The Journey Behind Pixar's Decision to Delay 'The Good Dinosaur'

Recently, there has been a flurry of speculation regarding the 18-month delay of Pixar's beloved animated film, The Good Dinosaur. The reason behind this delay has been a topic of much discussion and analysis. This article delves into the complexities of this situation, exploring the rigorous review process and the unwavering commitment to quality that defines Pixar's cultural ethos.

The Secretive Culture at Pixar

Pixar is infamous for its secretive culture. This secrecy is deeply rooted in the company's origins, established by Steve Jobs after he co-founded Pixar in 1986. The company prides itself on being a secretive and disciplined organization, where every aspect of the filmmaking process is subject to intense scrutiny and constant improvement.

The Brain Trust: A Rigorous Review Process

The central pillar of Pixar's success is its Brain Trust. Comprised of the top story people and directors, the Brain Trust conducts regular, in-depth reviews of each film. These reviews, conducted every few months, involve a thorough tearing apart and reconstruction of the story and characters. This relentless focus on quality is a testament to Pixar's commitment to delivering nothing less than the best animation films.

Why the Delay for 'The Good Dinosaur'?

When it comes to The Good Dinosaur, the delay was a direct result of the project not meeting the high standards set by the Brain Trust. According to Pixar's own practices, if a director is not responsive and the project is not progressing as intended, the director may be pulled off the project. In this case, the project was clearly not meeting the necessary criteria to maintain Pixar's values of quality.

The announcement of the delay was, in essence, a declaration that the powers that be at Pixar had reviewed the project and decided it needed to be reworked. This process of reworking, involving significant changes to the story and possibly the characters, necessitated a considerable amount of reanimation work and coordination among various departments. These factors contributed to the extended delay in the release of the film.

What Exactly Happened with the Delay?

It is highly likely that the project was undergoing a major rewrite. Rewriting a film involves extensive changes, including character design, storyline, and entire segments of the narrative. These changes can lead to a massive amount of reanimation work, which is both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, the only logical explanation for the 18-month delay is the extensive reworking and reanimation of the film.

Given Pixar's competence in technical aspects and animation, it is unlikely that any problems with the technology or animation process contributed to the delay. Instead, it is primarily a matter of the story and character development needing a complete overhaul to meet Pixar's stringent standards.

Conclusion

In summary, the 18-month delay of The Good Dinosaur is a direct result of Pixar's unwavering commitment to quality and the rigorous review process conducted by the Brain Trust. This process ensures that every film produced by Pixar not only reaches but surpasses the company's high standards of excellence in animation and storytelling.

References

Films by Pixar: The Good Dinosaur, Soul, Coco.
Pixar's Brain Trust: A Key to Success. Pixar, 2023.