The hilarious Disney+ short film, Lamp Life goes behind the scenes of the Toy Story franchise and lets viewers see what happened to Bo Peep and her Sheep all those years after she left Andy and Molly's house (between Toy Story 2 and 3). But, potentially even better than the laughs and excitement of the film, is that we were able to go even further behind the scenes and learn all about the "making of" Lamp Life. We recently spoke with Director, Valerie LaPointe, and Producer, Marc Sondheimer to chat about the editing, the animation, the easter eggs and so much more. Show Notes: 00:00 — Show kickoff and Pixar trivia — how many Pixar films have released in March? 02:24 — Toy Story 4 took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, we discuss the exciting new here. 07:27 — Ian and Barley Lightfoot are set to appear in Disney Parks, catch a glimpse of what they are going to look like. 11:14 — Guinevere, Barley's van from Onward is hitting the road on a tour. Learn more about the tour dates and watch a walk-around video tour of the van as well. 18:49 — An Onward preview is playing at Disney Parks now, catch the preview until the movie opens. 20:10 — We chat all about Pixar Nite at Disneyland coming on March 5 (from 8:00 PM to Midnight). Listen as we describe some of the events (including a cool For the Birds and Geri's Game backdrop for photo opportunities), the food, and the character meet-and-greets which will be available. 26:44 — Interview lead-in. We chat for around 8 minutes about the funny "growing up" connection Julie and Valerie had as well as our love for the short film. 34:47 — Interview with Valerie LaPointe and Marc Sondheimer. Listen as we chat all about the hilarious gags, the filmmaking process, and so much more in this fun and upbeat interview. We had a blast chatting with the team and we know you'll love listening in. 55:34 — Post interview and show wrap-up.

Pixar Post Podcast: Animation News, Interviews & Reviews

Podcast #071 – Bo Peep's Story in 'Lamp Life' – Our Interview with Dir. Valerie LaPointe and Prod. Marc Sondheimer

Pixar's Onward kicked off on September 17, 2013. After 6 years, we went to Pixar to dive behind the scenes and learn all about the making of the film. In this first installment of the Onward series, we sit down with Director Dan Scanlon and Producer Kori Rae to learn all about the triumphs, the struggles, and more while making this epic and emotional adventure.

Podcast #070 - Pixar's Onward: From Day 1 to Now – Our Interview with Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae

In episode 69 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we chat with Jake Monaco, the composer behind Forky Asks A Question and many other Pixar properties you didn't realize he was involved with...and more coming soon. We also chat about Pixar's next 7 films and how some of the recent release dates have changed. We dive into how Kristen Lester may be one of the upcoming feature film directors and even touch on an exciting new show which will feature 15 new Pixar-themed screen-printed posters. We cover a new mini-series of comics centered around Dash and the Incredibles (and a new villain called Slow Burn. Disney Plus is very popular right now and we chat about the Disney Plus Guide, the Pixar projects which are coming soon to Disney+ and wrap up the episode (after our interview with Jake) offering our review of Forky Asks a Question.

Podcast #069 - Forky's Musical Numbers: Our Interview with Jake Monaco, 'Forky Asks a Question' Composer

In Episode 68 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we dive into and discuss Pixar's seven films in development, we inquire about Brad Bird's upcoming film, we dive into Awards season chatter about Toy Story 4 and we wonder – is Pixar looking for production support outside the United States?  As if that wasn't a full episode in itself, we also share our interview with Director of Studio Mastering & Operations, Cynthia Slavens as we dive into a background of her team, how they tackle re-rendering a Pixar film into Ultra High-Definition 4K format and learn if every version of the film is cataloged in the Pixar Archives. The episode (of course) kicks off with T.J. putting Julie to the test with two Pixar-themed trivia questions. What percent of Monsters in Monsters, Inc. have Mike Wazowski’s same tongue in their character rig? During the production of Up, the average animator produced how much animation in a week. At 3:48 into the show, we discuss Toy Story 4 producer, Mark Nielsen's discussion with Digital Spy in which he noted that there were seven Pixar films in development currently. We talk about who we already know is working on a film (of with two of those films are Onward and Soul) and explore Mark Andrews and Brad Bird's upcoming films (not necessarily Pixar films). Heck, is Mark still employed at the studio and what is Brad's connection to the book 1906? Starting at 20:41 we chat about a group of Pixar employees heading to the View Conference (October 21-25, 2019 in Turin, Italy) and SIGGRAPH Asia (November 17-20, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia) Of course, nothing is confirmed by any means, but a pair of recent articles got us thinking, "Is Pixar looking for production support from outside the United States for additional Disney+ projects?" We chat about a recent interview with Pixar President, Jim Morris in which he expresses interest working with India and Katherine Sarafian's meeting with the Armenian President who noted he's interested in "cooperation with Pixar." This is discussed starting at 30:30 into the show). At 40:27, we dive into Disney+ discussions as well and how this may relate to Pixar needing additional support outside of the United States and what is this "different type of storytelling" that they want to do which would involve threading together a number of shows? Awards chatter has begun and at 44:18 into the show, we chat about Toy Story 4 being included in the "For Your Consideration" push for Best Animated Feature as well as all three of the original SparkShorts being included as well (Smash and Grab, Purl, and Kitbull). Toy Story 4 is up against 32 films (to be whittled down to 5 before the Oscar's air on Feb 9, 2020) and there are an astounding 85 short films included in the list of eligible short films. At 52:34 into the episode, we get into our discussion with the Director of Studio Mastering & Operations, Cynthia Slavens. We chat all remastering Pixar's films into Ultra High-Definition and how the team balances remastering legacy films while supporting current production as well. We talk about how long it takes to remaster a film from scratch (yes, they go back to the original Toy Story masters and start fresh), and even explore Cynthia's journey to Pixar. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.

Podcast #068 - Remastering Pixar's Films in Ultra High-Definition 4K – our Discussion with Dir of Studio Operations, Cynthia Slavens

Listen to our Toy Story 4 spoiler-free movie review – the film truly goes to infinity and beyond. Then join us as we share our discussion with the sets team behind building, designing, and filling the antique store (as well as the carnival) in the film. The sets crew we talked to were Stephen Karski, Thomas Jordan, and Rosie Cole during our trip to Pixar Animation Studios in April 2019. More details and photos can be found on our homepage – https://www.pixarpost.com/2019/06/toy-story-4-spoiler-free-review.html

Podcast #67: Toy Story 4 Spoiler-Free Movie Review and Interview with the Pixar Sets Team

There is so much detail that is put into every pixel on the screen — but, why does Pixar do this? Ling Tu (Sets Shading Lead) mentions in our session at Pixar that by putting all the rich detail into the backstory of everything that you see, they're able to enhance their stories. If everything visually looks as you'd expect (set locations like a carnival or a porcelain character with tiny cracks), your mind looks right past those things and you can dive right into the story because everything visually is so familiar. Listen in as Craig Foster (Graphic Arts Director) and Alex Marino (Characters Shading Lead) also dive into what makes a Pixar film shine — oh and don't forget a discussion into all those hidden Easter Eggs that populate the film — there are hundreds in Toy Story 4. 00:00 — Episode 66 Kickoff 01:14 — Pixar Trivia. 03:24 — Love the Disney Parks, do you help plan your friend's vacations, visit Destination Mouse to become an agent. 08:20 — The Final Toy Story 4 trailer is hitting on May 21, get ready. 12:32 — Want to watch Toy Story 4 early or catch a sneak-peek, here's how. 18:14 — Bo Peep is coming to Disney parks this summer, get a look at her in-park design. 22:54 — What is happening with Pixar in New York City? 31:03 — Our interview with The Pixar team — It's all in the details. 1:05:21 — After the interview discussion. 1:10:44 — 1-on-1 interview with Craig Foster and Ling Tu. 1:17:48 — Wrapping up the show. Stay tuned to PixarPost.com all week for the latest Pixar news. T.J. and Julie

Podcast #66: Does 'Toy Story 4' Have The Most Easter Eggs of Any Film...Ever? Dive Into All The Fine Details With Craig Foster, Ling Tu, and Alex Marino

In episode 65 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we dive into the full discussion with Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen — actually answering 15 questions (of which we highlighted 7 above) all about Toy Story 4. Before we dive into the episode fully, we also highlight some of the latest news from the studio — show notes below. We kick off the episode with Toy Story trivia and then offer a high-level overview of our trip (highlighting all that we're going to share over the next few weeks). At 15:28 into the episode, we cover the recent trip we took to Canada to visit Toys R Us and the product videos we've been having a blast creating. At 25:34 into the show, we discuss the Toy Story 4 French premiere at the Annecy Film Festival on June 14 and at 28:02 we discuss the new Toy Story themed table-service restaurant which was recently announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios. At 31:56 we talk about Mychael and Jeff Danna scoring the upcoming (March 2020) release of Onward and then dive into a follow-up discussion on Disney+ and the Monsters at Work show (at 33:44). We also touch on Billy Crystal's historic honoring at the Grauman's Chinese Theater and his impressive nod to Mike Wazowski (at 40:30). Finally, before the interview, we provide some updated comments to our prior podcast (episode 63) asking if Pixar's short films are no longer happening and now transitioning to SparkShorts exclusively. The fantastic conversation with Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen kicks off at 46:51 into the episode. Listen along as they answer 15 questions over 30 minutes to dive deep into Toy Story 4.

Podcast #65: 15 Facts We Learned About Toy Story 4 While Chatting With Josh Cooley & Mark Nielsen

In Episode 64 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we chat with Kelly Bonbright (Script Supervisor on Incredibles 2), dive into Toy Story 4 news and of course start the episode with Pixar trivia. The episode kicks off with T.J. putting Julie to the test with some Presto-inspired trivia — the theme of Presto was chosen since the Funko of the lead rabbit, Alec Azam came out a few weeks back. Additionally, we talk briefly about the opening of Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy and the latest Toy Story 4 news (Tony Hale playing Forky, Don Rickles voicing Mr. Potato Head, the Toy Story 4 US / International trailer and more). KELLY BONBRIGHT INTERVIEW In our interview with Kelly Bonbright you'll learn all about her journey to Pixar — how she started in Consumer Products and eventually moved into the Script Supervisor role. You'll learn how the film is broken down into more manageable segments, funny sequence titles, and even some fun-facts. One of those fun facts was that Incredibles 2 had 59 total story sequences in the final film, but there were 121 omitted story sequences — that's a lot of awesome content and ideas that we still haven't seen! Listen to the entire episode below for even more great facts and learn what Kelly believes are the top skills you need to be a Script Supervisor.

Podcast #64: Interview with 'Incredibles 2' Script Supervisor, Kelly Bonbright, Toy Story 4 News & More

In Episode 63 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we discuss Pixar's SparkShorts (and offer our rankings of Purl, Smash & Grab, and Kitbull). In addition, we talk about if Pixar will continue to release feature film short films — especially since we haven't heard anything about a short film for Toy Story 4. We also discuss Toy Story 4 news and when will the next trailer be released (you know, the one that's been rumored for a long time), the trailer which was shown at the Disney Annual Shareholder meeting, the upcoming book releases, and toy releases. Also, we chat about the possibility of starting a Patreon, we expand on the return of our podcast and how to listen to the episode with chapters to skip sections.

Podcast #63: Are Pixar Feature Film Short Films Still Happening, Toy Story 4 News, SparkShorts and More

In episode 62 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we chat with Toby Chu, the wonderful composer of Pixar's short film, Bao. Additionally, we discuss the Pete Docter impersonator on Twitter (to kick off the show), Purl, the second short film in Pixar's Experimental Storytelling initiative (at 5:21 into the episode), and the box office successes that Incredibles 2 has achieved (11:18). Incredibles 2 is currently the third highest grossing animated film of all time, will it reach Frozen to become the top animated film? We break down the numbers. The main portion of the interview is our interview with Bao composer, Toby Chu (16:23). It was so great talking to Toby as we learned about his origins and passion for music, how he turned "no" into motivation to continue trying, and how the short film mirrored his life so closely. Did you know that he had to submit a demo for Bao? We get geeky about Pixar and discussed how much it meant to him that he was involved with the project, what it was like walking into the studio, and working with Domee Shi and Becky Neiman-Cobb (among others). Related Posts: - Breaking News: Pete Docter Named Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios - Podcast #61: Our Spoiler-Free 'Incredibles 2' Film Review & Our Candid Take on John Lasseter's Exit From Pixar - Book Review: Pixar Animation Studios Artist Showcase 'Box Meets Circle' by Aaron Hartline   Pixar Post - T.J. & Julie

Podcast #62: Our Interview with 'Bao' Composer, Toby Chu, Details about 'Purl' and Much More.

In episode 61 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we share our spoiler-free review of the action-packed, Incredibles 2, as well as dive into the deep topic of John Lasseter's departure from the Walt Disney Company & Pixar at the end of 2018.  We talk candidly about our thoughts on John Lasseter's departure from the studio in the first half of the episode, while the back half of the show is our feedback regarding Incredibles 2 (a recording straight outside of the theater with our friend, Giovanni). INCREDIBLES 2 FILM REVIEW: I know this is going to sound "sales-y", but Incredibles 2 is incredible. It is high-paced from the opening moments of the film and doesn't let up until the final scene — but more importantly, when the film does take breaks from the action, there are also tender moments with important character arcs and big comedic scenes.  STORY & IMAGERY: The film feels very balanced from the story perspective and it is so much more than just a simple role-reversal (i.e., it's not just a Mr. Mom story). The animation is gorgeous (as to be expected) and the direction and layout of the film are stunning. I'll need a few more watches to really let this soak in, but my initial reaction was that the direction is one of Pixar's best — the angles and camera choices paired perfectly with the visuals on the screen.  CHARACTERS: With any sequel, you have a well-defined set of characters that audiences will be expecting a lot from.  As mentioned above, in addition to the vastly-improved visuals over 14 years of technical advancements, it felt like we were able to see the Parr family as they were intended — with hair rendered to perfection and outfits that popped off the screen.    Jack-Jack is a total scene-stealer and definitely generated the most laughs of any character (Dash being a close second). Violet won't let fans down and steps up in a big way to help the family during battles (wait until you hear the sound her forcefields make when she throws them).   Another fan-favorite, Frozone, always seems to be there when you need him (well, Honey doesn't think so). He's there to help Bob and Helen realize they need to make a change at the beginning and jumps right in to help with Jack-Jack when Bob is at his wit's end.   So, what about the new wannabe supers? They'll certainly leave you wanting more as they don't have a lot of lines or interaction overall — but they certainly take advantage of their screen time when present. Let me also just say that Reflux (the senior-aged super) is my favorite of the bunch — he can often be found resting or holding his belly while cracking an unintended joke.   That's not to say the other new characters aren't also great — we describe them in a lot more detail in the episode (player above). The Screenslaver is also another superb character who "could" cause young viewers to get a little scared (Film is rated PG). The action when he's on screen really captivated us and you even get a few Bane vibes (Batman) when he gives a hypnotizing monologue. Is he on the same level as Syndrome? You'll have to wait and see.   We have so much more to say in our podcast — check it out above and let us know your thoughts. Leave a comment below or chat about Incredibles 2 with other Pixar fans in the Pixar Post Forum dedicated to the film.   Pixar Post - T.J. & Julie 

Pixar Post Podcast 061: Our Spoiler-Free 'Incredibles 2' Film Review & Our Candid Take on John Lasseter's Exit From Pixar

  In episode 60 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we share our complete interview with Ralph Eggleston (Production Designer), Bryn Imagire (Shading Art Director), Philip Metschan (Visual Designer) and Nathan Farris (Sets Supervisor) as we dive into how the team created the worlds of Incredibles 2. Earlier, we shared an article that dove into how the team created the Parr's new home in the film and now we're going to share the entire 40-minute interview that explores the home, the cities in the film, as well as the research behind the design choices which were made. SHOW NOTES: At the beginning of the episode, we chat about all-things Incredibles 2 (no surprise) and highlight the Pixar Post Forum and the breadth of conversations going on — from sharing bus advertisements, to concerns about continuity between the two films, if you haven't signed up or shared your views, check it out. Next up, we discuss the Incredibles 2 soundtrack being available for pre-order as well as our thoughts on Michael Giacchino's punny titles. We also follow up on two recent posts that we completed where we dove into The Art of Incredibles 2 book as well as some early Easter Eggs which have been spotted in the film (the reused Chinese food takeout box and the famed A113 has been spotted). There are quite a few early-screening opportunities for Incredibles 2 and we list out at least 18 different choices you have - (D23 Gold Member Gatherings, D23 Gold Member Complimentary Tickets, AMC Double-Feature tickets and even some options at AMC IMAX theaters as early as June 6. Before we get to the main interview with the Pixar crew, we also shared details on the amazing marketing of the Parr family home listing on Zillow. INTERVIEW: The main portion of this episode (starting at 30:20) is our interview with Ralph Eggleston (Production Designer), Bryn Imagire (Shading Art Director), Philip Metschan (Visual Designer) and Nathan Farris (Sets Supervisor). Listen in as they share wonderful details about how they held back the animation quality of the new film at the very opening of the film so it wouldn't be as visually jarring if someone watched The Incredibles and immediately wanted to turn on Incredibles 2. They also discuss some amazing details about how the crafted complete cities for the film (even some buildings in the background).   Chat about Incredibles 2 with other Pixar fans in the Pixar Post Forum dedicated to the film.

Pixar Post Podcast 060: The Worlds of 'Incredibles 2' - Our Interview with Pixar Artists, Ralph Eggleston, Bryn Imagire, Philip Metschan & Nathan Farris

In episode 59 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we share our complete interview with Incredibles 2 writer/director, Brad Bird and Producers Nicole Grindle and John Walker. Along with the interview we share our thoughts on our two-day visit to Pixar Animation Studios earlier in April to discuss the film. We talk about many of the insights and details we learned as well as our high-level thoughts on the 22 minutes of footage we screened. Throughout the podcast, you'll learn about many details of the film's process, from the reason why the Incredibles family has the powers they do, to why the film swapped release dates with Toy Story 4. Additionally, you'll hear as we inquired which returning vocal actors (and which new vocal actors) really knocked it out of the park and why the film didn't have a time jump (since it picks up right where the first film left off). Oh, and have you ever wondered if you'll see Honey (Frozone's wife) in Incredibles 2? Listen for all the fantastic details. Check out even more details regarding our visit to the Studio on our homepage, PixarPost.com. Pixar Post - T.J. & Julie

Pixar Post Podcast 059: Incredibles 2 Discussion with Brad Bird, Nicole Grindle & John Walker - Go Behind the Scenes

In episode 058 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we continue our interview series from the two-day Coco press event where we talk with Co-Director and Screenwriter, Adrian Molina, as well as Lead Story Artist, Dean Kelly. We share the full audio from the 30-minute discussion with the duo as they shared what worked with the film early on, what didn't work, and even provide some facts about the Dia de los Muertos heritage (and how the tradition fits into the film). Note that there are some light spoilers in the podcast — nothing about the plot is revealed, but insights into the film and its creation are discussed. (Read below for a summarized view of the questions answered in the session.) Listen to the Podcast using the player embedded below or directly on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe and enjoy directly on iTunes, Stitcher, or Overcast. SHOW NOTES: Kicking off the show we start with some Coco-themed trivia and then dive into the latest Coco news.  One of the main songs from the film, Remember Me, will be featured during the October 16 episode of Dancing With The Stars (Disney-themed night). For Your Consideration - Coco is hopeful to be included in the Best Picture category at this year's Oscars. November 3 will see a sneak peek of Coco coming to Disney World and Disneyland parks. Pixar's first Virtual Reality experience will be centered around a Coco-themed game. Although we'll do a full video review soon, we give our quick overview of the first batch of Coco-themed books which hit shelves on October 10. We also give our take on the most recent Coco merchandise which hit the Disney Store website - how can you resist Alejibre Dante? Southwest Airlines recently decked out a 737-700 airplane in full Coco styling (with a logo, artwork and will even offer a live concert in the sky). Cars 3 news Just a quick reminder that the digital version of the film comes out on October 24 and the 4K/HD/DVD version hits stores on November 7 - read the full list of special features here. We continue to expand on how much we love the demolition derby scene in the film and how we could watch it over-and-over again...in fact, you can watch the entire scene on Pixar's Twitter feed! Incredibles 2 news JAKKS Pacific was recently announced as the manufacturer of the upcoming film's toy line. We also discuss our thoughts on the new Movies Anywhere video service and the closure of Disney Movies Anywhere. INTERVIEW WITH ADRIAN MOLINA & DEAN KELLY  Listen in as we chat with Coco's Co-Director and Screenwriter, Adrian Molina, as well as Lead Story Artist, Dean Kelly. The duo touches on the challenges the story department faces, how they pushed through blocks to find a story that worked and provided some insights into earlier versions of the story. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the podcast by leaving a comment on iTunes, writing a comment below or sending us an email — we'd love to hear from you. Pixar Post - T.J. & Julie

Pixar Post Podcast 058: Interview with Co-Director Adrian Molina & Lead Story Artist Dean Kelly (& More Coco, Cars 3 & Incredibles 2 News)

 In episode 057 of the Pixar Post Podcast, we bring you to Pixar Animation Studios for the Coco press event and we dive into our experience at the two-day event. We also share the full audio from the 30-minute filmmaker roundtable discussion with Lee Unkrich (Director), Darla K. Anderson (Producer), and Adrian Molina (Co-Director). Note that there are some light spoilers in the podcast — nothing about the plot is revealed, but insights into the film and its creation are discussed. (Read below for a summarized view of the questions answered in the session.) Listen to the Podcast using the player embedded below or directly on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe and enjoy directly on iTunes, Stitcher, or Overcast. SHOW NOTES: Kicking off the show we start with our discussion highlighting Julie's trip to Pixar, noting the highlights from visiting the studio (including the store), her thoughts on the 35-minute screening, and our feedback on the roundtable interview. Summary of questions asked during the roundtable How many references are there to The Shining in Coco? What other movies influenced how the afterlife was depicted in Coco? How would you like Mexican communities and cultures to view the film? Was there any concern with the number of characters in the film? What is Miguel's character arc? (Not answered) Will people feel left out since there are moments of untranslated Spanish throughout the film? Are there Mexican historical figures in the film? Where did the idea for the film come from and were there concerns since you're not Latino? What role did the cultural consultants play that you brought on? Will John Ratzenburger still lend his vocal talents to the film (even though it's an all-Latin cast)? Much like other Pixar films, are there still subtle lighting cues which signify struggle and success even though the film contains a lot of darkness? The film is elaborate in size and scale, did the studio ever say "no" to something on the film because it was too expensive? Were there a lot of new programs which had to be created to accommodate the film's production? Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the podcast by leaving a comment on iTunes, writing a comment below or sending us an email — we'd love to hear from you. Pixar Post - T.J. & Julie

Pixar Post Podcast 057: Sit Down with Coco's Filmmakers - Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina & Darla K. Anderson

The Pixar Post Podcast is a natural extension of our website (www.pixarpost.com) and is run by the husband and wife team of T.J. and Julie. We will discuss all thing Pixar Animation Studios - from news, rumors, merchandise, reviews, interviews, Pixar history and much more. This family-friendly show is presented in an entertaining, positive and upbeat manner. Please note - this Podcast is not affiliated with Pixar Animation Studios.

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Pixar Post Podcast: Animation News, Interviews & Reviews

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