Behind the Scenes of "Toy Story 3
Given the massive worldwide success of the first two installments – combined, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 have earned well over half a billion dollars internationally – it seems almost impossible to believe that Toy Story 3 was initially set to be made without Pixar’s involvement. Back before the famed animation studio was purchased by Disney, Disney, rather than wait for Pixar to emerge with their own version of Toy Story 3, had decided to go ahead and start production of the sequel on their own.
Fortunately, Disney’s deal with Pixar gave John Lasseter the power to kill the unauthorized sequel and the legendary animator eventually rebooted the movie with a number of Pixar regulars behind the scenes.
After Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich came up with the film’s basic storyline, Michael Arndt, an Oscar winner for Little Miss Sunshine, was hired to write the screenplay and Unkrich landed the plum gig of director (and instantly became only the third person, after Lasseter and Brad Bird, to helm a Pixar project by himself). It wasn’t long before everyone involved began to realize just what was at stake, as the second installment in this ongoing series remains one of the most respected and beloved films in animation history.
As Unkrich remarks in the movie’s production notes, "In the history of Hollywood, there are only a few second films that are as good as the first, and we really couldn’t think of any good third movies. The only one that came to mind was The Return of the King, which was really more like the third part of one giant story.
That’s when I had an epiphany. We needed the three movies to feel like part of one grand story. And that’s always been the driving force for us in creating Toy Story 3." Bearing that in mind, Unkrich, Lasseter, and Stanton holed themselves up in the same cabin where the original Toy Story was hatched and eventually emerged with the concept of sending Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the rest of the gang to a daycare center.
From there, the filmmaking team’s biggest priority was to take advantage of the many advances in computer-generated animation without sacrificing the indelible and downright iconic appearance of the core characters. Says Unkrich, "The films we make now are really gorgeous. I didn’t want Toy Story 3 to feel like it was in a completely different design universe – it’s still a Toy Story film – but I certainly wanted to take advantage of the technology and artistry of which we’re currently capable. I believe we’ve created a film that sits comfortably alongside the first two films, yet looks exponentially better in so many ways."
One of the biggest advantages of setting the movie at a daycare was the opportunity to introduce new toys, as the series’ regulars are inevitably forced to interact with over a dozen fresh characters – including a plush stuffed animal named Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), a pompous hedgehog, and a brash and swinging Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton). This is in addition to the presence of such familiar faces as Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), and Jessie (Joan Cusack), and although the voice of Slinky Dog, Jim Varney, passed away in 2000, the character is represented this time around by actor Blake Clark.
And as has become the norm among modern animated offerings, Toy Story 3 is the first installment in this series to receive the 3D treatment right from its inception (as opposed to being converted into 3D like Toy Story and Toy Story 2 back in 2009). The goal of the filmmakers was to ensure that the technology was used to enhance the storytelling; says Unkrich, "Our approach tends to use 3D as a window into the world so the audience can experience everything in depth."
In possibly concluding the saga of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy’s toys, Toy Story 3 brings everything full circle and ensures that the legacy of the first two films remains intact. "Toy Story has always been about us," notes Lasseter. "So much of me, Andrew, Pete Docter, Joe Ranft, and Lee has seeped into these stories about Buzz and Woody, and I think Toy Story 3 continues that. For me personally, I was able to tap into the real emotion of taking my son to college. It was an immensely powerful emotion. You’re with someone since birth, and then all of a sudden they’re going away. The timing between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 was perfect for letting Andy – and our own life situations – grow up."
* * * *
Toy Story 3 hits theaters on June 18, 2010.
Fortunately, Disney’s deal with Pixar gave John Lasseter the power to kill the unauthorized sequel and the legendary animator eventually rebooted the movie with a number of Pixar regulars behind the scenes.
After Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich came up with the film’s basic storyline, Michael Arndt, an Oscar winner for Little Miss Sunshine, was hired to write the screenplay and Unkrich landed the plum gig of director (and instantly became only the third person, after Lasseter and Brad Bird, to helm a Pixar project by himself). It wasn’t long before everyone involved began to realize just what was at stake, as the second installment in this ongoing series remains one of the most respected and beloved films in animation history.
As Unkrich remarks in the movie’s production notes, "In the history of Hollywood, there are only a few second films that are as good as the first, and we really couldn’t think of any good third movies. The only one that came to mind was The Return of the King, which was really more like the third part of one giant story.
That’s when I had an epiphany. We needed the three movies to feel like part of one grand story. And that’s always been the driving force for us in creating Toy Story 3." Bearing that in mind, Unkrich, Lasseter, and Stanton holed themselves up in the same cabin where the original Toy Story was hatched and eventually emerged with the concept of sending Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the rest of the gang to a daycare center.
From there, the filmmaking team’s biggest priority was to take advantage of the many advances in computer-generated animation without sacrificing the indelible and downright iconic appearance of the core characters. Says Unkrich, "The films we make now are really gorgeous. I didn’t want Toy Story 3 to feel like it was in a completely different design universe – it’s still a Toy Story film – but I certainly wanted to take advantage of the technology and artistry of which we’re currently capable. I believe we’ve created a film that sits comfortably alongside the first two films, yet looks exponentially better in so many ways."
One of the biggest advantages of setting the movie at a daycare was the opportunity to introduce new toys, as the series’ regulars are inevitably forced to interact with over a dozen fresh characters – including a plush stuffed animal named Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), a pompous hedgehog, and a brash and swinging Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton). This is in addition to the presence of such familiar faces as Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), and Jessie (Joan Cusack), and although the voice of Slinky Dog, Jim Varney, passed away in 2000, the character is represented this time around by actor Blake Clark.
And as has become the norm among modern animated offerings, Toy Story 3 is the first installment in this series to receive the 3D treatment right from its inception (as opposed to being converted into 3D like Toy Story and Toy Story 2 back in 2009). The goal of the filmmakers was to ensure that the technology was used to enhance the storytelling; says Unkrich, "Our approach tends to use 3D as a window into the world so the audience can experience everything in depth."
In possibly concluding the saga of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy’s toys, Toy Story 3 brings everything full circle and ensures that the legacy of the first two films remains intact. "Toy Story has always been about us," notes Lasseter. "So much of me, Andrew, Pete Docter, Joe Ranft, and Lee has seeped into these stories about Buzz and Woody, and I think Toy Story 3 continues that. For me personally, I was able to tap into the real emotion of taking my son to college. It was an immensely powerful emotion. You’re with someone since birth, and then all of a sudden they’re going away. The timing between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 was perfect for letting Andy – and our own life situations – grow up."
* * * *
Toy Story 3 hits theaters on June 18, 2010.
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