Story & Background : Toy Story 3

Posted by Johnny Cool | 3:26 AM

Toy Story 3 is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios, slated for release on June 18, 2010 in the US.[1] It is the third film in the Toy Story series. Lee Unkrich, who edited the previous films and co-directed the second, takes over as director. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz respectively.




Toy Story 3

Plot

Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz (voiced by Tim Allen), and the rest of their toy box friends are dropped off in a children's day-care center when their owner, Andy (now a young adult) departs for college



Development

According to the terms of Pixar's revised deal with Disney, all characters created by Pixar for their films were owned by Disney. Furthermore, Disney retained the rights to make sequels to any Pixar film, though Pixar retained the right of first refusal to work on these sequels. But in 2004, when the contentious negotiations between the two companies made a split appear likely, Disney Chairman at the time Michael Eisner put in motion plans to produce Toy Story 3 at a new Disney studio, Circle 7 Animation. Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, indicated a willingness to return even if Pixar was not on board.[6]

Promotional art for Circle 7's Toy Story 3, displaying the storyline of the Buzz Lightyearsbeing recalled; this story was later shelved.

Jim Herzfeld wrote a script for Circle 7's version of the film. It focused on the other toys shipping a malfunctioning Buzz to Taiwan, believing that he will be fixed there. While searching on the Internet, however, they find out that the malfunctions are happening to many toys around the world and the company has issued a massive recall. Fearing Buzz's destruction, a group of Andy's toys (Woody, Rex, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Jessie, and Bullseye) venture to rescue Buzz. At the same time Buzz meets other toys from around the world that were once loved but have now been recalled.[6]

In January 2006, Disney bought Pixar in a deal that put Pixar chiefs Edwin Catmull and John Lasseter in charge of all Disney Animation. Shortly thereafter, Circle 7 Animation was shut down and its version ofToy Story 3 was shelved.[6] The following month, Disney CEO Robert Iger confirmed that Disney was in the process of transferring the production to Pixar.[7] John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, andLee Unkrich visited the house where they first pitched Toy Story and came up with the story for the film over a weekend. Stanton then wrote a treatment.[8] On February 8, 2007, Catmull announced Toy Story 2's co-director, Lee Unkrich, as the sole director of the film instead of John Lasseter, and Michael Arndt as screenwriter.[9] The release date was moved to 2010.[10]

Instead of sending Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and John Ratzenberger scripts for their consideration in reprising their roles, a complete story reel of the film was shown to the actors in a theater. The reel was made up of moving storyboards with pre-recorded voices, sound effects, and music. At the conclusion of the preview, the actors signed on to the film.[11]

Toy Story 3 will be the third Pixar film to use the current Walt Disney Pictures logo, which is used since 2006.

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