The old and the newt
This is a special post about a special film that never made it into the spotlight. Newt was going to be Pixar’s 14th feature film, but now stands as the studio’s only movie to be announced but canceled. It was supposed to come out summer 2011, but was pushed back a year. Brave was then announced to release that year. There was no update on Newt until the announcement that it was canceled.
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| Film Logo |
BASIC PREMISE
Newt was going to have Academy Award winner for sound Gary Rydstrom answer the question, ”What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other?” The main characters Newt and Brooke would find themselves in this situation. They would’ve gone on a perilous journey and find out that you can’t plan love like science.
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| Concept Art of Newt and Brooke |
STORY AND CHARACTERS
Newt was to be in captivity since he was a tadpole. Lonely, even with his lifeless sock puppet friend, Newt practiced a mating ritual, despite not knowing the ritual’s last step, hoping one day the scientists would find a girlfriend for him.
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| Concept Art of Newt with Scientist |
Brooke was supposed to be a wild newt that didn’t know she was the last female. Biologists manage to capture and bring her to the lab for Newt. But the two don’t connect as planned.
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| Concept Art of Brooke |
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| Concept Art of Newt in the Lab |
The newts would eventually be in the wild, where Newt depends on Brooke for survival.
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| Concept Art of Newt and Brooke |
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| Concept Art of Newt and Brooke |
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| Concept Art of Newt and Brooke |
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| Concept Art |
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| Concept Art |
They would’ve met a giant Hellbender Salamander “ladies man” named Eddie. Newt would then take his shallow suggestions on love, but Brooke would not fall for them.
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| Concept Art of Eddie |
NEWT GOES EXTINCT
Early signs of Newt’s cancellation were its removal from the official Disney A to Z Encyclopedia, a Pixar source saying “We have taken newt off of our development schedule to allow our creative teams to focus on these upcoming projects,” and Rydstrom being named the director of another project (film short named Hawaiian Vacation).
Though, Pixar didn’t give up easily on Newt. Pixar knows their films in their early stages suck. Pixar President Ed Catmull said, “What we’ve [Pixar] found is, that first version always sucks.” The studio has to rework the film, make a few versions, and see what elements stick. Pixar tried to bring out the best in Newt’s story by having Pete Docter take it over. But, Docter had a better movie idea instead (cough, Inside Out, cough). So, efforts were moved to this idea, forcing Newt to meet its premature end.
Much like love, you can’t plan movies like a science. Sometimes, a problem with a story can’t be solved and it has to be scrapped. I’m sure if Pixar had more time and desire, they could’ve made an adequate film for Newt. But, Pixar wanted to bet on a new and different movie that was beyond adequate. I saw potential in Newt, but I love Inside Out, so I’m at peace with Pixar’s decision. Sacrifices need to be made on the battlefield of animation.
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