This is similar to the “New composers” thread I started ( viewtopic.php?t=2110 ), but I’ve reversed the question. There have been four directors of Pixar features (Lasseter, Docter, Stanton, Bird), with three more in the pipeline (Unkrich, Rydstrom, Chapman), so this is where we can discuss possible new directors (suggestions, speculation, etc.). Who would you like to see directing a Pixar film in the future?
Well, seeing as how George basically started up ILM and LucasFilm, that would seem approriate, but rather odd in my opinion. He hasn’t directed pretty much of anything in the past 22 years (that’s also how long of a gap between Star Wars and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was), but, yeah, I wouldn’t root for him because it just seems too odd. But still, that’s not saying that it’s not an intriguing idea either. And, yeah, it would seem like he were “crawling back” to Pixar.
It isn’t. That simple, because George and Steven have worked so closely together on a number of projects. Steven is one of George’s best friends/companions.
Personally, I don’t ever want to see a Pixar film directed by Tim Burton… and I don’t think I ever will. His style doesn’t much suite the company - I think he’d rather do his own thing, and I think he does better on his own anyway.
There are a lot of great directors who just don’t belong at Pixar.
Bill - I think none of those directors would do a Pixar film. Why? Just ask yourself this: Do you think any of those directors would commit to the studio (the requirement of all Pixar directors to date) after all those years of jumping from studio to studio? I’d say no. The most I could see them do is be a one time creative consultant, but even THAT would be strange.
I would like to see some kind of collaboration between Pixar and Tim Burton, but on a whole I’d have to agree that even though John Lasseter and Tim Burton are animators at heart as well as friends outside of work, I’m not sure if Tim’s storytelling would match Pixar’s style. But if they can make it work, then I’d be all for it.
I’m really excited to see how Gary Rydstrom does with his film. He is the best of the best in his field of sound design, and Lifted has shown that he is a director who can tell a great story while giving meticulous attention to detail - which is a great match for Pixar. I would love Gary to do a sci-fi film sooner or later, but with WALL-E and Lifted I think that genre will be put to rest for a while. I’ll cross my fingers anyway.
To tell you the truth, I’m not exactly sure whom I would pick to play as director at Pixar Animation Studios in the future.
The idea of Tim Burton collaborating with the studio is, to me, both fairly intriguing and rather unusual at the same time. I’d be a little apprehensive if that collaboration ever arose, although…I must admit that stranger things have happened. It would be interesting to see what each mind would end up concocting when given a chance to brainstorm against one another.
All-in-all, I’ll be content with whomever takes the helm in the future.
AMEN, Drewster. Hopefully in the future he’ll come back to direct another movie. It’s so clear that he loves animation and he seems to have the golden touch - then again maybe that’s because I grew up watching his first three movies. And I was SO ticked that you never saw the slightest single frame of him at the Oscars! A fine welcome-back for one of the greatest directors of all time…
I like Lasseter, but I’m afraid with everything going on at Disney, that Cars was probably his last film as director we will see for a while. Really sucks, cause there’s just something that he knows how to do, that most directors just don’t know. Luckily, I think Pixar now has some other great directors that could try to fill Lasseter’s shoes. Mr. Bird is probably the closest IMO.
As for new directors to come in, I think there’s only one “outsider” who can really add something to Pixar without taking anything away, and that’s the great Eric Goldberg. He’s easily my favourite 2D animator around, and his unique style is some of the best ever. I would love it if Mr. Goldberg were to bring his talent to Pixar and do something great.
Also, for new directors, in watching some of the DVDs for Pixar films, there’s a lot of great talented people at Pixar who could do a great job if they were promoted to director of a feature. Some names that come to mind would be Mark Andrews, Lee Unkrich (who I’m happy to see is gonna make his directoral debut with TS3), Ralph Eggleston, Tony Fucile. Plus I would love to see what Jan Pinkava could do on his own, if he could stay at it.
And don’t get me started on Glenn McQueen or Joe Ranft. Both those guys were two of Pixar’s greatest talents, and both would have been great directors, if they hadn’t been taken from us way too early.
I’ve wanted for quite a long time now for some of the directors at Blue Sky Studios to team with Pixar for a one-time collaboration (Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha, Jimmy Hayward). Now, as for future possible directors in Pixar already, I’d have to go with the Spaniards. Heheheh, Carlos Baena and Rodrigo Blaas would be just fantastic as future directors. “Go to the Spaniards!” and all that. Heheheh.
Ralph Eggleston would be a good future director (even though he was already mentioned). He did such a great job with For the Birds, and I would love to see what he could do with directing a feature.
As much as I LOVE Tim Burton and his work, I can’t see him doing a Pixar film. I’m not sure why, but I just can’t. Probably because he has a certain way of doing things, and a certain look to his films that I can’t see in a Pixar film.
Simon Wells would be interesting as well. He’s done a lot of good work in the animation field, as well as directing a number of features. Here’s his filmography:
Bill: I, too, would like to see Victor Navone and/or Doug Sweetland direct a Pixar movie. I’m a big fan of their work and it would be neat to see them direct a movie.
