Had occasion recently to watch the better-than-decent documentary The Pixar Story. I saw it on Netflix, but of course, it's also on the morally ambiguous YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgpKWdIGl-c&feature=related
At any rate, there's a lot of talk about Disney in there. Not surprising, since Pixar co-founder John Lasseter attended the art school Walt Disney founded, learned from the guys who animated Snow White, and got a job at Disney animation upon his graduation.
Of course, Disney dumped him when he started getting excited about computer animation (The Brave Little Toaster!), so that wasn't so good. Then Disney almost ruined Toy Story, thanks to Katzenberg's insistence on "edginess." Then, when Pixar started its incredible run of hits, Disney panicked and fired all their traditional animators. And then, Disney almost let Pixar walk, until the new boss at Disney noticed that Pixar had produced all the iconic animated characters of the last 10 years or so. Long story short: Pixar acts, and Disney reacts, often poorly.
In unrelated news, here is the very funny "blooper reel" for Toy Story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRI-MZwvpg&feature=related
And here is the somewhat less funny "blooper reel" for The Lion King, which is getting the 3D release treatment in a little bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1VDLIPYgmE
I guess what impresses me is their bold willingness to admit that their best work is behind them?
Had occasion recently to watch the better-than-decent documentary The Pixar Story. I saw it on Netflix, but of course, it's also on the morally ambiguous YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgpKWdIGl-c&feature=related
At any rate, there's a lot of talk about Disney in there. Not surprising, since Pixar co-founder John Lasseter attended the art school Walt Disney founded, learned from the guys who animated Snow White, and got a job at Disney animation upon his graduation.
Of course, Disney dumped him when he started getting excited about computer animation (The Brave Little Toaster!), so that wasn't so good. Then Disney almost ruined Toy Story, thanks to Katzenberg's insistence on "edginess." Then, when Pixar started its incredible run of hits, Disney panicked and fired all their traditional animators. And then, Disney almost let Pixar walk, until the new boss at Disney noticed that Pixar had produced all the iconic animated characters of the last 10 years or so. Long story short: Pixar acts, and Disney reacts, often poorly.
In unrelated news, here is the very funny "blooper reel" for Toy Story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRI-MZwvpg&feature=related
And here is the somewhat less funny "blooper reel" for The Lion King, which is getting the 3D release treatment in a little bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1VDLIPYgmE
I guess what impresses me is their bold willingness to admit that their best work is behind them?