The Good Dinosaur may be over a year away, but we’ll be able to see another Pixar take on dinosaurs much sooner in Toy Story That Time Forgot. As the synopsis and poster have hinted, dinosaurs will play a big role in the second half-hour Toy Story special. At this morning’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, the cast and crew behind the short finally shed light on these new characters and brought along new concept art, plot details, and a release date.
Many have noted that for a Christmas special, Toy Story That Time Forgot seems only tangentially related to the holiday season. That’s because it was originally conceived as a six-minute Toy Story Toon; it was only when John Lasseter suggested expanding it to a half-hour special that the holiday theme was added. At the center of the story are the Battlesaurs, a lineup of characters spoofing 80s toy lines. They include Kevin McKidd as Reptillus Maximus, the bespectacled Ray-Gon, the Godzilla-like Goliathon, and their leader, the Cleric. Like Buzz in the first Toy Story, the Battlesaurs aren’t aware that they’re toys. Rex and Trixie quickly get swept up in their elaborate universe when a post-Christmas play date goes awry.
In addition to the concept art shown above, the panel also featured an extended work-in-progress clip, a peek at some upcoming merchandise, and a brief Q&A session. At the panel, Pixar confirmed that Toy Story That Time Forgot will air on ABC on Tuesday, December 2. Mark your calendars!
(Images and news via FindingMickey.com and Stitch Kingdom)
Last modified: July 24, 2014