I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical when Disney bought out Pixar, thinking “That’s it, that’s the end of the golden era of Pixar”. There are still a lot of dangers for the two companies while they merge (not the least of which is Creative Head Honcho John Lassiter spreading himself too thin), but I’m optimistic that Pixar’s influence is going to rub off on Disney a lot more than the other way around.
This NY Times article describes Pixar’s business ethos, most interestingly the concept of “Pixar University”, an onsite school where all staff—from CEO to cafeteria cook—are encouraged to take any of over 100 courses in filmmaking, animation, drawing, sculpting or creative writing. Time briefly describes some of Pixar and Disney’s upcoming movies.
Pixar has already made the reassuring move of cancelling Disney’s knock-off Toy Story 3, saying they’re not categorically opposed to sequels of their movies, but only if they’re good. (There’s a big difference between Toy Story 2 and, say, The Lion King 1-1/2.)
And most encouragingly is Jim Hill Media‘s description of John Lassiter’s initial walkabout through the Walt Disney Features Animation unit and the Imagineering unit (the people who create the resort attractions and rides). At WDFA the gist of his message was: “If you don’t draw for a living, then you don’t belong here”, backing up the rumour that he will eliminate an entire layer of middle managers. Animation directors would no longer report to a bunch of bean-counting senior VPs, but only to him and the Disney/Pixar Animation president.
It’s a good start.
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Jeff K says:
February 1, 2006 at 9:50 am (UTC 0)
“The Daily Show” satirized the Pixar thing recently by referring to all of the movies as “Toy Story [something]”. I do believe they have been limited by the technology, after that initial creative burst. I really like photo-realistic CGI (e.g. The Matrix Reloaded, “The Island (2005)”). I don’t know if its your cup of tea, but compare the Japanese anime “Metropolis” to “The Island”‘s L.A. scene. Also, what were people’s reactions to 3D characters in, I think, “Duck Tales”?
Peter says:
February 1, 2006 at 11:03 am (UTC 0)
I thought Jon Stewart missed the boat there. Then again, he shows the same contempt for JK Rowling, but I bet that’ll change when his kids start watch the movies/reading the books.
My love of Pixar’s work has nothing to do with photo-realism, which is purely a red-herring technical issue. Technical issues can enhance a movie, but they can’t begin to make up for lack of craft in other areas (see The Matrix trilogy, The Island, Star Wars prequels, etc.)
It’s the craft Pixar shows in the writing and drawing and filmmaking, and how it appeals to both kids and adults. It’s the way the each movie is different from the other in plot and tone, not cookie-cutter, they don’t LIKE doing sequels. Not to mention they seem to be the only US animated movies these days that don’t devolve into a turgid mass of pop-culture references.
And who can deny that it’s nice to see that somewhere, someone is looking an entire layer of MBA-holding management in the eye and saying “Pack up your things!” Very satisfying in a Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Ark B kind of way.
Never seen the Japanese Metropolis. As for DuckTales, um…huh?