Mar 9 2009New 'Up' Trailer: Pixar Has Made Talking Dogs OK
A couple months ago, I heard from someone that attending an Up screening that Pixar had included a talking dog character to co-exist with the humans. I thought for sure these guys had finally slipped up. Oh, how the mighty had fallen for adorable talking pooches. I mean, a completely unjustified speaking animal serving only as comic relief? What is this movie, a Disney without a /Pixar immediately following it? But alas, no, the longtime leaders in computer animation have made yet another innovation to the field: rationalization for a funny talking animal sidekick. They did it. Just explain that the dog is wearing a specially designed collar that translates his dog-talk into various human languages and it's time for naysayers like me to shut the fuck up.
Here's the new trailer:
Since the dog thing is cleared up, I have nothing negative or amusing to say. Looks like another unforgettable movie equally accessible to young and old.
Reader Comments
1. Erica - March 9, 2009 4:24 PM
That dog rules.
"SQUIRREL!"
2. che-che - March 9, 2009 4:44 PM
this looks pretty lame. really lame. pixar had its reign. its time to give it up. hahaaaaaaaaaaaa!
3. What?! - March 9, 2009 4:49 PM
I hope that dog gets a pre- movie short..
4. Hal - March 9, 2009 5:01 PM
That is EXACTLY my dog's reaction time from distraction to tail wagging to refocusing on the task at hand.
5. Reverend Faux - March 9, 2009 6:10 PM
I can see it now...tons of children stopping their conversations to look at squirrels to confuse their parents, the elderly and everyone on MySpace.
6. Darth - March 9, 2009 7:42 PM
Whoof whoof!
7. PILLS HERE! - March 9, 2009 7:51 PM
i actually wanna see this movie!!!!! yay
8. R2-D2 - March 9, 2009 7:59 PM
Beep! Small wookie on all fours! Similar noise! Blip!
9. MrOrange - March 9, 2009 8:54 PM
@2.... give it up to who? Dreamworks? Solo Disney.... as "safe" as pixar are they are keeping quality animation alive
10. Matt - March 9, 2009 9:06 PM
SQUIRREL!
11. will - March 10, 2009 12:47 AM
I've had my concerns about this movie, and wondered how far they could actually take the concept, but this trailer has convinced me that everything is going to be ok. There looks to be an actual plot, and not one that entirely rests on the ol' "be true to yourself and you can achieve anything, even if you're completely fucked in every way" moral. Its the fault of that overused moral that animation is becoming stale.
And I like the look of the giant bird.
Monsters Inc is one of my favourite pixar films, so with the same director at the helm of this, I'm finding reason to get excited.
12. Ramon M. - March 10, 2009 1:43 AM
oh nice a chubby asian...finally...a character that i can relate to.
13. Delgo - March 10, 2009 1:55 AM
I can't wait for the toys.
Psyche.
14. che-che - March 10, 2009 11:09 AM
@9-give it up to your mom.
the last 3 movies have been lame. shit wall-e even went down in render quality. so quick sucking pixars butthole, kung fu panda took all the annie awards. just cause they keep winning oscars doesnt mean shit in the animation industry. gotta look at it from an artist point of view. and just for the entertainment. i want to be entertained and the last three didnt entertain. so get off my back jerk face pixar kiss ass. get back on facebook with your imac and i phone.
15. chadwick - March 10, 2009 11:57 AM
@14
Were you dissing Pixar or praising it?
Anyway, this movie is going to be awesome, I just hope it doesn't turn out like "Cars". *shiver*
16. Delgo - March 10, 2009 12:05 PM
When Pixar shits Dreamworks comes out.
17. Mr.Anderson - March 10, 2009 1:43 PM
*waves arms* Shoo, go away!
*waves wings* Wargarblegoblegarble.
Go on! Beat it!
Wargoblegarblegoble
18. just sayin' - March 10, 2009 3:51 PM
I think maybe che-che has issues...
19. Preston - March 10, 2009 4:51 PM
Che Che... i lost all respect for your reply when you claim that annie awards mean something but oscars don't. Wall-E is one of my favorite animated movies and if the render quality is all that matters... then rethink why you go to movies.
Also throwing in comments like "get back on facebook with your imac and i phone" just shows how immature people are.
This movie looks good.
20. MrOrange - March 10, 2009 5:11 PM
che che... i'm an animation student. i care alot about animation, i loved Kung Fu panda but as dreamworks are money hungry fools they have 2 and 3 on the cards... at least pixar dont rely on sequel after sequel and celebrity voice acting.
21. Nas - March 10, 2009 5:24 PM
Pixar and Dreamworks both have their own pros and cons as companies. They both have good and bad points from the standard viewer's POV and from the artist's POV.
I respect both companies for what they've done and contributed to the animation industry, and to the world.
But to say that the last PIXAR movies have been 'crap' is a bit much.
I think that Kung Fu Panda was amazing. They really stretched their wings again with that one, and finally stopped leaning on the Shrek enterprise which was done about half way through the second film to be honest. Kung Fu Panda had some of the most amazing animation I've seen in awhile, and there were spots that I had to rewind my DVD three or four times just to re-watch the action, and see things move from being touched, or fur brush, etc,. They kicked it all up a notch with the Fur engine they used, and MADE specifically for the movie.
Wall-E was genius. I've been watching Pixar since Red's Dream and Knick Knack, and Wall-E was just brilliant. All over it had little hints and jabs at the audience to get people thinking without being so overtly obvious as to make the average Fat, Gas guzzling American offended. It told a beautiful story and had gorgeous art, music, and backgrounds to go with the heart warming animation and characters. All in all, both companies are great, but Pixar just has something that I think will outlast Dreamworks in it's staying power.
I'm looking forward to UP, the characters look unique, and once again, the story is original.
22. Wiffleball - March 14, 2009 11:23 PM
Actually, a similar rationalization for a talking animal (the mouse, Heinlein) was done previously in Explorers, the 1985 Sci-fi film by Joe Dante. the mouse used a simple keyboard hooked up to a voice synthesizer.
23. Ryan Duncan - December 9, 2009 11:14 AM
I think that Pixar did it again. I think the talking dogs were a little weird and didn't seem very classic Pixarish but they were funny. But I think they did it in a way that I could "buy it". I didn't like them flying planes though. Come on. Really? Once again, though, the main storyline and the animation and colors were all incredible. I would recommend it to anyone. I've seen it 3 times, twice in theaters.