Shorts like Pixar’s “Small Fry” help extend the shelf life of Disney’s biggest franchises

Jim Hill

13 years ago

Here's an interesting question for all of your Pixar trivia
buffs out there: Which "Cars" film do you think was seen by more people? The original from 2006
or this summer's sequel
(which was released on Blu-ray and
DVD on November 1st).

And the answer is … neither. Truth be told, but the "Cars" -related
production that's been seen by the largest audience to date isn't the original "Cars"
or "Cars 2." But – rather – is Pixar's "Cars Toons." Which are run upwards of
15 times a week on the Disney Channel.

Which I know may sound kind of hard to believe. But while "Cars"
— during its original theatrical run — was seen by 40 million people (more importantly,
20 million DVDs & Blu-ray units of this John Lasseter film have been sold
since 2006). But that's nothing compared to the 68 million people who have seen
a "Cars Toon" since this series of shorts was officially launched back in
October of 2008.

And given that these "Cars" -themed animated interstitials which
air on the Disney Channel have proven to be a highly successful way for this particular
set of Pixar characters to remain connected with their target audience (not to
mention providing inspiration for further expansion of the "Cars" product line …

… as well as fodder for a continuing line of Walt Disney
Studios Home Entertainment releases) …

… is it any wonder that the folks at Pixar are now looking
to do something similar with their new "Toy Story Toons" series? The first of
which, "Hawaiian Vacation" …

… premiered in front of "Cars 2" back in June while the second
film in this series, "Small Fry" …

… bows later this month in front of "The Muppets."

Earlier this year, I got to talk with Galyn Susman (i.e. who's
been with Pixar Animation Studios for over 20 years now and – most recently — served
as the producer as "Hawaiian Vacation") and asked her about how she and Gary
Rydstrom (i.e. the director of this 6 minute-long film) put together the first-ever
"Toy Story Toon."

"Gary and I initially thought that we'd use the 'Mater's
Tall Tales' cartoons as our template. By that I mean: Just use a handful of characters from the 'Toy Story'
universe to tell our story, rather than the entire cast," Susman explained. "But
John Lasseter had a very different idea in mind."

To John's way of thinking … Well, this introductory "Toy
Story Toon" was going to be the very first time that we'd seen these characters
since the end of "Toy Story 3." Which was when Andy gave all of his beloved
playthings to Bonnie.

"And what John told Gary & I was that people were really
going to want to know what had happened after 'Toy Story 3.' How Andy &
Bonnie's toys were now getting along. Who had paired up with whom," Galyn
continued. "Which meant that we now had to come up with a story that – in just
six minutes time – allowed 18 different characters to each get their own moment
in the spotlight."

Luckily, among the 8 different scenarios that Jason Katz and
Pixar's story team had already mapped out for possible "Toy Story Toons" was the
storyline of "Hawaiian Vacation." Which John immediately got excited about
because of all the comic possibilities (EX: How would the characters dress while
they were staffing this faux resort where Ken & Barbie were staying on
their romantic get-away). Which is why Lasseter quickly ordered this particular
short put into production.

But once work was complete on "Hawaiian Vacation" (more
importantly, once all of the public's questions about how all of the toys in
Bonnie's room were now getting along were answered) Pixar's shorts department
could then revert to Susman's original plan for the "Toy Story Toons" series.
With each of these shorts now built around an adventure that starred just three
or four members of the "Toy Story" cast of characters.

Take – for example – "Small Fry." Which reveals what happens
when Bonnie accidentally leaves the full-sized action figure version of Buzz
Lightyear behind when she visits Poultry Palace (i.e. a local fast food joint) and – instead – brings
home the Happy-Meal-Toy version of this Space Ranger. Who then tries to pass
himself off as the version of Buzz Lightyear who's always been in Bonnie's bedroom.

Meanwhile, once Poultry Palace closes for the night, Buzz frantically
searches for a way to escape from this fast food restaurant. But then – after falling
through a hole in the building's HVAC system – this Space Ranger finds himself
a reluctant participant in a support group meeting for discarded Fun Meal toys.

And speaking of toys … Disney Consumer Products has high
hopes that the "Toy Story Toons" series – just like the "Cars Toons" series
before it – will soon become an excellent jumping-off point for brand-new lines
of "Toy Story" products. Witness the "Hawaiian Vacation"-inspired items that
Toy R Us is offering its customers as exclusives over the 2011 holiday shopping
season.

And given that Pixar Animation Studios – through its new Pixar
Canada facility in Vancouver – plans on producing two new "Toy Story Toons"
short per year at least for the foreseeable future … Well, we should probably
expect to see the first Blu-ray / DVD collection of "Toy Story Toons" from Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment in late 2014 / early 2015.

And just so you know, Walt Disney Animation Studios will
soon be testing the waters when it comes to using animated interstitials (which
WDAS will be producing for the Disney Channel) as a way to keep Disney Princess
fans excited about the latest additions to this $4-billion-a-year franchise.
Toward that end, the folks in Burbank are currently working on "Tangled Ever
After," a brand-new 6 minute-long short which details what happens on Rapunzel
& Flynn Rider's wedding day.

Mind you, as of this moment, there are plans to only make
one Disney Princess short. The folks at Walt Disney Animations Studios (as well
as – of course – executives at Disney Consumer Products) will have measure the
public's response to this "Tangled" follow-up before they then put another Disney
Princess short into production.

Which brings us to today's question: If Walt Disney
Animation Studios were to put some more Disney Princess shorts in production,
which characters would you like to see this 6 minute-long films built around?
More importantly, would you like these Disney Princess to be produced using CG
or hand-drawn animation?

Your thoughts?