Throughout its success with feature-length films, Pixar has maintained focus on short films as well. Last year’s La Luna was arguably one of the best shorts from the animation studio, receiving widespread critical praise and an Oscar nomination. Around this time last year, we knew that the stunning Enrico Casarosa-directed short would be the studio’s next – but, what is to be the next Pixar short? We have come across some viral marketing that may very well allude to what it may be.
Karl
“It was hard sometimes,” Karl thought, “staying awake and always being ready for an emergency. But he was also very proud of the responsibility that was bestowed on him.”
The Twins
“Today was one of those days he just couldn’t stand his twin brother staring at him all day long”
Bo
“Yes,” Bo thought, “I am just the base of a fire hydrant and to spot me you need to look at me upside down. But people should respect me nevertheless right?”
Here is a selection of the many images focused on rain in the city:
For an idea of what this short’s story may be about, here is a brief post from the blog talking about its likely influence:
Wandering through the city with the whole crew. Finding faces, big city details, discovering hidden stories, histories and the wonders of a city being formed and shaped by people’s everyday life in it.
If I had to take a stab at it, I would speculate that the short takes place in a rainy city and provides voices to these objects that we pass every day but take for granted.
Now, other than the thought that a story with inanimate objects coming to life in a rainy city sure sounds like it could make for a great Pixar film, you must be thinking that all of the above could be for just some animated short, and not necessarily a Pixar one. Well, that’s what I was thinking too, until I saw the image below:
See a few hints to Pixar yet? No? Take a look at the bottom right of the image and you’ll see “Pizza Planet.” Also, let me zoom in on the top center:
Yes, it says that this “Rainy City” animated short will be utilizing the rigging system of some movie called MU. Have your eyes gone wide yet? MU is short for Monsters University, which Pixar is also in the process of finishing (the Monsters, Inc. prequel is due in theaters in June 2013).
In another post, the filmmaker described how they decided to hold off on announcing “what [the] blog was about,” and then followed that up with a post earlier today that the announcement had been held back once again. Considering the strong reference to Pixar with the MU-name drop, and the fact that this time last year we knew what the newest Pixar short would be, it may very well be announced next week (after Comic-Con) that this blog has been doing some fantastic viral marketing for the new Pixar short, code-named “Rainy City Tales 332.”
Looking for more evidence? On Friday, May 4, the same day that Pixar was evacuated and closed for the day due to a hydrogen fuel tank leak in Emeryville, a blog post stated, “Who would have thought snow days happen even in California. Well, if you think of hydrogen as California’s snow. Ah well, so I’m off to a 3 day weekend…”
Further, take one look at who the blog’s twitter account follows – the list is overflowing with Pixar employees, along with several Pixar blogs (including, yours truly).
Coincidence after crazy coincidence?
Explore the blog here and sound off in the comments below! What do you think about all this?
