Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 1/22/2003 news item <b><a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030122/film_nm/film_pixar_dc_1" target="_blank">Reuters: Pixar Cooks Rodent Tale for 2006</a></b> The January 22nd <I>Reuters</I> talks about Pixar Animation Studios anticipated 2006 release which will tell the story of rat in an upscale restaurant.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Just reading between the lines here, but it looks like Pixar is choosing a subject matter and screenwriters who might skew toward a more adult audience. Almost as if they are trying to prove they are un-Disney. A more adult subject matter would also make it easier for Disney to justify not continuing their current distribution agreement if the content doesn't fit the Disney brand.
Originally Posted By arstogas >>>Just reading between the lines here, but it looks like Pixar is choosing a subject matter and screenwriters who might skew toward a more adult audience.<<< I don't really agree. The subject matter could be really light and silly, just as easily, and everything so far indicates that though their storytelling approach might be more sophisticated than much of what Disney's done in-house recently, the child-like appeal of their stories is very close to the vest of their key people. I think AFA would probably chime in that Lasseter and a few others there really WANT to do material that is not so "adult" in the way that say, Dreamworks seems obsessed with succeeding in. My guess is we'll see a charming story full of irony that appeals on many levels, especially to children.
Originally Posted By slave2moonlight I'll continue to have confidence in PIXAR until I actually see them do something I don't like, because so far it seems they can do no wrong. I never would have thought that some of my favorite movies would be computer animated movies, but I love ALL of PIXAR's Disney releases so far, and being a Disney nut, I hope they never break apart. But I also hope they don't try to get too adult with their humor, because right now they're in the perfect place. I think the aim for adult humor is one of the reasons I've found Dreamworks' attempts at competing with Disney to be far less appealing. I've loved some of their work, but the Computer animation stuff like Shrek and Antz has been good, but not anywhere near as great as PIXAR as far as I'm concerned. And really, Shrek winning the Oscar? C'mon. It wasn't THAT funny! Nor was it as original as so many people think, or even successful in teaching any kind of lesson beyond that usual Hollywood lesson of "stick with your own kind," ha. I've had my doubts about Finding Nemo, but then I think back on the first teaser for Monsters Inc. and remember that I had my doubts about that wonderful film too. I'm going to have to continue expecting to be pleasantly surprised by PIXAR for now.
Originally Posted By actingforanimators So true, Arstogas, (*chime, chime*) it isn't a matter of skewing for an "adult audience" as it is aiming for a well crafted story. Pixar's creative leadership knows that great story is the key. Period. The story itself doesn't have to be so sophisticated that it escapes the understanding of younger audiences, nor so base that it appeals only to the most elementary humor of a toddler. As example, in the documentary on Chuck Jones "Extremes & In-betweens" the conversation and commentary (which includes John Lasseter and Glen Keane among others) often returns to how careful Chuck was not to play down to an audience and how willing he was to skewer pretense without undermining the simple sincerity of characters under his direction. The appeal of great humor is that it delights a broad range of ages without being high-minded or low brow. And in spite of some recent and sometimes veiled mud-slinging in my general direction the past day or so, I'm not at all drawn to high-minded animated films. They're boring and tedious and self-absorbed - even a vain attempt at adult satire like "Shrek" ends up trying so hard to be "grown up" that it stumbles over into being nothing more than a venomous tale of Jeffrey's revenge on Michael Eisner. Snooze. Lasseter and Bird and others know what great writers from Dickens to Shel Silverstein have known for centuries - tell a great story with sincerity. Adults and children alike are drawn to the quality of an entertainment, not the complexity. Quality=integrity. Than includes honoring the truth of the characters, the sincerity of the emotions, the authenticity of the place and time and the willingness to suspend disbelief and play (not play AT...which is what so many films miss)and supporting that through the production by investing what it takes to ensure that it makes it to the screen. I think folks will be very surprised by how emotionally satisfying, moving, and charming and yet simple (not SIMPLE MINDED) "Finding Nemo" is as well as how visually stunning. AFA
