Big news on the Disney/Pixar front, the mouse house has revealed Pixar’s future animation slate:
May 29th 2009: From the Academy Award®-nominated team of director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and co-director Bob Peterson comes Up, a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits). Here is a brand new plot synopsis direct from the studio: Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. Up takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer – look Up. Christopher Plummer voices the villian. Up will be released in Disney Digital 3-D™.
October 2nd, 2009: TOY STORY in 3-D
February 12th, 2010: TOY STORY 2 in 3-D
June 18th, 2010: 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. All we know is that Andy grows up and is leaving for college. 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. The voice talent confirmed includes: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty. Composer Randy Newman returns.
Summer 2011: newt marks the directing debut of multiple Academy Award winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom, who made his Pixar debut with the short film Lifted, which premiered in front of Ratatouille. What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other? Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science. Will be released in Disney Digital 3-Dâ„¢.
Christmas 2011: The Bear and the Bow is Pixar’s first fairy tale, from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt). Chapman began as an additional animation artist on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and contributed story for The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Fantasia 2000, Chicken Run and Cars. A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar’s action-adventure “The Bear and the Bow.” The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale. Will be released in Disney Digital 3-Dâ„¢.
2012: Cars 2 will be directed by Brad Lewis, the producer of Ratatouille and Antz. All the world’s a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe’s fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the “Cars” saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe. Will be released in Disney Digital 3-Dâ„¢.
The big news is that all of the announced future Pixar releases will get the Digital Disney 3-D treatment. I remember the days when Brad Bird was preaching that Pixar would only do 3D if it complimented the story. But I understand that 3D is the newest trend, and the result is bigger box office, so Pixar must go with the flow. I just wonder if Pixar would have made this choice if they weren’t owned by Disney. Bird also said that Sequels aren’t in the Pixar business plan and they also just announced Cars 2, the second sequel to be released by the studio in the next four years. The other big news is that it appears that Pixar will now be taking on two films per year starting in 2009. I hope this doesn’t result in a loss of quality. The Bear and the Bow and Newt sound, at least on the surface, more like films that Disney would make. But We’ll have to wait and see.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Cars 2?!!? What the hell? Cars 2?!?
April 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
And so it begins. Flooding the market with more mundane crap. This is what caused the collapse of the 2d market.
In many ways I praise the japanese animation industry for keeping their cinematic releases “fresh” all these years. Sure, some of them are way out in the park “insane”. But it’s good to see people do something “different” in animation. I can’t take more talking inanimate objects like toasters and clothes hangers going on “zany” adventures together.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Cars 2? Overkill is creeping up on Pixar…
April 8th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Every film menitoned after (not including Wall-E) isn’t sounding too good. Cars 2? Really? 2d animation? Live action (1906)? What’s going on here?
April 8th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Wall-e certainly seems like its going to mark the peak of Pixars output. Far surpassing the experience of Finding Nemo. I agree pete, when they first sold the shop to Disney I thought it might come at the benefit of more money and resources and with stipulations of “creative freedom” but it certainly appears that they’re out to conquer old territory and eventually re-engineer the “classic” Disney fairy-tale… Which DISNEY should be doing. Its not like they needed Disney at all. We all know that the new head of Disney is Pixar but it seems like the big fat gut of mickey’s, theme parks, toy lines and clothing stores have the most to gain from these new releases. After all, we are talking kids movies here. Won’t they take what ever we give them. I thought Pixar was about expanding on things not all this reshuffling. Soon Pixar will be making direct to video releases of ________. If they want to really re-make something id love to see them push the limits of imaging and imagination today and create the next Fantasia. That and only that would be a lasting ready made contribution. The world needs more WONDER from the ‘xar.. not the same old product line. I know that sounds dramatic but that is what production slates like these reveal, the plan of things to come, what we’re in store for, I think its time we start expecting more so the years that follow 2011 might be a tad more enlightening. This menu better have a good cook.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Are you really arguing about the future?
April 8th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
bring them on i llove everthing from pixar i think walle is on my top 5 moveies to see this year and i think toy story 3 is a good way to close up what pixar stared and cars 2 is a good idead but cars wasent that great
April 8th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
pixar shouldnt make sequals then the movie will lose their quality and will just be more dumb movies
April 8th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
@ Sikantis:
No, but even if I was it would still be better than remaking whats past.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Man…..No Finding Nemo 2….
April 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
“What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other? Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.”
The same regurgitated shit from the 50’s. I am gagging myself with a crack spoon people.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I’m bummed about the 3D flood, really bummed. But I’ll always give Pixar the benefit of the doubt until I see the flick for myself. Toy Story 3 will be fun as hell, and the others seem to be a little formulaic, but again, I have the highest faith in our Bay Area boys.
Does anyone think we’ll ever see an adult Pixar film? I’m talking ‘R’ or a hard ‘PG-13′.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Soon we will reference Pixar like Miramax, Fender, etc etc: Before the buyout and after. So sad Pixar quality is going to go down the tubes here.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
All these projects have been in Pixar’s development drawer for years. WALL-E, Up, and Toy Story 3 will all be classics mark my words.
I admit that newt sounds cliched but Rydstrom has proven himself a great director with the hilarious “Lifted” so i eagerly await the full length movie inside him.
I’ll need to see more about The Bear and the Bow before I judge, for now. I doubt it will be god-awful. Lasseter is still watching over everything, mind you. For now, he has my trust.
Cars 2, however is what really bothers me. The first film did not leave the door open for more. McQueen learned his lesson about balancing his need for speed with the big country life. Traveling around the world on a “high octane adventure” seems redundant and I have no proof that this movie was made because of a good story rather than to sell toys. O well, we’ll see
April 8th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Oh come on now. Everyone is so quick to write of Pixar as just another subsidiary of some corporate giant with their quality going into the toilet. Their track record is nothing less then spectacular; don’t be so quick to condemn based on a press release written by some studio hack.
Up and Newt look interesting and fresh and I’m I the only one who is curious to see how Pixar can handle a classic, large scale serious fairy tale? Brenda Chapman looks like she has the bona fides to handle this film.
I’ll grant you Cars 2 is probably gonna suck, but smart money is with Pixar continuing their run of excellent films.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Jesus you lot are a pathetic, cynical bunch.
Maybe take a time-out before you jump online to decry a film that hasn’t even started production yet. Seriously.
Also, for what it’s worth, these films aren’t even made for you. They’re family films - they’re sophisticated enough so that parents don’t neck themselves while watching them for the billionth time, but they’re made for KIDS.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Sorry M&Co,
Gotta disagree there. cinematic animation in general can easily be trucked into a corner for kids by most people. It’s also meant for every age, even adults. Uncle Walt, including his brother have said many times that there is a genius “design” in well-told story-telling and good art in animated films. Theres a set of new eyes every 10 years who discover the films they made and adults can be transported into them like any live-action movie today. If it’s “good” every age range can enjoy it.
I still enjoy many of the classic Disney films, along with the more obscure animated films made from some of their created legend animators after leaving Disney’s ranks. Miyazaki has proven that the story-telling design Walt Disney invoked and always spoke about works, if it’s done well.
I love Miyazaki’s work. The guy is a living embodiment that you can still create imaginative characters, stories, and worlds that don’t insult your intelligence (no matter what age you are) and even challenge your view of what a “villian” or a “hero” may be in your own eyes. Without holding your hand every step of the way.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:51 am
I think you misunderstand me Captain Awesome.
I’m not saying that Pixar films can’t be enjoyed by everyone - I love them and so does pretty much everyone I know - but they are still family entertainment first and foremost. The reality is they are produced for and marketed to kids, and they all have broad merchandising tie-ins.
The comments here suggest a bunch of fanboys have their panties in a bunch over the fact that the upcoming Pixar schedule doesn’t appeal to them. I’m saying that they was never intended to, and when you think about it a two-line summary of Monsters Inc or Finding Nemo could elicit the same response.
So my point is that everyone needs to just chill and wait and see how these films turn out because they might end up being classics. Judging a film before seeing so much as a frame of animation is moronic.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:17 am
I think peoples reactions are valid. I mean it’s not the first time we saw lists like these before Disney had quit 2d animation. They were rolling out sequels, and their line-ups began to bomb because of flooding the market with the same stuff.
My problem is Pixar being as talented as they are, filled with amazing artists are subjecting themselves to the same, boring, stuff thats been done before to death. I mean you can only run on the same story archs that have been in rotation since Snow White, right? I’d love to see Pixar’s talents put into projects that could challenge their talents and even create something that could almost resemble something they’ve never done before.
I just expect more from a group like them, especially since they’re always looked at with such high praise.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:28 am
The article calls TS3 a “sequel” - in my opinion it is not actually a sequel, really. The cost-saving benefits that DreamWorks gets from re-hashing the same characters 50,000 times over (a la Shrek #12) and the benefit of holding onto the brand of Shrek is an argument you can make against Cars 2, if you must. But TS3 will be a very strong movie, than can easily stand on it’s own without the previous 2. There are no technical benefits to re-using characters created in the mid-90’s, and it’s obvious that Pixar has a special place in it’s heart for TS3 - ergo the killing of the Disney version asap after the buyout.
I would not even think about TS3 as a sequel. Sure it “uses the same characters” but this will be FAR from a hacked together piece just for toy sales. It is going to be amazing. And with Michael Arndt writing it, I think it’s going to be really funny too.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Captain Awesome -
Re; your comment,
>> I’d love to see Pixar’s talents put into projects that could challenge their talents and even create something that could almost resemble something they’ve never done before.
Dude… when you see Wall-E, it’s gonna knock your socks off. You’ve never seen anything like it. :)
April 9th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Captain Awesome. I guess if you’re prepared to judge a film based on a brief and vague plot summary then we’re just fundamentally different.
I also find it surprising that everyone’s ready to dismiss these films even though Pixar have a sterling track record and haven’t dropped the ball once. Sure, Cars wasn’t their strongest moment, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable film and superbly crafted.
With regards to these upcoming films I think they all look solid and they’re all covering new ground for Pixar. A Fairy tale, a romantic comedy, an adventure film with a senior citizen as the protagonist… not to mention Wall E, which is a mostly dialogue-free science-fiction piece. I fail to see where they’re rehashing ideas or taking the easy path.
With regards to the sequels there’s simply nothing to say that they wont be great. You can hold these up to what happened with Disney if you’d like but personally I think that’s pointless. If it turns out that these films are dreck and Pixar have sold out hard I’ll happily eat my words but untill then I’m going to experience each film with an open mind - because that’s kind of the point isn’t it?
April 9th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I have to agree with Whiskey, what the hell!!?? Cars 2, where is my Incredibles 2. The Incredibles is a way better choice for a sequel than Cars 2. What the hell. I need me some more Parr Family hijinks and dysfunctionality. This sucks.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Everything sounds great, except for one little snippet:
“thrilling high-octane new installment of the “Cars†saga.”
Saga?
SAGA?
Really?
/just sayin’
April 9th, 2008 at 10:44 am
M,
I hope you’re right.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
anything PIXAR = love making to me.
NEWT and UP sound the best.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Cars 2 NO - Incredibles 2 YES!
April 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Captain Awesome has it pegged. It’s a slippery slope. Can’t any of you still smell the celluloid burning?
April 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I like the look of all the films, though I do not know what they are going to do with Cars 2. Pixar will find a way to make it good though. I am sure of it!
April 9th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Can’t agree more. The Incredibles have a lot more potential for good sequel stories than Cars. I love Cars, my kids love it and we have bought heaps of its merchandise. However, it stands as a good single story. Anyway, It is all business after all….
April 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
ALL of these films look amazing, and Cars 2 will be pretty good too - remember that’s only their FIRST film of 2012.
If you were given this big of a list of Pixar’s initial films you’d think they were dumb, too
“A rat tries to become a chef against all odds”
“A couple of fish try to find another fish against all odds”
“A bunch of ants have to defend themselves against all odds”
“A bunch of toys have adventures as crazy as crossing the street underneath traffic cones”
Personally looking forward to The Bear and the Bow the most; I’m 95% sure that director’s husband directed Enchanted, although that’s not what makes the movie seem great.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I liked the list right up to Cars 2. Seriously that was the worst film Pixar has made and now they want a sequel? Don’t they know that Nascar has peaked?
I, like others here, would have much preferred a Incredibles 2 if they *had* to make another sequel although I personally like the orginals. TS2 pulled it off and I’m looking forward to TS3 but I think they are pushing their luck here - ’specially with C2 - uggh.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
What about the live action film to be directed by Brad Bird [1906]
I don’t find it anywhere
April 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Control: The above is only the animated releases. Brad Bird’s 1906 is a live action collaboration between Pixar (development, computer generated effects…) and Warner Bros (who will distribute the film)
May 13th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I cant wait to see TS3! I have to agree with what M said about this movie not being a true sequel. I’m a little sceptical about “The Bear and the Bow” as that seems like a Disney movie that if not handled well could flop… I guess I’ve just been to disappointed by past Disney work to not be sceptical of it….
But Cars 2…. seriously that is in my opinion Pixar’s worst film. And I agree with Lee in asking where are the “Incredibles 2″??? That would be awesome!!!! Pixar has my trust until they start making mistakes we can only speculate until the movies are released… except for Cars 2 (which just seems to be all about more toy lines for the kiddies), I think Pixar knows what they are doing.
oh btw whats 1906?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Never doubt Pixar. You know Wall-E looked stupid the first time we saw it and heard the name for the first time. I know Cars sucked, but now they have a chance to make it better. As long as they keep it original and unique then theyll be fine.
I just hate all of this digital 3-D crap. Is it just me or do we all get tired and dizzy having the stupid glasses on for 2 hours? But whatever, never doubt Pixar !!!