'Brave' Director Writing And Directing New Original Project

Mark Andrews, like many of Pixar's feature directors, has a long history at the company. He worked on The Incredibles as story supervisor, and directed the short One Man Band, and co-wrote Jack-Jack Attack and One Man Band. He was promoted to director of Brave when Brenda Chapman was removed, and watched the film go on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. (A nice feather in his cap, even if that win came as a surprise, given that other nominated films are arguably more successful stories than Brave.)

Now Andrews is at work on a new film, and it is an original concept that he is writing and directing. That should come as good news to those concerned about Pixar's increasing interest in making sequels. At least, we presume he's making the film at Pixar, as his comment about the project comes at the end of a string of talk about a possible Brave sequel at the company.

Speaking to the Scotsman while in Glasgow to begin a mentoring project for Scottish students, Andrews said,

I am currently working on another film, which is original and is being written and directed by me, but that's all I can say about that.

And what about a sequel to Brave? After winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature the idea of a sequel to the most recent original film from Pixar seems like something we can expect to see.

If we got the right story it would be fun – to get the gang back together again, add a few more new characters and find out what other Scottish talents are out there that might want to do a animated fun.

I don't know if there will be another one. We never make a film at Pixar to have a sequel. It is always nice when you do and we kind of have a philosophy that if we find the right story then we will. Surely the marketing and success of Brave says that you can have one and they will come. Make it and they will come.

That's a pretty standard sequel answer — love to do one, if we can. It's what just about anyone would say at this point.

Andrews also commented in an interesting way on the Oscars:

Going up to get the Oscar was probably one of the scariest things I have ever done. I thought Wreck-It Ralph was going to win so when they said it was Brave I thought 'Oh no!' It is not a very friendly audience. You have all the actors, who are all charming and beautiful people individually, but they don't want to be at the Oscars either. They are just staring at you.