Starting today and going until Thursday of next week we will be presenting excerpts from the production notes for The Incredibles.
Production Information
From the Academy Award® winning team behind “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Finding Nemo” comes a story of an American family that takes the animated motion picture into realms of drama and design never seen before. With The Incredibles, writer-director Brad Bird and Pixar Animation Studios pioneer the creation of a computer-generated world so rich, complex and inventively “alive” that the motion picture experience it creates is altogether human.
The Incredibles follows the adventures of a family of former superheroes rediscovering the true source of their powers—in one another. Once one of the world’s top masked crimefighters, Bob Parr (AKA Mr. Incredible) fought evil and saved lives on a daily basis. But fifteen years later, he and his wife Helen (a famous former superhero in her own right) have been forced to take on civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs. Today they live as mere mortals and lead all-too-ordinary lives with their children—who go out of their way to appear “normal.” As a clock-punching insurance man, the only thing Bob fights these days is boredom and a bulging waistline. Itching for action, the sidelined superhero gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment.
Now, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the family must come together and once again find the fantastic in their family life.
At the heart of The Incredibles’ unprecedented mix of filmmaking innovation and heartfelt storytelling lies the far-reaching artistic vision of director Brad Bird (“The Iron Giant,” “The Simpsons”), who also wrote the original screenplay. Joining Bird is an accomplished ensemble of actors who bring to life the comedy, drama and emotional inner worlds of these larger-than-life characters—including Craig T. Nelson, Academy Award® winner Holly Hunter, Academy Award® nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox and Brad Bird himself in the role of the deadpan diva “Edna Mode.”
The most complex computer-animated entertainment yet created, The Incredibles nevertheless relies on the same traditional elements as all compelling motion picture stories—character development, production design, cinematography, costumes, effects, music and overall vision—pushing each of these to new levels within the genre to create a film unlike any other.
The Incredibles is produced by John Walker (“Iron Giant”) and executive produced by John Lasseter, the Academy Award® winning filmmaker and vice president of creative for Pixar. Kori Rae is associate producer, and Katherine Sarafian is production manager. Also playing a major role in creating the film’s retro-futuristic style and exuberant mood is the jazzy work of composer Michael Giacchino (“Alias”).
Coming up:
- October 30 – An Incredible Undertaking: How The Incredibles Came to Life
- November 1 – An Incredible Cast of Characters: Telling The Story of The Incredibles
- November 2 – Creating an Incredible Universe: The Epic Design of The Incredibles
- November 3 – Incredible Believability: Breakthrough Animation & Technology Give The Incredibles Lifelike Qualities
- November 4 – Incredible Themes: Creating a Musical Score for The Incredibles
