Where's The Party At?

Pixar's The Good Dinosaur was to have a Monsters University short film attached to it. Problem is, that Pixar film had been delayed from its planned summer 2014 release to the autumn of 2015. Of course, we all know this happened and why it had to happen, but…

What will happen with the short?

The short in question, Party Central, must be somewhere near completion at this point. At one point it was intended to be the obligatory short on the film's Blu-ray and DVD. It was unveiled for the first time at this year's D23 Expo during the Good Dinosaur presentation. However, was Party Central a Pixar Canada production? If so, then either the production is no more or it has been moved back to Emeryville so it can be completed.

Since there is no Pixar film coming out next year, what will Party Central be attached to?

First, let's rule out all of Disney's live action blockbuster releases. No way this thing is attached to something like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Maleficent, obviously. Let's rule out all the PG-13 stuff along with the smaller-scale live action stuff… Only one live action release in 2014 is a legitimate possibility… Muppets Most Wanted.

Why Muppets Most Wanted? It's the closest release to The Good Dinosaur's original date (May 30th). Also, the Toy Story toon Small Fry was attached to The Muppets, so I can definitely see that Pixar/Muppets double-whammy happening again.

I can't see them attaching it to Planes: Fire and Rescue, because that film is really for kids only unlike Muppets Most Wanted and the other animated release for 2014. Adults and teens like Pixar, but they are the least likely audiences to pay to see something like the Planes sequel. Pixar wants everyone to see the short, so why attach it to a kids-only flick?

The other big possibility, and the last of Disney's animated and/or family-friendly releases for 2014, is Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6. A Cars Toon was attached to Bolt in theaters back in 2008, plus, Big Hero 6 has the biggest box office potential of the three G/PG films Disney is releasing next year. However, Big Hero 6 might possibly be Disney Animation's first PG-13 film considering that it's based on a Marvel comic. Also, according to Blue Sky Disney way back in 2011, Wreck-It Ralph almost got that rating, believe it or not. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney Animation broke the tradition and made a PG-13 film, but that's pure speculation at this point.

If not those three films, then it will be a home media exclusive. I can imagine it popping up on a Blu-ray for something like Toy Story of Terror (if that gets a release next autumn, which would be nice), since it is about monsters and that would fit in with the Halloween theme of the special.

What do you think? Theatrical? Or home media only? What film could it possibly be attached to next year?

Farewell, Pixar Canada...

Shocking news hit today... Pixar Canada is no more.

Reported by The Province, the Vancouver-based studio who produced short films like the Toy Story Toons and the post-2010 Cars Toons, has been shut down resulting in over 100 people being let go. Disney spokesperson Barb Matheson stated, "Staff were just told today. Not great news, obviously. It was just a refocussing of efforts and resources to the one facility."

Pixar also released a statement...

"The team at Pixar Canada has produced a wonderful slate of short films since opening in 2010, including Air Mater, Small Fry and Partysaurus Rex. As the dynamics of the animation industry continue to change rapidly, we continue to fine-tune our studio and its production processes. We have made the determination to refocus our creative and business efforts and resources under one roof. Pixar Canada will cease operations immediately."

If anything, this should not have happened. As the article points out, Vancouver is becoming a hotspot for animation studios. Sony Pictures Animation has a unit there, the makers of Sausage Party - Nitrogen Studios and several others. Pixar Canada was a great idea for short film and specials production, but moving that all back to the main building? I'm really not sure if that could work out or not, given Pixar's own problems with their scheduling.

Sad, sad news... I hope the staff end up at Pixar's main unit or find work immediately. Pixar Canada's work, visually, was well above competent. The Toy Story Toons and Cars Toons liked just fine, and I was anticipating what they would do next and it was possible that they'd bring Pixar into other realms beyond television. Pixar's big TV debut begins with Toy Story of Terror, which will be premiering next week on ABC... Hopefully the closing of this studio doesn't affect those plans to branch out.

Animation News Roundup: "Toy Story", MU, Ralph and Peanuts

A lot has gone around this week...

For starters, Pixar has announced what the title of the upcoming half-hour Toy Story special will be...

It will of course air in October 2013. A nice Halloween-themed Toy Story special sounds like a lot of fun, and again, I'm glad Pixar and Pixar Canada are going this route to keep the franchise going strong alongside the Toy Story Toons.

Next up is the big one. Want to enroll in Monsters University?

The viral marketing for Monsters University kicked off to a grand start with a page for Monsters University itself, similar to the website Disney marketing launched for Buy N' Large for WALL-E. With this, that means a new trailer will be here soon enough. Since the teaser, I predicted that the trailer will debut with Wreck-It Ralph on November 2nd. That might as well just happen, since Disney has followed this routine for past couple of years.

Last but not least is some awesome viral marketing for Wreck-It Ralph...

Disney marketing has now given us a flyer for the Fix-It Felix, Jr. arcade game, since flyers for arcade games were the norm in the early 1980s. This one for Galaga, for example...

This is paired with a retro commercial for Litwak's Arcade (the setting of the film) and the game itself, much like the retro Lots-O-Huggin' Bear ad Disney marketing created for Toy Story 3.



Isn't that something? Disney marketing is actually getting it right once again. No bland, by-the-numbers marketing like what we saw in Bolt and The Princess and the Frog's campaigns. Huge success is written all over this film. Also, Disney gave us an extended clip...

A nice little clip, and no real spoilers are on display here.

Last bust not least, Blue Sky Studios announced that a Peanuts film has been added to their schedule.

There have been animated films based on the classic characters before, most notably the four films (A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Come Home, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!!)) directed by Bill Melendez. Whether this will be a hand-drawn film or a computer animated film, we don't know. All we know is that it is slated for November 25, 2015 for the 50th anniversary of the television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Personally, I hope it's done in hand-drawn animation. I'm tired of all these updates of classic icons being done in computer animation. Audiences will love it just the same because they're the Peanuts! Come on! Also, I just hope that Blue Sky doesn't do what some other companies have done: Modernizing them or making them appeal to this generation. It should be a timeless film, and if done right, they can keep the Peanuts fresh with a new generation.

~

What do you think? What are your thoughts on this week's animation news? Are you looking forward to a Peanuts film? Are you looking forward to the Toy Story of Terror special? What do you think of the viral marketing for Wreck-It Ralph and Monsters University?