After one of the most impressive winning streaks in Hollywood history, Pixar has seen its fortunes reversed in recent years, with last year’s flop Lightyear and a pandemic-era policy of sending its features straight to streaming at Disney+. Now, Pixar faces a major test of brand strength as it prepares to unveil Elemental, its first original theatrical feature since Covid-19 hit.
Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on an original story set in a world where fire, water, earth and air residents live together. Among early reviews, the title has an underwhelming 64 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a low number for Pixar. Additionally, the movie is tracking to soft numbers, just $37 million to $38 million over the June 16-18 opening weekend, which it shares with Warner Bros.’ The Flash. Only a handful of Disney’s releases have debuted to less than $50 million. (There were plenty of negative...
Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on an original story set in a world where fire, water, earth and air residents live together. Among early reviews, the title has an underwhelming 64 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a low number for Pixar. Additionally, the movie is tracking to soft numbers, just $37 million to $38 million over the June 16-18 opening weekend, which it shares with Warner Bros.’ The Flash. Only a handful of Disney’s releases have debuted to less than $50 million. (There were plenty of negative...
- 6/7/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Yes!! Pixar made a short film about robots?! Awesome. The latest SparkShorts film from Pixar Animation Studios is titled Smash and Grab, and it's available online for viewing for free now. Just last week they launched the first short online - Purl directed by Kristen Lester - and they've followed it up with this one being released next. From director Brian Larsen, Smash and Grab is a tale of two robots. After years of toiling away inside the engine room of a towering locomotive, two antiquated robots will risk everything for freedom and for each other. This definitely feels like it fits right into the Wall-e universe, and the sound design is especially amazing and a key part of the characters. I am totally loving these SparkShorts, they're superbly entertaining and unique and clever. I hope they keep this program going for a while. Watch below. Description from Pixar's YouTube: "Smash and Grab,...
- 2/11/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Pixar has launched a very cool new program for artists to get their short films made and out there for the public to view. The program will officially debut at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood this Friday, January 18, 2019, and run through the 24th. Here’s what the President of Pixar Animation Studios, Jim Morris, had to say about the program:
“The SparkShorts program is designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. These films are unlike anything we’ve ever done at Pixar, providing an opportunity to unlock the potential of individual artists and their inventive filmmaking approaches on a smaller scale than our normal fare.”
That’s so awesome! Each of the three shorts that are debuting will follow a showing of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with three showings daily. The shorts will then make their online debut on the Disney/Pixar Youtube channel.
“The SparkShorts program is designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. These films are unlike anything we’ve ever done at Pixar, providing an opportunity to unlock the potential of individual artists and their inventive filmmaking approaches on a smaller scale than our normal fare.”
That’s so awesome! Each of the three shorts that are debuting will follow a showing of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with three showings daily. The shorts will then make their online debut on the Disney/Pixar Youtube channel.
- 1/17/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
The first look at Purl, the latest from from Pixar’s experimental short film program, is here. Pixar previously announced they would begin releasing experimental short films, and kicked things off with Smash and Grab, directed by Brian Larsen. Now Kristen Lester‘s Purl is next. See the first images from Purl below. Here’s a first look at Kristen Lester’s “Purl” […]
The post First Look at Pixar’s ‘Purl’, the Second Film from Their Experimental Short Film Program appeared first on /Film.
The post First Look at Pixar’s ‘Purl’, the Second Film from Their Experimental Short Film Program appeared first on /Film.
- 6/29/2018
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
In August, Pixar is hosting a panel at a computer graphics conference in La. The conference is called the Siggraph (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics). The description for Pixar's panel gives us a hint at what the folks at Pixar have been up to:
“Pixar launched an internal, experimental storytelling initiative to create short films without executive oversight, to explore new creative visions and increase studio opportunities. This talk shares Pixar’s six-month journey of creating seven-minute shorts, with limited resources, amidst the backdrop of a busy studio, juggling multiple feature productions.”
Cartoon Brew reported that the first project produced through this new division is titled Smash and Grab, and is directed by Brian Larsen. Larsen previously worked as Story Supervisor on Brave and Head of Story on the short Piper.
Pixar was built on the revolutionary short films they made and they are always putting out great stuff,...
“Pixar launched an internal, experimental storytelling initiative to create short films without executive oversight, to explore new creative visions and increase studio opportunities. This talk shares Pixar’s six-month journey of creating seven-minute shorts, with limited resources, amidst the backdrop of a busy studio, juggling multiple feature productions.”
Cartoon Brew reported that the first project produced through this new division is titled Smash and Grab, and is directed by Brian Larsen. Larsen previously worked as Story Supervisor on Brave and Head of Story on the short Piper.
Pixar was built on the revolutionary short films they made and they are always putting out great stuff,...
- 5/30/2017
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
Somebody wants a piece of Showtime’s Ray Donovan. Specifically that someone is one Brian Larsen, who is claiming that the premium channel lifted his idea to create the hit Hollywood-fixer series starring Liev Schreiber. Southland creator Ann Biderman is credited with coming up with Donovan and is an Ep on the Mark Gordon Company show. Not so, says Larsen, though neither Binderman nor Gordon is named as a defendant. In an 11-page breach of implied contract and breach of confidence complaint filed February 13 in L.A. Superior Court (read it here), the seemingly creditless Larsen and his Radical Pictures LLC says Donovan “mimics” his 2009 fixer concept The Swissman. Touting that the series has “enriched Defendants to the tune of millions of dollars,” Larsen wants Donovan stopped via an injunction and is seeking wide ranging but unspecified damages of more than $25,000. Related: Ex-‘Ray Donovan’ Ep Escapes Jail Time; Gets...
- 2/15/2014
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
A writer who claims he concocted the premise for "Ray Donovan" is suing Showtime, alleging he came up with the notion of a middle-aged man who fixes things and kills for cash.Brian Larsen is suing Showtime, claiming in 2010 he pitched a script to a Showtime exec, who seemed enthusiastic and said she would "pitch like hell" to get it on the air. But Larsen says he ultimately got blown off.Cut to 2013, when "Ray Donovan" debuted,...
- 2/14/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Pixar's latest movie Brave debuts on Blu-ray and DVD on November 26, with a special short film as part of the home release package. The Legend of Mor'du delves into the backstory of Brave's ferocious bear, who in his previous life was a prince who sought to gain control of his family's kingdom. Watch an exclusive preview of The Legend of Mor'du below: Mor'du director Brian Larsen, a storyboard artist on Pixar's Ratatouille, told Digital Spy of the film: "You get the entire backstory of the demon bear Mor'du. You get little bits and pieces throughout the film, and then in the short we go deeper to discover what steps happened, and how he actually becomes a bear, and you get to see really what he has done. "So it's a cautionary tale, and it mirrors Merida's story - there's (more)...
- 11/21/2012
- by By Emma Dibdin
- Digital Spy
There’s no better proof of Disney’s unparalleled dedication to giving you your money’s worth with their home media than two new releases, Brave and the Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 2 (though more the former than the latter). Both Blu-rays come out today, and if you’re a Pixar completist, you’ll want to either get them immediately or put them at the top of your holiday wish list. If only for the amount and depth of special features on the Brave combo pack, for example, the Blu-ray is worth owning. (Yes, that’s even if you were cool on the film as a whole.) But more to the point, both of these releases are fascinating to watch in terms of Pixar’s continued evolution as a filmmaking studio.
Brave, Pixar’s thirteenth animated feature, is its first with a female protagonist, the young and headstrong Merida (Kelly MacDonald...
Brave, Pixar’s thirteenth animated feature, is its first with a female protagonist, the young and headstrong Merida (Kelly MacDonald...
- 11/13/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
The story of Pixar's Brave will continue with a new spin-off short that they are developing. The new short is called The Legend of Mor'du, and it was directed by Ratatouille storyboard artist Brian Larsen.
A couple of pieces of concept art for the film were revealed to give you a look at the kind of feel that the movie is going for. The art was created by Disney artist Mary Blair.
According to EW, "Mor’du the demon bear became a bigger and bigger part of the story, but ultimately the film explored only a bare-bones version of the legend – enough to tell moviegoers what they needed to know, while still keeping it mysterious and off to the side, to avoid detracting from the scarlet-haired heroine’s own story."
This short will go into more depth and tell the back story of Mor'du. The director of the short had this to say,...
A couple of pieces of concept art for the film were revealed to give you a look at the kind of feel that the movie is going for. The art was created by Disney artist Mary Blair.
According to EW, "Mor’du the demon bear became a bigger and bigger part of the story, but ultimately the film explored only a bare-bones version of the legend – enough to tell moviegoers what they needed to know, while still keeping it mysterious and off to the side, to avoid detracting from the scarlet-haired heroine’s own story."
This short will go into more depth and tell the back story of Mor'du. The director of the short had this to say,...
- 11/2/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The Scottish fantasy of Disney.Pixar's Brave is set to continue when the film hits DVD and Blu-ray later this month. Today, EW has a first look at a brand new short film set in the Brave universe and titled "The Legend of Mor'du." Ratatouille storyboard artist Brian Larsen is making his debut as the director of the short, which changes the story's animation style to a rough 2D, designed to look like paper cutouts. The tale follows the history of the feature film's Mor'du and explains how he came to be transformed from a young prince to a terrifying monster. Check out two images from the short and catch Brave on Blu-ray and DVD on November 13.
- 11/2/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 7 – Assassin
Written by Katie Lucas, Drew Z. Greenberg, Brian Larsen | Directed by Kyle Dunlevy
“Tasked to protect Senator Padmé Amidala during a political mission to Alderaan, Padawan Ahsoka Tano is plagued by recurring visions of recently-deceased bounty hunter, Aurra Sing. Unable to clear her mind, Ahsoka worries that the stress of conflict is finally getting to her until her visions indeed prove prophetic. Padmé narrowly avoids death when Aurra Sing attempts to assassinate her. Together, Padmé and Ahsoka trap the hunter, and Ahsoka”
Aurra Sign has become the next Boba Fett for Lucasfilm, she appeared for seconds in the Phantom Menace, but has since appeared in comics, novels and games, with her bounty hunting career spanning over seven decades in the Star Wars universe.
This is a great cat and mouse style episode, with Sing becoming more and more Ahsoka’s dark reflection. Actress...
Written by Katie Lucas, Drew Z. Greenberg, Brian Larsen | Directed by Kyle Dunlevy
“Tasked to protect Senator Padmé Amidala during a political mission to Alderaan, Padawan Ahsoka Tano is plagued by recurring visions of recently-deceased bounty hunter, Aurra Sing. Unable to clear her mind, Ahsoka worries that the stress of conflict is finally getting to her until her visions indeed prove prophetic. Padmé narrowly avoids death when Aurra Sing attempts to assassinate her. Together, Padmé and Ahsoka trap the hunter, and Ahsoka”
Aurra Sign has become the next Boba Fett for Lucasfilm, she appeared for seconds in the Phantom Menace, but has since appeared in comics, novels and games, with her bounty hunting career spanning over seven decades in the Star Wars universe.
This is a great cat and mouse style episode, with Sing becoming more and more Ahsoka’s dark reflection. Actress...
- 11/14/2010
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
After the jump, look for a special sneak peak at the upcoming season finale, featuring Boba Fett!!!
Title: "Cat and Mouse"
Writer / Director: Brian Larsen / Kyle Dunlevy
Tagline: "A wise leader knows when to follow."
Story: Republic forces led by General Obi-Wan Kenobi are stuck in a standoff with a superior Separatist blockade force in orbit above the planet Christophsis. Senator Bail Organa directs friendlies on the ground, but without key supplies from the Republic fleet, it is only a matter of time before the planet is lost. General Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Yularen set out on a supply mission aboard a prototype Republic frigate equipped with cloaking technology. But when the brash, young Jedi Knight realizes that the enemy general is more cunning than your average Separatist battle droid he concocts a plan to go on the offensive... much to his master's chagrin.
Running Silent: "Cat and Mouse" features...
Title: "Cat and Mouse"
Writer / Director: Brian Larsen / Kyle Dunlevy
Tagline: "A wise leader knows when to follow."
Story: Republic forces led by General Obi-Wan Kenobi are stuck in a standoff with a superior Separatist blockade force in orbit above the planet Christophsis. Senator Bail Organa directs friendlies on the ground, but without key supplies from the Republic fleet, it is only a matter of time before the planet is lost. General Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Yularen set out on a supply mission aboard a prototype Republic frigate equipped with cloaking technology. But when the brash, young Jedi Knight realizes that the enemy general is more cunning than your average Separatist battle droid he concocts a plan to go on the offensive... much to his master's chagrin.
Running Silent: "Cat and Mouse" features...
- 3/27/2010
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
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