Thanks For Nothing, Lasseter-San

Well, there goes any chance of ever getting this DVD released in the US. Thanks for nothing, jerkwad.

This rolling wave of harassment scandals sweeping Hollywood and Washington reminds me my freshman year in high school in 1989, when the Berlin Wall and Iron Curtain both crumbled. Every day, you were asking, "Who's next?" There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air.

I have great admiration for the Pixar movies, and will always respect John Lasseter the film artist. He helped to transform animation in a manner not seen since Walt Disney, for better and for worse. But his behavior is shameful, degrading and deeply destructive to countless lives. He needs to go. Now.

Let Pete Docter run the place instead. He's from Minnesota, he's nice. He's not a disgusting, hypocritical pig.

P.S. You just know that Hayao Miyazaki is going to dish out the trash talk, sooner or later.

Riffs: Porco Rosso, Finding Nemo

Here is a charming little Easter Egg for Studio Ghibli and Pixar fans. This shot of sailors joining together to form a giant arrow in Porco Rosso was directly riffed in Finding Nemo, where a large school of fish join together in another arrow. It's a funny little gag that works on its own, and if you're a Miyazaki fan, you'll be especially delighted.

Aside from the Totoro cameos in Toy Story 3, can you think of any Ghibli riffs in the Pixar movies? Any takers? Bueller?

What is Going to Happen to Pixar?

Disney's Oscar win for Big Hero 6 was a massive upset, and firmly resurrects the company's fabled animation studios to greatness. With a solid string of critical and commercial hits, including Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled, and Frozen, and now two Academy Awards in a row, it leaves an unsettling question lingering in the background: What is going to happen to Pixar? Does the studio have a future?

This sounds like an odd question, but hear me out. I think there are solid reasons for asking. Let's consider the recent accumulation of evidence:

1) Ever since Disney bought the Pixar studio, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull have thoroughly transformed Disney's own animation studios, changing the corporate structure to away from the older, every-project-for-itself ethos, and adopting Pixar's own "brain trust" model of cooperation and teamwork. Creativity is encouraged from all people, regardless of who works on which movie. The Pixar model is now fully transplanted at Disney.

2) The quality of Disney's feature animated films has skyrocketed since 2008. I think the success of these films speak for themselves: Tangled, Winnie the Pooh (2011), Wreck-It Ralph, Planes, Frozen, Big Hero 6. Some of these could easily pass for Pixar films. And Frozen became an all-time global blockbuster. With five Academy Awards in three years (two Feature Film, two Short Film, one Original Song), there can be no question that Disney Animation is back.

3) While Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) has surged, Pixar has struggled creatively. Yes, their movies are still highly successful with the global box office, and the studio's string of box-office hits has yet to be broken. But they're relying far too heavily on sequels - Toy Story 3, Monsters U, Finding Dory, The Incredibles 2, Cars 3...And another Toy Story directed by Lasseter-san himself (you didn't really believe TS3 was the last one, right?).

Meanwhile, Brave and The Good Dinosaur both struggled in production, resulting in delays and shakeups in the director's chairs. And, be honest: weren't you disappointed that Pixar's first original movie since the buyout was a princess fairy tale? Brave may be a good movie, but it just felt wrong, like somebody swapped it with Wreck-It Ralph by mistake. What happened to Pixar's "Rubber Soul" phase, the era that gave us Ratatouille, Wall-E, and the first act of Up?

Pete Docter's upcoming feature, Inside Out, promises to be a return to form, but this only highlights the length of the studio's current drought. Anyone can see that most of the creative energy has been invested in the Disney side of the aisle.

4) The Cars franchise has already made the jump from Pixar to Disney, with 2013's Planes and 2014's Planes: Fire & Rescue. The series is immensely popular with children, especially in regard to the toys. Every time I walk into the Disney Store at the Mall of America, the Cars & Planes toys are everywhere. It is not inconceivable that more movie franchises will see sequels or spin-offs appear on the Disney side.

5) The lines between Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios are blurring. Eventually, the lines may disappear completely. Both siblings feature the same bosses, the same brain trust, the same creative spirit, and more of the same franchises. Pixar has become effectively cloned. How much longer until the "Disney" and "Pixar" brands just become "Disney"? To the general public, the two are the same, and always have been ever since Toy Story back in 1995.

6) Pixar has suffered a brain drain. This is arguably the most troubling development. Founding "Pixar brain trust" member Joe Ranft was killed in a 2995 car crash, and fellow director Andrew Stanton left the studio to pursue live-action films. Same goes for Brad Bird, arguably Pixar's greatest director, and the closest thing we have to an American Takahata.  Their loss leaves a void that has yet to be filled.

Again, notice how two Pixar directors, Brenda Chapman (Brave) and Bob Peterson (The Good Dinosaur), struggled with productions and were eventually replaced.  And what's that? Stanton and Bird are coming back? Terrific, thank God that...Oh, wait. More sequels. Sigh.

These are the questions that are roaming freely in my mind. I'm a great fan of the Pixar movies, like most of you. I think Toy Story was a revelation, daring and fresh and wildly innovative, openly willing to ignore stale convention and cynical corporate meddling. It felt exciting, new. And that feeling was reinforced again and again. No more. That mojo lies in Pixar's hallowed halls. It lies in Disney's. And so, we must ask the questions again: What is going to happen to Pixar? Does the studio have a future?

My own personal hope (the one I championed in my "Rubber Soul" essay) would be that Pixar continued to push the boundaries of American animation, breaking with Disney conventions and commercial expectations to thoroughly as to create a new paradigm for the medium. Why couldn't Pixar create its answer to Hedgehog in the Fog, or The Man Who Planted Trees, or Heidi, Girl of the Alps, or Omohide Poro Poro, or Night on the Galactic Railroad? Today, sadly, that dream seems more impossible than ever. The most likely future for Pixar, in my humble opinion, is that they continue as a legacy/sequel factory in the short term, eventually becoming fully absorbed into the WDAS brand in the long run.

John Lasseter, Fashion Icon

We never say enough good things about John Lasseter here on Ghibli Blog.  Pioneer, visionary, movie guru, story-teller...and fashion icon.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  And he is gonna party like it's 1985.

Just in case you were curious, this photo comes from Lasseter-san, Arigatou, a direct-to-DVD video diary of Hayao Miyazaki's visit to the United States in support of Spirited Away.  Lasseter-san was almost single-handedly responsible for making that happen, and has been Ghibli's patron saint in the US ever since.  Ghibli created this DVD as their way of saying thanks.  It's a terrific little movie; Disney should release it over here.

STEVE JOBS HAS DIED

A shocking and devastating loss for the world, one of the true geniuses of the Computer Revolution.  I'm speechless.  I have no words.

I searched Youtube, and felt this tribute video was the most appropriate.  It fits the mood of the hour and honors Jobs' life.  It's a very touching video, and was created barely over a month ago.  Thank you.

Photos: Cars on Blu-Ray

This coming Tuesday, Disney/Pixar is reissuing Cars along with The Incredibles.  I'm not too sure what's different from the existing Blu-Ray release, to be honest.  This is timed to coincide with this summer's Cars 2, which is going to become one of the biggest movie hits of the summer.  Ah, well, get used to seeing the same movies released again and again, just like DVD.

These screenshots come from the always-excellent forums at Blu-Ray.com.  Enjoy, kids!

Photos: The Incredibles on Blu-Ray

Pixar's The Incredibles will be coming home to Blu-Ray on Tuesday.  I'm a big fan of Brad Bird's two Pixar movies, so naturally I'm looking forward to this release.  I like the stylized design of the characters, the costumes, and the overall world.  One part super-hero spoof, one part James Bond spoof, and a surprising amount of depth.  Bird is wasting his talents on hack Hollywood pictures like Mission: Impossible 4: Electric Boogaloo and McBain's Revenge: Fatal Discharge.  He should be making movies at Pixar, and he should have the freedom to make movies his way.  Just my two cents.

These screenshots come from Blu-Ray.com, always a helpful resource for BD fans.  Gracias!

500 Pixar Scenes in Seven Minutes

This is a terrific fan-made video that's making the rounds.  It contains 500 scenes from all 11 Pixar feature films, all packed into seven minutes.  Lee Unkrich just gave his thumbs-up on his Twitter feed, and that's how I discovered it.  Enjoy this while you're in between innings.

Totoro May Make a Cameo Appearance in Pixar's Monsters University

I couldn't pass this info along earlier, since I was at work, but someone I know via email passed along a couple early pre-production drawings of Pixar's upcoming sequel to Monsters Inc, Monsters University.  Because of the mutual love and respect between Pixar and Studio Ghibli, and because Totoro's cameo in Toy Story 3 was so well received, the artists are toying with the idea of doing it again.

The idea was proposed back in 2009 during the production of Pete Docter's UP, as well as the US theatrical premier of Ponyo.  The Pixar artists pitched the idea to Hayao Miyazaki, and donated this painting of Totoro with his new friends Sully and Mike.  The idea of a cameo in the Monsters prequel has been quietly germinating ever since, as both studios are understandably cautious about spilling secrets.

Yes, I know, we all had a good laugh with that April Fools prank.  It was a funny joke.  But trust me on this one.  If you don't believe me, here's a video clip from Japanese television, which features the Totoro-Monsters Inc painting, with autographs by the Pixar staff.  Enjoy!

Haha haha! I sent this one in too late, didn't I? I still say it's funny. And it's still April Fools till Midnight!

Pixar Meets My Neighbor Totoro

Hmm, it appears some folks are skeptical about the idea of Pixar and Totoro joining together.  It's not as far-fetched an idea as it appears.  Take a look at these drawings and paintings, created by Pixar artists, that bring their vision of Totoro's world to life.  I really enjoy these paintings, and I'm sure you'll like them, too.

The following drawings were created by (in order): Pete Docter (minnesota native and director of Monsters Inc and UP), Peter Sohn (Pixar animator and voice of Emile in Ratatouille), Paul Topolos (concept art for The Incredibles and Ratatouille), and Nate Wragg (end title sequence in Ratatouille).  Finally, the CGI Totoro from the previous post was rendered by Richard Vander Wende, who worked on Disney's Aladdin back in 1992.

All of this artwork was created in 2008 for the Totoro Forest Project, a joint venture between the US and Japan to preserve the wilderness of the area outside Tokyo known as "Totoro's Forest."  The area has been a personal cause of Hayao Miyazaki for over a decade.

Pixar's My Neighbor Totoro Coming Christmas 2011

Well, obviously, the graphic speaks for itself.  I couldn't go to bed without passing the good news along.  There's nothing more I need to say, is there?  Thanks to JapanCinema.net for the tip.

The House From Pixar's Up in Minecraft

This was too cool a sight to pass up.  Somebody created, in painstaking detail, Carl's house from Up in Minecraft.  I'd actually like to see an animation in this style, it would really work in a retro sort of way.  Is CG old enough now to have a retro scene?

In case you've never heard of Minecraft, it's the best video game to come along in ages, an indie sensation, and a colossal time sink.  Also, it's the scariest thing ever - I'm probably going to have a heart attack from all the monsters zapping me from out of nowhere.  Ah, good fun.

Pixar Image Computer 1987 Demo Reel

While everyone knows Pixar for their computer animated films, the company's first venture was an advanced computer aimed at scientific applications.  The Pixar Image Computer was intended to compete against the powerful and uber-expensive super computers of its time, at a fraction of the cost.

This demonstration reel from 1987 shows a number of uses and applications by the Pixar computer in action.  It's vitally important to understand that computers were moving out of the labs and into the greater world in the 1980s.  The "Computer Age" was very new, and very unknown, to the great masses.  The very idea of computer graphics and animation, and graphics as icons (think of the original Macintosh), these are new and novel concepts that must be won over in the market.  It seems so obvious and simple now, but hindsight is always 20/20, as they say.

It's fascinating to contemplate the twin paths of attack taken by Pixar at this time.  In 1986, John Lasseter created Luxo, Jr. and was busy bridging the gap between computer graphics and traditional animation theory.  And Pixar was likewise pushing the limits of computer graphics technology for more serious applications.  It's easy to see how they are building the foundations for their eventual global domination.  There's a reason why these guys and gals are always three steps ahead of everyone else in Hollywood.

I think this is they key reason why Pixar's work remains sincere and honest, while rival CGI studios like Dreamworks and Blue Sky appear so brazenly cynical.  They're all trying to be Poochie - loud, brash, false, "hip."  It's the difference between the student who slacks off and skips half his classes, and the dedicated undergrad who does his homework.  Is there any surprise who's on top?

Pixar Turns 25 Years Old

February 3, 2011 marked the 25th birthday to our very beloved Pixar; on this date in 1986, Steve Jobs purchased Lucasfilm's computer graphics division, which was formed by George Lucas in 1979, and set out to create an independent computer graphics company.  The Pixar Image Computer was their first product, aimed at the commercial and scientific markets; this powerful computer also gave the company its name.  Pixar would quickly emerge as pioneers in the emerging field of computer animation, which was red-hot in the 1980s.

I think these guys made a couple of short movies, or something.  I really don't know whatever happened to them.  I mean, who's ever heard of an obscure '80s computer graphics firm called Pixar?  There might be something on the internet if you dig deep enough. (/lol)

The wonderful folks at Cartoon Brew posted Pixar's February 10, 1986 press release, announcing the creating of the new company.  I hope they won't mind too terribly if I re-post the photos here.  I'd also like to find some early Pixar videos on Youtube (ya know, with the original square logo); maybe this weekend I'll post some videos of early CGI animation.

Photos: Toy Story 2 on Blu-Ray

Some terrific screenshots (720p) of the newly-released Toy Story 2 on Blu-Ray.  I'm still undecided on whether Toy Story 2 is better than the original movie.  Both are excellent, well-crafted and skillful films, and there's a deeper emotional undertone present in the sequel.  So I can appreciate the praises of fans and critics.  But there's something to be said for the back-and-forth comedy between Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the original movie.  They were the perfect "odd couple," and I can't shake the feeling that some of their magic was lost once they became best friends.  Theirs is an Ernie-and-Bert friendship.

Thanks, once again, to BluRay.com for supplying their many screenshots of the movie.  You can visit their Toy Story 2 page and check everything out.  These photos really look fantastic, like Christmas every day.

Photos: Toy Story on Blu-Ray

Excellent news for all Pixar fans, as Toy Story 1 and 2 are now available on Blu-Ray.  I'm really looking forward to seeing these movies in their high-definition glory...that is, once I can save up for a Blu-Ray player and a fancy-schmancy LCD set.

As always, you can click on the photos to see them in their full size (720p).  This really looks fantastic.  The first Toy Story remains far and away my favorite Pixar movie, so expect this to quickly become one of my "go-to" movies.  Oh, and did you spot the books on the shelf behind Woody?  I always love Pixar's references and inside jokes.

These screenshots come courtesy of the fine folks at BluRay.com.

Totoro Cameo Appearance in Toy Story 3

Look who has a cameo in the upcoming Toy Story 3...

Yeeehh!!  This is a massive surprise.  I honestly never expected to see Totoro or any Studio Ghibli character in a Pixar movie.  This will bring the Ghibli Freaks out in droves.  Of course, we were going to show up in droves, anyway...

The Oscar Nominations Are In - Up is In, Ponyo is Snubbed

82nd Academy Awards Nominees

I'm sure everybody has had a chance to look over this morning's Oscar nominations.  It's a pretty good list overall, but I'm reminded of the Simpson's episode where Homer is recruited as a NASA astronaut and launched into space.  "Get the rating" seems to be the mantra.

And if Hollywood wanted an Oscar drama to bring in the viewers, hoo boy, they got it.  James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, divorced couple, in the lead for most nominations, for Best Director and Best Picture?  It smacks of calculation, but it just may work.  The expansion to ten Best Picture nominees was another attempt to attract viewers, and we can see an effort to pick movies outside of the art-house circuit.

Roger Ebert observes that the five Best Director films are the "serious" Best Picture nominees, the real contenders, and I'll have to agree with him.  It's not that I expected Pixar's Up to be a credible contender; we're just happy to be nominated.

I do think the push for Avatar speaks more for Hollywood's desperation to sell expensive 3D movies than anything.  Is Avatar really worthy of nine nominations?  Is it really one of the year's best movies?  I find that very hard to swallow.  In all fairness, I have to see this movie, but it's not the kind of movie I'd want to see.  Special effects blockbusters with video game graphics are not my thing.  I need more than sugar in my diet.  But I'll go watch one of these days and give it a fair chance.  Maybe it won't feel like an Xbox version of Dances With Wolves (ugh).

Now let's get to the Animation categories.  First, congratulations to Pixar for Up's Best Picture nomination.  Hollywood has now officially apologized for snubbing Wall-E.  I hope this bodes well for animation, and that it inspires studios to move beyond the safe boundaries of summer roller coaster rides and family formulas.

Now to Best Animation Feature.  Ponyo wuz robbed.  Boo!!  That's an unacceptable omission, and either reflects the Motion Picture Academy's ignorance of animation, or bias against foreign movies.  Perhaps they feel that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli received their praises for the Spirited Away Oscar, and that's enough.  More "statement" awards.  I'm really tired of that.  It's as though everybody gets a nomination or a statue just for hanging around long enough.  This year, it's your turn.  Next year it's theirs.

I'll pull out this argument when Sandra Bullock wins over Meryl Streep.  Sorry, but some film artists simply dominate, and that should be acknowledged.

Nominations for Best Animation Feature: Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, The Secret of Kells, and Up.  Pixar is the easy favorite, as always.  There is a possibility, however, that the Academy will consider Up's Best Picture nod to be "their award" this year, and hand this Oscar to someone else.  I think Coraline could be a fan favorite, as it's a clever and charming movie that's skillfully hand-crafted.  Fantastic Mr. Fox is a critic's favorite, but its appeal is limited.  It's happy to be nominated.  Disney could win for Princess and the Frog.  That would be a plus for hand-drawn animation, but wouldn't that be a lazy win?  Will it be seen as a box-office disappointment, of an overlooked classic?

Secret of Kells is the real shocker.  I didn't expect this at all.  I'm not even sure if it played in the Twin Cities.  Another win for hand-drawn animation; in fact, this is a very solid collection of films.  It shows the diversity of the animation artform, its vitality and creativity.

Still, Secret of Kells snuck in like some lucky wild card team.  Ponyo deserved that spot.  Hell, Ponyo deserved a Best Picture nod alongside Up, but that's an old speech of mine, and it's all water under the bridge.  Life continues.

Up was also nominated for Music (Original Score), and I think they're the clear winner.  Michael Giacchino brought the film to life, especially the emotionally-charged opening act.  It's a beautiful score, reminiscent of Fellini's movies.  The only possibility of an upset is if Avatar sweeps everything - and remember, Hollywood is desperate to sell us on 3D movies and 3D televisions.  It's the battle between art and commerce.

Finally, Up received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and as a writer, I'm glad to see Pixar recognized for their work.  Far too many animated movies are nothing more than video game demos, roller coaster rides.  Pixar has wisely focused on the essentials of storytelling, focused on the craft of filmmaking, and that's why they're where they are today.  The competition is too fierce in this category, so I couldn't expect a Pixar win.  It's good to be nominated.

Don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to this year's Oscars.  This should be fun.  Just don't let Cameron walk away with everything.  Please let there be some surprises for once.

Cars 2 Concept Art

The Pixar Blog has a concept art painting from Cars 2, which is currently in development.  The illustration accompanied Disney's annual report.  You can see the concept drawing here.

Hayao Miyazaki's Thoughts on Pixar's Up

A dedicated reader passed along this Youtube link, a segment from Japanese television showing Hayao Miyazaki welcoming Pete Doctor and Pixar and discussing their latest movie, Up.  The video clip includes subtitles of Miyazaki's comments, but only in Japanese.  I'm sure this will make it easier for someone to translate it into English.

If someone could help out with that, it would be greatly appreciated.  You could either send me an email so I could post it here, or you could just use the comments.