Tag: toy story

How to inspire a movie scene

Izaac, who knows more about Pixar than anybody else I know, sent me this little story that warmed the cockles of my heart.

In Toy Story 3 there’s this great scene where Mr Potato Head’s parts get put on a tortilla. And he sways around everywhere. He can’t stand up. It’s funny.

Funnier still is this little story that the animator of that scene tells on his blog:

The animation supes took me into a room to tell me the news ‘We are giving you Mr. Tortilla-Head’ Its one of those moments where your really happy then really nervous. How was I going to animate that thing? Sure it plays funny in boards, but to bring it to life! The Supes knew it was going to be a challenge, being the great leaders they are said ‘these are your last shots, take all the time you need!’ I kept telling myself, you’ll be happy you animated this once it over.

I sure was – although they were extremely hard shots to pull off, I’m really proud to part of that character. There was a small team of us, 3 animators helping each other. Showing each other what works, what didn’t. Some reference that really inpired us was Drunk Guy Buying Beer. I wonder if this guy knows he was in a movie?

Drunk Guy Buying Beer is an hilarious little clip on YouTube that made me laugh. So here you go, this is how you inspire a movie scene:

Bowled over: a salad bowl of toy soldiers

If there’s one thing Toy Story (the first one) taught me it’s that toys are made for being melted. Well, especially plastic soldiers. I was more inspired by the nasty neighbour’s treatment of his mangled army of toys than by good old Andy’s treatment of his coterie. So I had a collection of melted soldiers, and the associated burns on my legs and arms. Plastic and fire don’t play nicely together.

Little did I know that what I was doing could probably be classed as “art”… and sold on the internet as a “bowl” that “makes a statement” for almost $200.