'Toy Story 3' toys, details revealed
NEW YORK — Pixar and Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter,"Toy Story 3" filmmakers, actor John Ratzenberger and aone-of-a-kind Lego head of Lasseter — that was just part of thestar lineup that came together here Sunday to unveil the toy linefor and new details about "Toy Story 3" at an off-site event as ToyFair kicked off.
The event took place at Manhattan's Gotham Hall, near the JavitsConvention Center that hosts the annual Toy Fair.
In an emotional moment, Lasseter, who on Saturday had been inductedinto the Toy Hall of Fame by the Toy Industry Assn., an honor heshares with Walt Disney, received a surprise gift — a Lego headresembling him.
"I'm a Lego," the "Toy Story" creator and self-professed lifelongtoy fan said to laughs. "That's fantastic!"
"Toy Story 3," set to open June 18, kicks off a multi-year dealbetween Pixar/Disney and Lego, Vince Klaseus, senior vp, globaltoys for Disney Consumer Products, told The Hollywood Reporterafter the event.
Mary Beech, vp and general manager, global studio franchisedevelopment for Disney Consumer Products, had earlier told thecrowd of reporters, Disney/Pixar executives and kids that "ToyStory" merchandise has brought in more than $8 billion in globalretail sales since the first film's release.
At the event, Disney/Pixar unveiled the first of nearly 250 "ToyStory 3" toys, created in partnership with more than 20 toycompanies, including Thinkway Toys, Mattel, the Lego Group, Hasbro,Jakks Pacific and Fisher-Price.
"Toy Story 3" brings back the franchise's popular cast of toycharacters along with more new characters than any Pixar film todate, which also means more toys.
"More original characters means more opportunity," Klaseus toldTHR. "Kids always look for something new, so this should keep thetoy line interesting and add to "Toy Story's" longevity."
While a vast majority of "Toy Story 3" merchandise buyers will bekids, there are also collectors and college kids who are attractedby the nostalgia factor after growing up with "Toy Story," Klaseustold THR, citing some tracking results. The movie plot captures asimilar sentiment as Andy, the owner of cowboy Woody and BuzzLightyear goes off to college.
A deluxe Buzz Lightyear toy at the correct movie size that can sayfamous lines from the film is the biggest single "Toy Sales" toyitem over the franchise's history, according to Klaseus.
"Toy Story 3" director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Andersonon stage Sunday talked about how they spent the last four yearscrafting the summer sequel.
Unkrich later told THR that he still has more work to do on "ToyStory 3." The film is currently being scored, and some animationand special effects work still has to be done.
He told THR that Pixar took the unprecedented step of sharing itsanimation computer data with toy makers to allow them to producetoys that are "pitch-perfect and like in the movie." He said Pixaris likely to use a similar approach for future movie-based toys aswell.
In the latest movie, when Andy goes to college, his toys getdonated to Sunnyside Daycare, which ends up being more "like aretirement home for toys," Unkrich told the crowd Sunday. A newtrailer got a very positive reaction from press, kids and parentsin the audience.
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and other stars and fans had been asking foryears when "Toy Story 3" would happen, and so they wereparticularly delighted to finally bring it back to the silverscreen, said the filmmakers.
The film's new characters highlighted Sunday are Ken and Barbie andpurple teddy bear Lotso.
The Pixar team on Sunday introduced Ratzenberger, who voiced piggybank Hamm in the "Toy Story" movies and has been in every Pixarfilm, as "our lucky charm and good friend."
Ratzenberger lauded Pixar for producing films using not focusgroups, but instinct in what he says is a throw-back to the goldenage of Hollywood. "It all comes exactly from the heart," hesaid.
A troupe of actors dressed as the "Toy Story" Green Army Men toysoldiers also made an appearance at Sunday's event, descending fromthe ceiling in "take-over" mode to assist the Disney/Pixar team inhighlighting some of the new toys.
'Toy Story 3' toys, details revealed
Share This Post:
Other Posts That May Interest You:
- Gold Derby nuggets: Details of Oscars telecast emerge | Taylor Swift and …
• Sandy Cohen dishes the Oscarcast with first-time producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman."The two men say they're a well-matched team. Mechanic is 'the true film historian... - Job Details
Flat Rock, NCCORST Tier Y $758/week minimumProducing Artistic Director: Vincent MariniCasting: Dave Clemmons/Joy Dewing, Dave Clemmons CastingMusical Director/Accompanist: George Wilkins Flat Rock Playhouse is The State Theatre... - Extraordinary Measures, a genuine story of hope
Based on the book The Cure by Geeta Anand, Extraordinary Measures is an earnest account of how one family attempts to cope with every parent’s worst nightmare.... - Pitt, Jolie sue newspaper over split story
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have begun legal action against a British tabloid that reported the celebrity couple was going to split, a lawyer acting on their...
Posts From Around The Web:
