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Comic-Con 08: What Exactly Is Pixar's Up All About?
by Alex Billington
July 26, 2008
Earlier today Disney presented a panel at Comic-Con on their two big upcoming animated movies: Bolt and Pixar's Up. We've already seen the trailer for Bolt, which looks absolutely hilarious, but so far we haven't heard a single peep about Up! In fact, the most we've seen is a logo, but no one even knows what it's about. Since Disney decided to break the tradition of attaching the newest trailer in front of each Pixar movie, our first glimpse of anything Up was revealed at Comic-Con this year. And damn was it a tearful introduction! Pixar's own Pete Docter, of Monsters Inc, debut some concept art and a few scenes from Up and it looks just as good as everything else we've seen from them over the years. Read on for more details.
Docter explained that Up is essentially an homage to our grandparents. Our hero is the 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner), a short and square little man who walks with a cane. When he was young he met a girl and fell in love with her. Her dream was always to explore Paradise Falls in Venezuela, but unfortunately life got in the way and it never came true. Now Carl is an old widower and he sets off on his own to head down to South America to live out that dream before his life ends. Most of the movie takes place in the wonderfully envisioned mountains of Venezuela, where Carl eventually lands after his house sails south (see the logo with the balloons). As Docter said (and showed in concept art), we are off to a "lost world where anything can happen and will happen" and a world we've never seen before.
Along the way, Carl meets numerous other characters and creatures. One of them that Docter showed us was a young, chubby 9-year-old boy named Russell. He's collected all the merit badges (for the Wilderness Club) except one - assisting the elderly. So he stows away in Carl's house and floats with him down to Venezuela as well. We were shown the scene where Carl takes off in his house with all the balloons and starts floating through the air. It was a magical scene, but not like anything I've seen before. The best reference I can give for this and all of the concept art might be to call it Pixar's version of a Hayao Miyazaki film. In fact, Docter specifically addressed the legendary Japanese filmmaker saying "We're all huge fans of his. He's an amazing filmmaker." He goes on to say "Miyazaki pays so much attention to small details that make you feel like you're actually there. And we're trying to do that in this film as well."
Docter said that the first teaser trailer has debuted online and could be found exclusively on Disney's site: disney.com/pixar. We've posted it below for your viewing pleasure, so for the first look at Carl (the man on the porch) and Up, take a look at this short teaser clip below. Enjoy!
Watch the very first teaser for Pixar's Up:
Although Up instantly looks like another classic Pixar movie in the making, it's not quite at the level of Wall-E. Carl as a character seems incredibly entertaining, but he's not instantly lovable. Wall-E was so cute that everyone would fall in love with him the moment they saw him. Carl is a grumpy old man who we'll probably fall in love with and feel bad for by the end, but isn't specifically someone who initially comes across as a likable character (at least in my mind). Alas, as time goes on and we begin to see more from Up, being a Pixar fanboy, I'm sure I'll begin to fall in love with this as I have every other Pixar movie. As a finisher, Docter perfectly describes Up: "Pixar takes you to a lost world - it's a love story and it's a Pixar movie." Disney is releasing Up on May 29th, 2009 next summer.
20 Comments
2
i am goimg to buy alot of balloons
Darrin on Jul 26, 2008
4
Wow. "Afternoon."
Xerxex on Jul 26, 2008
5
"In fact, the most we've seen is a logo, but no one even knows what it's about." Actually... Disney announced its upcoming projects for the next few years about... 3 and a half months ago. You even reported on it. https://www.firstshowing.net/2008/04/09/disney-and-pixars-full-animated-line-up-through-2012/ Sure enough, there's a summary of the plot. You even posted concept art from the film back in January. So I think the lead-in of this article, or at least that sentence... is silly.
Dan on Jul 27, 2008
6
I't isn't hilarious, do u really are laughing your ass off? you must be a 5 year old
Hector N on Jul 27, 2008
7
It isn't hilarious, are u really laughing your ass off? you must be a 5 year old! Damn typos!. I'll wait to see the trailer, this didn't do much for me.
Hector N on Jul 27, 2008
8
well we didn't get to see much i love Pixar but im going to have to see more of this film before i decide.
Curtis on Jul 27, 2008
9
I trust Pixar enough to see this and know that whatever it is they aren't showing us, it is going to be incredible, I feel that if they are putting as much effort as a Miyazaki film, and with Pixar's track record, I think we're in for a surprise and a treat
Spencer C. on Jul 27, 2008
10
Can't wait for this movie! I really enjoy the plot! I chuckled when Carl was like, "Afternoon." As if nothing was happening. The day this is released me and my friends are gonna watch ALL the Pixar films on order of being made and going to see this in theaters!
Aaron on Jul 27, 2008
11
actually weve already had a teaser for up back in april, liked the old one better https://www.firstshowing.net/2008/04/09/first-look-pixars-up-rendered/
harrison on Jul 27, 2008
12
woops not a teaser but concept art
harrison on Jul 27, 2008
13
14
Heh. Well I guess I consider this to be what it's "about"... "Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. 'Up' takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures." ...which is, again, from the article you posted in April. And I'm not trying to be a jerk, but sometimes I find you questionable, Mr. Billington. Though I did appreciate your story about the Twilight witch, and the subsequent video-version on /Film.
Dan on Jul 28, 2008
15
What a crappy trailer.
Asac on Jul 28, 2008
16
While I do agree that he's not as instantly lovable as Wall-e, I do think he's plently lovable. Old people are cute as hell. lol. And Ed Asner has such a wonderful speaking voice. Like Moran Freeman or, ya know, God. Can't wait. Pixar rocks my shit.
Clamson on Jul 29, 2008
17
#18 - Andrew "Pixar's own Pete Docter, of Monsters Inc, debut some concept art and a few scenes from Up and it looks just as good as everything else we've seen from them over the years." Perhaps those "few scenes" showed Carl in a grumpy light.
Dan on Jul 29, 2008
18
looks kinda like George Romaro.
wm on Jul 29, 2008
19
I was at Comicon and talked to Greg Brandeau (some VP from Pixar) and he informed me that they're doing some movie called "Ninja Zombies", http://www.ninjazombiesmovie.com which will be due out next year.
Tawnie Niles on Aug 1, 2008
20
That's was cute, his doin the greeting as he passed by. lol.
Lauren on Aug 7, 2008
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