Disney News and Interviews From The Mouse Castle: Toy Story 3

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Disney/Pixar Takes Four Awards on Oscar Night

Toy Story 3

On a night when The King's Speech reigned over the Academy Awards, Disney and Pixar performed royally, winning a total of four Oscars, two each for Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland.

As expected, Toy Story 3 won for Best Animated Feature, beating out How to Train Your Dragon and The Illusionist. It also won Best Original Song for We Belong Together, written by Randy Newman. It was Newman's second win out of twenty nominations in his prolific career. His only previous win was for 2001's If I Didn't Have You from Monsters, Inc.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland took home the gold statuettes in two of the three categories it was nominated for, winning for Art Direction and Costume Design.

In his acceptance speech, Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich thanked the many creative people involved in the film, calling Pixar "the most awesome place on earth to make movies." Backstage, he acknowledged his fan base, sending "a shout out to all my followers on Twitter. It's been a blast sharing this journey with you." He continued by saying, "My friend and Pixar colleague, the late Joe Ranft, always said that making movies is like throwing a party and the whole world is invited. Well, I hope you enjoyed our party because we have had a blast."

Oscar winner Lee Unkrich

Toy Story 3 lost its Best Picture nod to The King's Speech, which won a total of four Oscars including Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Director (Tom Hooper) and Best Original Screenplay. Equalling The King's Speech's Oscar haul was Inception, which landed four awards for Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing and Visual Effects.

Best Actress went to Natalie Portman for her portrayal of the tortured ballerina in Black Swan. The Fighter scored wins in both Supporting categories for actor Christian Bale and actress Melissa Leo, who dropped an exuberant f-bomb during her acceptance speech that was bleeped during the broadcast.

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

'Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation' Movie Stills Released

Woody, Buzz and the rest of the Toy Story gang will be back in theaters this summer in the short cartoon Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation. It will run with Cars 2, set for release on June 24.

In Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation, Barbie and Ken fail in an attempt to stowaway with Bonnie on a trip to Hawaii, so the rest of the toys try to create a tropical paradise of their own to make up for it--with less than stellar results.

Hawaiian Vacation is one of two Toy Story shorts coming out this year. The second one will debut during the holidays with Disney's new Muppets movie.

Oscar Well Wishes

The 83rd Academy Awards are tomorrow night in Hollywood and Toy Story 3 has five nominations, including Best Picture and Best Animated Feature Film. Best of luck to director Lee Unkrich and the entire Pixar creative team on what should be a memorable night (you're a lock for Animated Film).

The Mouse Castle will also be rooting for Pixar's uber clever Day & Night, a nominee for Best Animated Short Film. This light hearted take on understanding and appreciating our differences was directed by Teddy Newton.

Related Article:
'Toy Story 3' Gets Five Oscar Nominations; Three for 'Alice in Wonderland'

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

'Toy Story 3' Gets Five Oscar Nominations; Three for 'Alice in Wonderland'

Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and Toy Story 3 led the charge for Disney, getting five nominations including Best Picture and Best Animated Feature Film. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland received three nominations for Art Direction, Costume Design and Visual Effects.

There were a few surprises for Disney, as Tangled failed to receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. With only three slots available, the Rapunzel fairy tale was bumped by the French film The Illusionist. The remaining nomination went to Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon. Tangled's only nomination was for Original Song ("I See the Light").

Another surprise was Tron: Legacy only scoring a single nomination for Sound Editing and getting shut out of Visual Effects and Original Score.

Disney/Pixar was also honored in the Best Animated Short Film category for the very clever Day & Night.

Toy Story 3's other nominations were for Adapted Screenplay, Sound Editing and Song ("We Belong Together"). The song was written by Randy Newman, who received his 19th Oscar nomination. Newman's only previous win was for Best Song for "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc.

Of Toy Story 3's five nominations, director Lee Unkrich's only comment on Twitter was "Speechless."

The Oscars will be presented in Hollywood on February 27.

This year's Best Picture nominees:
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Complete nominations list: http://oscar.go.com/

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Sunday, June 20, 2010

'Toy Story 3' is an Emotional and Visual Treat . . . in 2D

OK, let's get the gripes out of the way.

First, "Toy Story 3" is not as good as "Toy Story" or "Toy Story 2." But, then again, Michelangelo's David wasn't as good as the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Second, seeing "Toy Story 3" in 3D is totally unnecessary. The effect is subtle and adds absolutely nothing to the viewing experience. I grow less and less a fan of 3D with each new movie that uses it. The last 3D film I saw that was meaningful was "It's Tough to be a Bug" at Disney's California Adventure. Its silly, in-your-face insect gags are what 3D was meant for--and rightfully housed within an amusement park.

3D is a gimmick, not a medium unto itself. You don't need forced visual depth to appreciate the joy, warmth and emotion of "Toy Story 3," this rare sequel to a sequel that holds its own against its predecessors and brings a satisfying conclusion to the secret lives of toys.

"Toy Story 3" begins as Andy, the long-time owner of Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and their fellow toys, has grown up and is heading off to college. Still residing in Andy's old toy box, the gang anxiously awaits their fate. Will Andy take them to college with him? Are they destined to be boxed up in the attic or tossed to the trash heap on the curb? These are serious existential questions for toys. And while most of the toys resign themselves to a dismal future, Woody steadfastly believes that Andy will always take care of them.

Through a series of mishaps, the toys get carted off to Sunnyside, a daycare center that offers them a toy's dream: the opportunity to be played with always and forever. Sunnyside's toy world is overseen by Lotso (voiced with oily homespun charm by Ned Beatty), a seemingly kind and benevolent plush bear that harbors a dark secret. Among his top assistants is Ken (pitch-perfect Michael Keaton), a vain, shallow clotheshorse of a doll who can't come to grips with the fact that he's just a fashion accessory for Barbie. When this deceptively idyllic existence turns horribly wrong, it's up to Andy's toys to engineer an escape from daycare hell and find their way back to the only real home they've ever known, regardless of what might await them there.

As with the best Pixar films (just about all of them, when you come to think of it), story is king, and story guys John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich (who also directed) have crafted a tale that builds logically on the previous two movies rather than rehashes the old material (see: the "Shrek" sequels). The story inspires a screenplay by Michael Arndt that moves along at a brisk pace from fun to danger to sadness to satisfaction. If there's any criticism, it's that these characters have become too familiar, so there are no real surprises anymore, no joy of discovery that came when Woody and Buzz were fresh out of the box. They behave exactly like we expect them to, but we enjoy their company so much that we don't really mind.

The themes of abandonment and moving on with your life are prevalent to "Toy Story 3," so it's a much darker and sadder experience than the earlier films. The emotion is never belabored, though, and the movie keeps plenty of funny and light moments peppered throughout (Buzz's involuntary turn as a swashbuckling Spanish Lothario is a gem). But, keep the Kleenex handy. As decisions are made and goodbyes are said, the last half-hour will get to you.

With "Toy Story 3," Pixar does it again. Do these guys even know how to make a bad movie?

Just save your money and see it in 2D, ok?

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Friday, June 18, 2010

What Makes the 'Toy Story' Movies So Good?

Here are a few hints:

"The focus was to get great characters and a great story--that was the first and foremost thing. And we wanted really strong acting." John Lasseter, director, "Toy Story"

"This film is driven by characters and story first. And even though it is the first ever computer-animated film, the technique we're using is secondary to the story that we want to tell." Ralph Guggenheim, producer, "Toy Story"

"(After 'Toy Story') there was talk of a sequel almost immediately. The characters were so strong and well developed, we thought of them more like friends or family or fellow employees than we did creations." John Lasseter, director, "Toy Story 2"

"We're audience members first and film makers second." Andrew Stanton, co-writer, "Toy Story 2"

"At Pixar, we always felt that the only reason to do a sequel to "Toy Story" is if we could come up with the story that was as good as the first, but was different. And we really worked hard in the emotional side of the story because, you know, the humor and the staging and the action and the great visuals we knew would come. But, it's that emotion that was so important to us because what we value is a story in which characters change, characters grow." Lasseter, "Toy Story 2"

"It was, of course, our goal to make a movie worthy of the first two 'Toy Story' films. In the history of cinema, there are only a few sequels that are as good as the first, and we really couldn't think of any excellent third movies. The only one that came to mind was 'The Return of the King,' but that was really more like the third part of one giant story. That's when I had an epiphany. We needed the three 'Toy Story' movies to feel like part of one grand story. That notion became the driving force for us in creating 'Toy Story 3.'" Lee Unkrich, director, "Toy Story 3"

"It is our intention to make classic films that will last through the ages." Darla Anderson, producer, "Toy Story 3"

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

LEGO My Woody

Disney released a Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" this week (both movies look fantastic in hi-def, BTW). To promote the release, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and LEGO to construct a huge mural of the "Toy Story" characters in LEGO bricks.

Six individual sections of the mural were built at Boys & Girls Clubs locations in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, before being combined together in Los Angeles.

A Boys & Girls Club member puts a block in Buzz

Disney has had a long-standing relationship with the BGCA. Walt himself served on the organization's board of directors in the 1960s when it was just called the Boys Club.

Pixar Story Supervisor Jason Katz ("Toy Story," "Toy Story 2," "Toy Story 3") and LEGO Master Builder Erik Varszegi were on hand to host the event.

"Toy Story 3" hits theaters on June 18th.

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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What to See at D23 - Day Four

Pixar takes center stage on Sunday, the final day of the D23 Expo. Expect a heavy dose of "Toy Stories 1, 2 and 3" and an eye-popping print shirt on John Lasseter. Besides the shirt, here's what else stands out:

Sunday, 9/13/09

9:30 a.m. - The Making of Toy Story Midway Mania!, Storytellers Theater
It may seem like just a ride through a video game with "Toy Story" characters in it, but Midway Mania is a lot more than that, a technological marvel that integrates state-of-the-art ride mechanisms with elaborate gaming systems. Get the inside skinny on how the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions all work and, most importantly, how you can improve your score playing the game.

11:00 a.m. - The Future of Disney and Pixar Animation, D23 Arena
In what will probably be the most heavily attended presentation of the weekend, John Lasseter, the man who helped bring animation into the 21st century and the guiding force behind ten straight quality hit movies, will hold court in the D23 Arena, previewing not only what's in store for Pixar, but also what's waiting in the wings for Disney Animation. There'll be clips from "The Princess and the Frog," "Rapunzel" and "Toy Story 3" to be sure, but the main attraction will be the man himself. Lasseter is highly regarded by Disney fans, and deservedly so--he was a Jungle Cruise skipper, for God's sake! Don't miss what he has to say.

12:30 p.m. - Silver Banjo Barbecue Panel With David and Ron DeFore, Stage 23
A couple of years ago, I had the chance to meet Ron DeFore and had the most fascinating conversation with him about the early days of Disneyland. Here's a guy who, with his brother David, literally grew up at the Magic Kingdom where his father, TV personality Don DeFore ("The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," "Hazel") operated his own restaurant. There'll be plenty of tales told about Walt and Disneyland at this session, a fun and fanciful trip through the wayback machine.

1:00 p.m. - Special Muppets Presentation, Walt Disney Studios Theater
There's not a lot of background information on this presentation, making it all the more intriguing. Disney hasn't exactly done a lot with the Muppets since taking them over from The Jim Henson Company in 2004. Goodness knows "MuppetVision 3D" could use some freshening up. In August, promotional videos were shot at Disneyland featuring the Muppets, so it appears Disney is looking to give them a higher profile. Also, a new theatrical Muppet movie has supposedly been in the works for a while. Will it finally be time to put on makeup and light the lights again? Fingers crossed.

2:00 - How to be a Disneyana Detective With Tom Tumbush, Stage 23
Mickey Mouse meets the "Antiques Roadshow" when Disneyana expert Tom Tumbush shares tips on figuring out the value of your Disney collectibles. He'll even be available after the presentation to take a look at your old school memorabilia to see if you have any hidden Disney treasures.

3:00 p.m. - Imagineering Pixar for the Disney Parks, Storytellers Theater
Boy, produce ten straight animated hit movies and suddenly they want to build rides about them. Pixar has inspired a number of attractions at the Disney theme parks, including Toy Story Midway Mania, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and the upcoming Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure. John Lasseter returns, this time with a group of Pixar peeps and Disney Imagineers, to talk about what other Pixar projects are being developed.

6:30 p.m. - 'Toy Story 3' Special Presentation
7:00 p.m. - 'Toy Story' and 'Toy Story 2' Double Feature Premiere Screening
The first two "Toy Story" films have been retooled in 3D, which will not only create synergy with next year's "Toy Story 3(D)" but also a mountain of cash for Disney/Pixar. These back-to-back presentations will be the first public showings of the original movies in 3D (they hit theaters on October 2nd) and a sneak peek of "TS3," which will tell the story of what happens to Woody and Buzz and company when their owner Andy grows up.

Alrighty then, that finishes my take on all four days of presentations and previews at the D23 Expo. It all starts Thursday with an estimated 30,000 - 40,000 attendees through the weekend. The complete schedule can be found on D23's website. Tomorrow, I'll have more on the can't-miss pavilions to see at the Expo and, don't forget, live updates all week on Facebook and Twitter.

See you real soon!

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Disney Screens 'Toy Story 3' Trailer at NAB

Showing off Disney's digital handiwork at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas today, Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group, gave a sneak peek of upcoming 3D releases including "Toy Story 3," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tron 2." Security was extremely tight, so there are no photos or video clips to share, but here's a brief description of what what was shown and what you can expect from Disney in the coming months. There are some potential spoilers, so be warned:

Toy Story 3 Teaser Trailer

In a 3D trailer that will be released in theaters in about a month, Woody is organizing the gang to put together an elaborate "Toy Story 3" sign. We see the army men shimmying down a jump rope, on their way to assist. Cowgirl Jessie bounds around on a pogo stick. Mr. Potato Head throws out his back (literally) helping Mrs. Potato Head carry a blackboard. Rex the dinosaur is generally confused and almost mucks up the operation. Hamm the pig scoots across screen in a wagon, "supervising," he says. Woody (Tom Hanks), of course, is all positive energy and encouragement as the sign is finally assembled amid bouncing balls and tangled Christmas lights. Pan over to Buzz (Tim Allen), who has created nearby a more impressive, professional looking "TS3" sign by himself.

In introducing the trailer, Zoradi said the story will be about what happens to the toys when their owner Andy grows up and prepares to leave for college. "TS3" premieres on June 18, 2010. It will follow the re-release of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" as a 3D double feature on October 2nd of this year.

Beauty and the Beast

Disney will bring "B&B" back to the big screen on February 12, 2010 in "Disney Digital 3D" because, well, they can. I'm not sure if this will really add to the film's legacy, but I will say the preview clip--the entire "Belle" opening musical sequence--looks fantastic. In the busy street scenes, particularly, there is incredible depth between the foreground and background animations, something I don't think Walt even envisioned when they first fired up the multiplane camera. Zoradi hinted that Disney will be doing more 3D enhancements of their 2D animation library. Gilding the lily, if you ask me, but stay tuned.

Tron 2 (or Tron 2.0 or Tr2n)

The original "Tron" is a movie that's often remembered for being better than it actually was. It's computer animated visuals were groundbreaking at the time, but they masked a film that was otherwise pretty stiff and bland. Still, fanboys are going ga-ga over the announced sequel and today's preview clip didn't disappoint. It's a test sequence showing (what else?) a light cycle race on an elaborate 3D game grid. Two cycles dodge each other (or not) on virtual chutes and straightaways and maneuver through a winding canyon. Cut to a grizzled Jeff Bridges appearing to observe the game from a real-world vantage point, only to reveal himself as one of the cyclists. And, hey, doesn't that cyclist look like him circa 1982? OK, you got my attention.

"Tron 2" is scheduled for a 2011 release and, according to Zoradi, started principle photography last week.

A Christmas Carol

Robert Zemeckis directs the latest version of the Dickens classic, using motion capture technology like he did with "The Polar Express." Jim Carrey will play Ebenezer Scrooge (great choice), and, like Tom Hanks did in "Express," will play multiple characters. The preview was a montage of enhanced production stills--Zemeckis is keeping a tight lid on the final product--but they looked quite lovely even as their style suggested a dark interpretation of Currier and Ives.

"A Christmas Carol" will be in theaters November 6th.