1995’sToy Storywas the first feature-length CGI production, but before that,Pixaralmost found itself at the helm of a Roald Dahl adaptation that bombed at the box office.Every Pixar movieis built on the shoulders ofToy Story’s success. If the groundbreaking movie hadn’t flourished as it did, it’s possible the studio may not have become the giant of animation that it is today. WhileRoald Dahl moviesalso tend to enjoy commercial success, they pale in comparison to the profitability of Pixar’s body of work. Ultimately, Pixar’s fate took a very fortunate direction.
Although there is often a relationship between a movie’s quality and its commercial success, not allbox office bombsare necessarily an indicator of the film itself being bad. Similarly, a well-reviewed movie can also lose money at the box office. WhileToy Storydid very well across the board for Pixar, the Roald Dahl adaptation to which the studio was almost attached wasn’t quite as fortunate. It remains to this day as one of the best live-action versions of the iconic author’s work, but the box office figures don’t reflect that, and Pixar’s involvement may not have been enough.
Pixar Pitched A James & The Giant Peach Movie At The Same Time As Toy Story
James and the Giant Peach was one of 3 options pitched to Disney
Speaking at D23 about Pixar’s earlier years,Toy Story 5director Andrew Stanton explained (ViaVulture) how Pixar pitchedToy Storyto Disney. Under instruction from then-Walt Disney president Jeffrey Katzenberg,Stanton and his colleagues came up with some ideas about what Pixar’s first movie could be. The options were rather disparate, but all aligned with Disney and Pixar’s family-friendly approach. Included in the trio of ideas was an adaptation of Roald Dahl’sJames and the Giant Peach.
The 3 Pitch Ideas Pixar Presented To Disney
At D23, Stanton confirmed, somewhat redundantly: “Disney was most excited about option number 3.” While Disney eventually went on to makeJames and the Giant Peachwithout Pixar’s involvement, the underformed idea that went on to becomeToy Storycaptured Disney’s attention more at the time. Although Pixar wasn’t directly involved with the production of the 1996 Roald Dahl adaptation, it’s possible the studio’s enthusiasm brought the story’s potential to Disney’s attention. So,Pixar arguably deserves at least some credit for both movies being made.
How Pixar’s James & The Giant Peach Movie Would Have Differed
Pixar’s version would likely have been a little less dark
Pixar’s entire reputation and artistic approach is built on the studio’s aptitude for productions made using CGI animation and no other medium. So, it’s reasonable to assume that if Disney had greenlit Pixar’sJames and the Giant Peach, that the movie would be entirely animated using computers. Such an endeavor had never been achieved before, and so it’s possible the groundbreaking approach could have resulted in Pixar’s version performing much better at the box office than the version produced by Disney alone.
Cast
An orphan who lives with his two cruel aunts befriends anthropomorphic bugs who live inside a giant peach, and they embark on a journey to New York City.
One of the actual movie’s most fascinating aspects is the use of both live-action footage and stop-motion animation within the same production. This hybrid approach had been used before 1996, butJames and the Giant Peachdid it brilliantly. Plus, although Tim Burton’s role in the movie was limited to that of a producer, his signature aesthetic still permeates the finished product - especially in the stop-motion sequences. If Pixar had made the movie,it’s unlikely that Burton would have been involved, which would have been a huge loss.
Not Making James & The Giant Peach Worked Out Very Well For Pixar
The Toy Story franchise has been very successful and profitable
Given how wellToy Storywas made, Pixar would undoubtedly have made a brilliant version ofJames and the Giant Peach. However, Disney’s decision to greenlightToy Storyinstead worked in Pixar’s favor. After the Roald Dahl book had been adapted, that would have been the end of the line for that particular story. Although Pixar made 1998’sA Bug’s Lifeits second feature-length production,1999 saw an immediate return to theToy Storyuniverseand the birth of a legendary movie franchise.
This 1990s TV Show Beat Pixar To Its Breakthrough CGI Animation
CGI animation was in its early days in the 1990s, but one TV show crossed the finishing line before Pixar could finish their first movie.
Toy Story 3andToy Story 4both passed the $1 billion mark at the box office, and Pixar has also achieved that same feat with other projects outside theToy Storyseries. Pixar’s first movie inarguably opened up the door for the studio’s lengthy and ongoing spell of success. IfJames and the Giant Peachhad been selected by Disney during that pivotal pitch meeting all those years ago, there’s no guarantee thatToy Storywould have happened at all, let alone so soon intoPixar’s existence.
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 animated feature from Pixar Animation Studios. It follows Woody, a cowboy doll, as he faces rivalry with new toy Buzz Lightyear. The film explores the dynamics between the toys as Woody and Buzz are inadvertently separated from their owner, embarking on a journey to return home.
