So I finally read this since TS3 is out. I may be misremembering the previous Art Of books but there seems to be so much more text in this one. There’s so many details about the development of the characters and story and it’s really dang great! It’s like being able to pick the brains of the Pixar crew and seeing how they’re thinking and modifying the film to make it the best they can. I hope the Art Of series delves deeper into that kinda thing while still showcasing the amazing concept art.
I wish there had been an art of Toy Story 2 book, but that wouldn’t have been possible given the shortened and madcap production schedule.
I still wonder what the original concept would have been there…as well as the original idea they held onto for TS3 until the story meeting in the cabin.
I love the fact that it details certain decisions, such as:
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Lasseter’s choice of Unkrich to direct TS3 (the book gives a more detailed response than Unkrich probably could give me a month ago)
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Why Bo Peep was no longer with the group
I don’t own the book.
[spoil]What’s it’s explanation of Bo not being in the group?[/spoil]
Directly from the book:
Sorry for the double post, but I found this interesting blog post from artist Nate Wragg on his work on TS3. It gives some more insight into some removed characters and the evolutions of their personality and design, and contains art that’s not in the art book.
What I find interesting in there is the robot, since they already had one for Andy in the first two films. He also referred to Stretch as being a “he” even though they had her voiced by Whoopi Goldberg.
Wow. It’s amazing that Sid originally wasn’t the garbage guy. Wonder if Eric von Detten approached Pixar and the story team just gave him that role, or if the role was decided a bit later than the design was made.
Maybe Stretch is still a he even if Whoopi voices him/her, but I think he just distanced himself of the movie after his work was over (he still calls Bookworm “The Librarian”, and doesn’t know that Sid is the Garbage Man, among other things).
My wild, uninformed guess about the Metal-Head Garbage Man: [spoil]They started out with just an anonymous head-banging garbage man, then someone said, hey, wouldn’t it be funny if it was SID!?[/spoil]
My wild, uninformed guess about Stretch: [spoil]When they were designing the octopus character, it was just generically designated a “he,” then Whoopi was later cast as the voice. Because she’s the voice, I presume Stretch is now a “she.”[/spoil]
By the by, I got the Art of TS3 book this week, and really like it. I feel like it does have a lot of text and interesting info.
No, you are right. Stretch is a she.
I forgot she’s referred as female in the official site description.