Has Pixar Caught Sequelitis?

Has Pixar Caught Sequelitis

From a number of sources, Pixar have confirmed that Cars 3 and The Incredibles 2 will be made. I'm normally excited for sequels, sequels can be good ideas if done well and if necessary. In recent years Hollywood has churned out sequel after sequel and the argument of sequels being necessary is blurred and the more explicit incitement seems to be for the money. Hearing news of a sequel is nothing new and I shouldn't be worried, however Pixar is no any old Hollywood studio. Pixar is a trademark for innovation and quality; not quantity. So I thought...

Pixar being under the Disney umbrella, a studio known for it's franchises, (Marvel, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean) it shouldn't come as much of a shock. However Pixar before Cars 2 only made sequels to the highly popular Toy Story franchise but it was done well. Toy Story was an metaphor for the stages of growing up, each sequel was a great message to present about childhood. Cars 2 looked more of a cash grab, even though it was John Lasseter passion project. The idea that the first film made approx. 10 billion dollars in merchandise, two sequels doesn't seem like a productive step in innovation.

Toy Story in 1995 was a huge step in computer animation with every other film after that creating a new universe, unique and the story was original and detailed. From the ocean's of Finding Nemo to the Monster world of Monsters Inc. Pixar created universes that did allow sequels to be a possibility but held back on that possibility because they relished the idea to create something new. However with the announcement of Cars 3 and The Incredibles 2, it adds to the list of sequels of Cars 2, Monster University, the upcoming Finding Dory and there have been a few sources of doing a Toy Story 4.

Now I'm a sequel addict when I hear sequel I start to dribble and make weird noises but for Pixar I'm hesitant. They have always been consistent in their films and Cars 2 and Monster University, not bad films but Pixar can;t be content with not bad. Monster's University was a great films but I see more potential in the idea of the new, original Pixar film coming out called, Inside Out. Coming out in 2015, it will be set in a girls mind and the characters will be emotions. This sounds like an amazing idea and is so 'Pixar-like' It's risky, it's experimental but Pixar seem to hit every time. I'm more interested in that film then Finding Dory. I could probably guess what will happen in Finding Dory but Inside Out; I'm intrigued.

Now I won't stop watching Pixar films, I think they are still amazing. There sequels are much better quality then any shluck that Hollywood throw out. Sequels have a bad name to them, they have a capitalist motive and Pixar doesn't need a legacy of a sequel to 'cash in'. Their consistency record allows to experiment and still be a box office success. 

Pixar is an anomaly in Hollywood. They have so much detail in their films, it's why it takes years to make just one. Pixar is a studio that can experiment and innovate. It does hurt a little that they have announced a flurry of sequels not because they won;t be good films, it's because Pixar creates new environments and new universe that are detailed and unique that a Pixar that doesn't cover new ground seems like a wasted opportunity. The announced films of Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur shows a lot of promise and I hope, on a personal standpoint that Pixar doesn't get to the point where they rely on sequels. Pixar are a trademark of innovation and sequels are not the step forward.

Jason Blight

Star Wars VII - Disney's New Hope

Star Wars 7 - Disney's New Hope.

How can a company that released one of the biggest blockbusters (Avengers Assemble) of the 21st century top itself. The whole plan of getting six superheroes, three with separate franchises, and fuse them together to make one mega film. Not just pull it off but with large critical acclaim but with a huge box office success as well. Now Disney have pushed forward for the second stage of the Avengers however spending $4 billion on the rights to Star Wars is the smartest move on Disney's side of the deal. 

The timing, the legacy and also the past failure from the short comings of the 'second trilogy' has made this deal a win-win situation for Disney.  After failures from Lone Ranger (2013) and John Carter (2012) Star Wars is not a gamble, research suggests that Star Wars VII (2015) being released in December 2015 will hit the billion mark. I'll repeat it again just because of the Legacy, Timing and Past Failure.

Timing

 2015 is a year for film lovers and cinema-goers. Avengers Assemble 2, Batman Vs Superman and Star Wars VII is the three big hitter in 2015.  Although I don't think Batman Vs Superman will perform as good as the other two due to casting backlash but cannot be sure till the trailer is released. The timing to release the new Star Wars in 2015 is perfect due to the technology being perfect for the film. In the 70's/80's Star Wars film defined a new era of special effects but some could argue outdated as of 2014. The prequel trilogy was a huge improvement in the SFX arena however it wasn't at the stage of realism. The recent advancements in Mo-cap and ILM has set the stage for a Star Wars film to match the technology that it requires. Also with the increase in demand for IMAX and 3D, technology that goes hand in hand with Star Wars. Star Wars VII will be a treat visually due to finally technology, no budget restraints and the viewing experience being ready for a film of this scale. We just have to look at Gravity (2013), a pure space spectacle that was a visual delight. That was just Sandra Bullock floating in space! Think of the Millennium Falcon Mark II, gliding across space in IMAX. The technology is ready.

Legacy

Star Wars fan base is something that every writer/film maker dreams of. The fans are loyal and invest into the universe of the lore. Hundreds of novels, side stories and characters created unofficially. Parodies, songs, animations. The fan base is already there. Even the poor critical performance of the prequel didn't deter fans, all three films were successes at the box office. Just over 10 years since the last Star Wars film and technically 30 years since the last continuation of the Star Wars franchise. (As the last three were prequels and the story was already known to fans) The thirst of knowing what happened after Luke Skywalker defeated the Empire is a long waiting one. Critics will claim sequel overload, but Star Wars has a whole universe to explore and in the medium of film it has only scratched the surface.

Past Failures.

What is the last thing you do before you release a product into the market. You test it on a target audience. Star Wars VII has that luxury. The prequel trilogy was not the trilogy the majority of fans wanted and if Disney had any sense is to not replicate the prequel's style. The criticisms of past should be taken into account and fixed in the 'sequel trilogy'. Poor writing, childish style, slightly racist characters, wooden acting and Jar Jar Binks. Just some of the critiques. Disney being known for it's audience to be children, this may be there downfall but Avengers Assemble was a perfect balance between the two, so they can aim for a slightly older audience. 

Overall, Star Wars VII will be a sure fire hit, with the reliable JJ Abrams at the helm, with his past of Star Trek success, Star Wars VII looks like it's going in the right direction. The technology is ready for this film, the fan base crave for a continuation of the lore and past failures allow the film makers not to tread in the same footsteps. Star Wars is looking to be Disney's New Hope. 

By Jason Blight, 2014.