SDCC 'Up' panel details [UPDATE]

The panel for Pixar's Up at Comic-Con International in San Diego took place this afternoon. Several websites have posted a plethora of (very exciting) details on the event, including descriptions of the clips shown.

The panel began with director Pete Docter getting up on stage and talking about Up's plot; he also introduced each of the clips, one of which was an entire, though partially unfinished, sequence from the film.

From both Docter and the clips themselves, audiences learned that the film's star, Carl Fredricksen, is a "grumpy old man" who lives in a big city. He's refused to sell his home to developers who have, in turn, built around it. As has been known for a while now, Carl is a widower. When his wife Ellie was alive, he had promised her that they'd go on a big adventure one day —to some "fantastical" mountains in South America (i.e. Venezuela). Since she never got the chance, Carl really wants to go on the adventure, in keeping with his promise.

(Pixar sent actually sent a research team, which included Pete Doctor, to Venezuela. Pixarian Ronnie del Carmen has a couple of photos of the trip on his blog.)

One day, just when he's about to be taken away to a nursing home, he decides to attach a bunch of balloons to his house, as seen in the film's title card. The house takes off, with Carl shouting “So long, boys!” to the nursing home guys. People on the street and in the surrounding buildings "look on in disbelief" as the house flies higher and higher. Using sails he 'charts a course South', towards Venezuela, looking down at the ground below and then at a picture of Ellie.

The house now floats along smoothly, right between the clouds. Carl sits down to take a rest. Suddenly, he hears a knock at the door... (Clip ends) It will turn out to be a chubby little boy scout named Russell who had somehow stowed away on board the house, Docter explained to the audience, which is said to have received the footage enthusiastically.

The next (and final major) clip began with the house finally landing. Carl and Russell slide to the ground using a garden hose, which can be seen in the above picture. This was followed by some unfinished footage.

With all the clips shown, the question-and-answer portion of the program began. According to reports, a sizable amount of people are said to have left at this point (see update).

Docter proceeded to get a couple of question not related to Up. He was first asked the perennial question about "what sort of classes" are necessary for someone wanting to working in computer animation. After his answer to that, he got asked about the possibility of a Monsters, Inc. sequel. "We’ve thought about it... If we find a story worth telling, we’ll do it. Otherwise, we won't", was his response. Following that, several questioners stood up and asked about the Up's message and theme.

So if reports are correct (see update), it was probably a somewhat tough day for Pete Docter. It happens! All the better on opening day...

Oh, there's one more thing: The official Up website (disney.com/Up) launched as the presentation was in progress. As with the WALL-E site this time last year, nothing much is available on the site, just a Flash 'teaser' of the house flying with Carl standing on the front porch (cropped still pictured above).

(Sources: SpoutBlog; /Film; FirstShowing.net)
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Update: I'm being told that the claim that a fairly large portion of the audience members left at the start question and answer portion (sourced from SpoutBlog) may be quite exaggerated. My apologies if that is the case. I've edited the article to make this clear, and for better general clarity.

(Updated on July 27)