Tag Archives: Pixar

Disney, Movie, Review

I was blown Away by the Animation in The Blue Umbrella while at #MonstersUEvent

I attended a Press Event for Monsters University in April. My Flight, Hotel and Meals were taken care of for me. I present these posts about the #MonstersUEvent 100% my own honest opinion.

The Blue Umbrella Director, Saschka Unseld talks with press at Monsters University Long Lead Press Days. Pixar Animation Studios. Emeryville, California. April 9, 2013 (Photo by Alexandra Ambrose/Pixar)
The Blue Umbrella Director, Saschka Unseld talks with press at Monsters University Long Lead Press Days. Pixar Animation Studios. Emeryville, California. April 9, 2013 (Photo by Alexandra Ambrose/Pixar)

While I attended the Monsters University Press event back in April I was able to speak with the director of the Pixar animated short, The Blue Umbrella, Saschka Unseld. Did you know that before every Pixar movie there is a short film? I hadn’t really taken note of it before but it is true. Before the movie Brave there was the short La Luna and before the movie Monsters University that is being released June 21, 2013, there will be the short, The Blue Umbrella. The short is completely animated but you will not think it true at all because it is so realistic that it is near impossible to tell. Some of you won’t believe that it is animated, but it is.

The Blue Umbrella is a love story that takes place in the rain on a busy city street during rush hour. The short starts out quiet but as the drops begin to fall the tone becomes lively and playful and the city comes alive. Inanimate objects take on personalities and celebrate the love story unfolding before them.I thought the short was amazing and the story was wonderful. Take a look at this clip. Obviously the faces are animated but look at the detail of the umbrellas as the rain pours over them.

Continue reading I was blown Away by the Animation in The Blue Umbrella while at #MonstersUEvent →

Disney, Movie, Travel

A Chat with Monsters University Director, Dan Scanlon at the #MonstersUEvent

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I was sent to California to visit the Pixar Animation Studios. Flight, Hotel and meals were provided. Opinions of the events that I attended, people I met and things I saw are 100% my own.

Monsters University Director, Dan Scanlon
Monsters University Director, Dan Scanlon talks with press at Monsters University Long Lead Press Days. Pixar Animation Studios. Emeryville, California. April 9, 2013 (Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland/Pixar)

When I was at the MonstersUEvent back on my birthday in April I had the unique pleasure to talk with the director of Monsters University (Which arrives in Theaters June, 21 2013), Dan Scanlon. I was involved in a round table discussion with the other bloggers the day after screening 40 minutes of Monsters University, but I spoke one on one with Dan directly after seeing the movie. I was at the reception for the press after seeing Monsters University and Dan was talking with some people but then they moved on and he was all alone for a moment so I figured what the heck, I’ll go and talk with him.

Dan was a very personable guy. I had to ask him the burning question that I think most people who are fans of Monsters Inc wanted to ask. “What about the 4th grade thing?”. If you are unaware, in Monsters University Mike says to Sulley, “You’ve been jealous of my good looks since the 4th grade.” Yet, in Monsters University Mike and Sulley’s first meeting is in college. That bit of continuity was scrapped in favor of making a better story. If they were to stay true to the continuity then they would have had to make Monsters Elementary and that would not have been the stronger story. Essentially think of that line as something that establishes that these two guys have been good friends for a long time.

We also talked about scouting colleges to create the overall look of Monsters University. To me it has the feel of a New England type campus but that may just be my own personal bias since I went to school on a beautiful campus in New Hampshire. I asked is Dan’s own college experiences helped shape the film in any way. Dan went to an art college and his experience was different than that of the students at Monsters University. I thanked Dan and told him that I was really looking forward to seeing the rest of the movie when it comes out in June. Continue reading A Chat with Monsters University Director, Dan Scanlon at the #MonstersUEvent →