Hyperion Films, an homage to Walt in the name... The original idea with Toaster, based on the book, was that everything would have these shiny, metallic surfaces, perfect for the computer's capabilities at that time. Disney was afraid of the price tag, new territory, and the story, frankly, wasn't quite there. Plus, when it was pushed at Disney, they were still terribly understaffed and were being very selective about what went into development for animation. Perhaps the greatest gag that never was realized, was a planned shot where the Toaster and company passed by, and the animators were going to create the image of a "reflected" live-action film crew in the body of the metal objects. Wilhite loved the book enough that he was able to grab the film rights (a process called "Turnaround" where a studio gives up rights to a project) and because of limited budget and the fact that a computer-driven movie would be scary territory (it had only been a few years since TRON was completed) the film was animated, mostly overseas, but with lead animators who were ex-Disney. Many, like Randy Cartwright, went back, and a few, as mentioned earlier, went to Pixar.
Originally Posted By fabdisbabe Arsto, I'm begging you, please, please write up a couple of your wonderful animation stories and send them in to Doobie. I'm asking nice. Fab
Originally Posted By electra I had NO idea the Brave Little Toaster was made by the Pixar guys!? Cool!
Originally Posted By Santa Monica Was it? Anyway, I thought Buzz Lightyear was originally gonna be named Lunar Larry.
Originally Posted By arstogas >>>I had NO idea the Brave Little Toaster was made by the Pixar guys!? Cool!<<< Oh, wait, I didn't say that, exactly... some of the guys DID end up at Pixar, but that company was doing its own thing around that time, gearing up with experimental shorts and effects work and such. Hope that's a little clearer. And Fab, I'll do some pondering as to what would be worth writing up for the site... most Disney lovers here know so many details, I don't want to retread material. But I'll give it some thought. And my humble thanks for the nice request!
Originally Posted By fabdisbabe You have so many stories to tell, it would be a treat for everyone here. A good story is a good story and can bear to be repeated in another way for the 3% or so who HAVE heard them, and a learning experience for the other 97%. Also, Santa et al, I *am* just repeating what the guy said. If he left out stuff (and he did), I most humbly apologize. Fab
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA great story, arstogas. Those that are lamenting the layoffs at Walt Disney Imagineering, need only look at the history of Walt Disney Animation to see how things shake out. Just because they're not making their art under the Walt Disney Company name, doesn't mean that it's not good, or that they won't come back to Disney anyway.
Originally Posted By wdwgreggy Color me inept on this one, and I'm sure I'm setting myself up for a big "OH, YEAH!" after I get some help, but what is Joel Siegel referring to as the "Harryhausen's joke"? What is the scene? Any help on this would be wonderful. Thanks! By the way, great series, Fab! You've been a very welcome addition to this constantly growing stellar site!!!
Originally Posted By uruseiranma Harryhausen's! I was probably onl;y one in 5 who got that joke. I think I was one of the only people who got the Yetti's joke about the kids in the village (thank god for the Simpsons). The Harryhausen joke was an injoke that made me crack up as much as my sister and I when we saw that Geri was the toy repairman in Toy STory 2. Personlly, I got more of a kick out of TS2 than TS1. May'be because it had a greater depth of drama than a buddy movie. The song sequence with Jessie had the same kind of effect on me when "The Ugly Duckling" in the final Silly Symphony just begins to cry. To me, THAT is what I want to do someday in animation. I want to make someone cry, but not in a hurtful way. I've always wanted to guage someone's emotion to the point where they can stop thinking they are seeing 2D or 3D. The same feeling occured with Boo and Sully at the end when Sully says "Kitty has to go," and then that expression on his and Boo's face (personally, my eyes are feeling moist just typing that). I hope I can work for Pixar someday. Their storytelling is giving me some ideas for the demo reel I need to complete upon grauation (I need aquirky little story with an idea that hasn't been thought of yet).
Originally Posted By uruseiranma "The Brave little Toaster. That had some pretty shocking sequences to me. Such as the Air conditioner going mental and blowing a fuse, or even Blankie getting swept up by the wind, Lamp struck by lightning, basically, these appliances went through HECK just to get back to their Master. Still, were the toaster's sequels any good?
Originally Posted By fabdisbabe I hope I can work for Pixar someday. Their storytelling is giving me some ideas for the demo reel I need to complete upon grauation (I need aquirky little story with an idea that hasn't been thought of yet).>> If you want to work at Pixar and STAY at Pixar, go to CalArts. Fab
Originally Posted By uruseiranma I'm currently in my final year at a college in Chicago studying animation. I did look into Calarts long ago in my high school days, but it seemed too expensive, and I was not painting or drawing like the next Da Vinci. It always seemed that I'd ahve to be some kind of art prodigy to gothere. I really wanted to because of the list of prospective guest speakers that visit (Frank Thomas, Olli Johnston, etc).
Originally Posted By fabdisbabe You don't have to be the next daVinci to go there, you just have to have imagination, creativity, some talent and know somewhat how to use it, and lots and lots of money. The one drawback I've heard about Pixar from those who have worked there is that it is a CalArtian clicque, and when layoffs come, the outsiders tend to go first. Fab
Originally Posted By wdwgreggy OK, so you get an "OH YEAH!" on reminding me the name of the restaurant, but what is it a reference to? (This, I'm sure, is one of those situations you see on Who Wants to be a Millionaire when 99.9% of the Earth's population knows the answer except the person sitting in the darn chair...) I was right there on the Yeti's Armour Hot Dogs reference when talking about the kids, and am pretty sure I was the only one in the theater laughing. However, my brain is just not grabbing onto the Harryhausen's joke. Thank you all, and again I apologize!!!
Originally Posted By jmenomeno Harryhausen is a reference to Ray Harryhausen, who did stop-motion animation in the "Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" and a whole bunch of other classic fantasy flicks. He also did "Clash of the Titans" and "Jason and the Argonauts".
Originally Posted By wdwgreggy God Bless You!!! That would have bothered me for a long time! It's not as blatantly obvious as I had feared, though, which is nice!! So, is this just a nice paying tribute gesture to him, or did John ever actually work with him? Just curious!! Thanks again!
