Comic-Con Interview: Pixar’s Andrew Stanton

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 30, 2007

When it comes to the upcoming Disney films, I’m excited. But as excited I am to see “Prince Caspian,” nothing can compare to the excitement I feel for Pixar’s upcoming film “WALL•E.” Audiences first got a look at this little robot film at the head of “Ratatouille” out this summer. The story revelations were slim, but we all understood the heart behind it. The film tells the story of the loneliest robot on the planet who discovers he is no longer needed.

Director Andrew Stanton was on hand to answer questions about this new release, which is his follow-up to the Academy Award-winning “Finding Nemo.” When asked how he will top “Nemo,” he said, “You don’t try to. To be honest, I don’t know how I did ‘Finding Nemo.’ The only thing I trust is that I’m as excited as the next idea as I was about the last ones, and that’s really it.”

Listening to Stanton describe the story and concept of “WALL•E” is enough to bring a tear to the eye. He shared with us why Pixar has such a great track record, which comes not from having a studio slate to choose from but rather by making a great film from a single idea. “The way Pixar’s always worked is we think of an idea and we make it. We don’t develop lots of ideas and then pick one. Our ratio has been from day one: one idea and we stick with it until it works, and then we do the next one.”

Damn. I want a job at Pixar.

“WALL•E” is Pixar’s first foray into true science fiction, and it differentiates itself by not cluttering things up with dialogue. Instead, the character of WALL•E emerges completely with non-verbal cues. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have character. “I don’t want people going out there saying this is a silent movie,” Stanton said. “Everybody talks in this movie and there’s dialogue from the first frame to the end. They just don’t necessarily say words that you would necessarily say.”

Stanton said he was inspired for this film by the larger-than-life character of R2-D2. Stanton explained, “I just wanted it to feel like ‘R2-D2: The Movie’ because when I saw ‘Star Wars,’ and R2 went down in that trench in Tattooine before he met the Jawas. I could care less if we ever went back to anywhere else in the movie. I was so engrossed. There was something so appealing about that. I said I wanted to feel like I was watching a character like that.”

Be prepared for a Fat Guys fight later this year when me and Neil Miller rumble about our most anticipated film. Neil is all hyped over “Iron Man.” I, however, can’t wait for “WALL•E” to visit us in our cineplexes next summer.

For more coverage from the halls of the San Diego Convention Center, be sure to visit our Comic-Con Homepage.

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