As the chief creative officer at Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, director and animator John Lasseter is behind some of the most beloved cartoon characters in recent memory.
From Woody of “Toy Story” to Sully of “Monsters, Inc.,” and from Nemo to Remy of “Ratatouille,” the Pixar cofounder seems to have firmly placed his name in the history books of film. However, Lasseter will be a special guest tonight at the Billy Wilder Theater not to talk about one of his own famous Disney figures but, rather, the classic “Dumbo.”
As part of the UCLA Film and Television Archive series “The Movie That Inspired Me,” the Archive will welcome the two-time Academy Award winner to discuss this seminal 1941 film and the inspiration he drew from the traditionally animated movie.
“Here you have one of the leaders, if not the leader, of digital animation in Hollywood talking about the films that inspired him and what he finds important,” said Paul Malcolm, programmer for the Archive. The series, now in its eighth year, brings in leading actors, writers, directors and cinematographers to showcase the films that have influenced their careers.
“Honorary Archive chairman Curtis Hansen (director of “L.A. Confidential” and “Wonder Boys”) curates and brings in some really fascinating people,” Malcolm said.
Walt Disney’s approach to animation as an art has been a big part of Lasseter’s career, which includes not just animating and producing Pixar films but directing films such as “Toy Story” and “Cars.”
“Not only is Lasseter’s business association influenced by Disney, but the films he’s done reflect that classic Disney approach to story, character and emotional engagement,” Malcolm said.
“What’s always really interesting and amazing about our series is hearing someone like John Lasseter, who we consider to be so cutting-edge in both the industry and the art form of digital animation, talk about how this classic film “˜Dumbo’ has influenced his career,” Malcolm said.
In addition to “Dumbo,” the program will screen three animated shorts. The shorts, also selected by Lasseter, include a Tex Avery cartoon “Bad Luck Blackie” (1949) and two Warner Brothers cartoons “A Bear for Punishment” (1951) and “Rabbit Seasoning” (1952), a Looney Tunes classic. The program will then be followed by a Q&A led by Curtis Hansen.
The connection between Lasseter’s digital work and his inspiration from traditional animated features is one of the most interesting aspects to note.
“In traditional animation, you had to draw it hand by hand, frame by frame. Digital animation is a bit different, but you still have to produce increment by increment, one shot at a time, in terms of creating emotions and moods,” Malcolm said.
“It’s a very time-consuming process, and you have to focus on the details while keeping an eye on the bigger picture in terms of emotional development and story.”
As evidenced by the popularity of his films, it seems Lasseter knows how to speak to a wide range of audiences even in a genre as constricting as animation.
“Whether they’re an animation fan or not, John Lasseter is an amazingly creative artist, and it’s just a really rare opportunity to hear him talk about what has influenced his art and his thinking about animation,” Malcolm said. “Anyone with an interest in animation is going to get a lot out of the show, and anyone interested in good movies and in what makes a great filmmaker tick is going to be just fascinated.”