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Pixar Short Director to Make Feature Debut on 'The Familiars'
by Ethan Anderton
October 4, 2010
Source: Heat Vision
After having the honor of directing one of Pixar's infamous shorts in the form of the Presto, director Doug Sweetland is moving into feature length films. Heat Vision reports the animator is set to direct The Familiars for Sony Pictures Animation. The story, based on Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson's recently published children's book of the same name, follows three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions (or familiars), an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog, to escape. The authors are also writing the screenplay for the feature film adaptation.
Sweetland is making the move over to Sony after working at Pixar for the past 16 years. He's worked as an animator on nearly all of their projects including the first two Toy Story films, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo in addition to serving as storyboard artist for The Incredibles and supervising animator on Cars. The winner of several Annie awards finally helmed Presto which appeared before Pixar's 2008 film WALL-E and earned him yet another Annie nomination and even an Oscar nod. The concept of The Familiars sounds interesting and after Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I have renewed faith in work from Sony Pictures Animation. What do you guys think?
6 Comments
1
This looks totally awesome! I love the idea. Looking forward to this one.
Ian Carruthers on Oct 4, 2010
2
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was one of the worst animated movies I've seen in a long time, I'm not sure I would base my faith in Sony Animation off of that one. Despite that, I do have faith in Doug doing something great, he certainly has the street cred for it.
Doc on Oct 4, 2010
3
@Doc you didn't CwaCoM? hm...I thought eveyone liked that movie, it was so unexpectedly good.
Xerxex on Oct 4, 2010
4
I met Doug Sweetland during the premiere of Presto in Annecy and this guy is an inspiration! This guy has humor and a ton of energy. I am sad to see him leave pixar and not make a feature there. He is a great talent! I have a lot of faith in this project. Good luck Doug
Rick on Oct 4, 2010
5
I wonder if he was actually posing for that picture or just casually doing that.
Get_rad64 on Oct 4, 2010
6
Why was Presto infamous?
rblitz7 on Oct 4, 2010
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