Based on information provided by unnamed "reliable sources", Cartoon Brew is reporting that Brenda Chapman is no longer directing Brave at Pixar and has left the the studio entirely. "We hear that she was pushed aside from full directing duties a while back, and that story artist Mark Andrews (who also co-directed the Pixar short One Man Band) has taken over directorial duties. We understand that the change officially happened last week, although it had been inevitable for some time."
Pixar and Disney have previously carried out similar shake-ups when things weren't heading in the right direction for a film, most notably when Jan Pinkava was pushed aside as director of Ratatouille in favour of Brad Bird.
However, this would be quite a shocking turn of events. Chapman has long been touted as "Pixar's first female director" who would bring a woman's perspective to Brave, which she wrote, and which features Pixar's first female protagonist. It would be a stunning change, and I'd love to hear what the studio would have to say about it.
Stay tuned as the story develops or is quashed by official word from the studio. Brave is scheduled to open in theatres on June 15, 2012.
(via /Film)
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Update: The New York Times reports that The Walt Disney Studios has confirmed Cartoon Brew's report from Monday that Brenda Chapman has been replaced as director of Brave by Mark Andrews.
The Disney spokesperson says that the change was made for "creative reasons". Contrary to Cartoon Brew's piece, however, Chapman hasn't left Pixar; she "remains on staff" at the studio.
As of the production of Toy Story 3, she's a member of the studio's senior creative team or "brain trust". Prior to joining Pixar in 2003, Chapman worked on Disney's Beauty and the Beast and co-directed DreamWorks Animation's The Prince of Egypt.
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28 comments:
I hope it's not true, I was looking forward to seeing her film, I mean yeah we will still see Brave but it won't be the same film without her. I trust Pixar, if things aren't working they aren't working. I just hope it's not true.
Well, this is a disappointing development, if true.
I wonder what level of problem it takes for a Director to be removed from a project.
I also hope it's not true, but even if it is - you have to hand it to Pixar for making bold (and unpopular) moves to make sure each film they release is as good as it can be.
As you say - it's not without precedent for a Pixar director to be moved on.
Let's hope they're doing what's best for the film.
Hmm, seems like Pixar is experiencing growing pains with this next generation of directors.
OMG! What is Pixar up to these days? But well... i trust it all is being for the benefit of the company and its continued success. I just hope we get some answers soon... you know, as to why was Newt cancelled or why is Brenda Chapman no longer directing Brave. I also wonder if the name change had something to do with this...
This really is an amazing rumor. If it is true, Pixar must realize what kind of hit this is to their PR (replace the "first female director" with a man! Ouch.) and they must have had a real need. But I hope it's not true! Can't wait to hear Pixar officially comment.
This is horrible news!
I really don't want to see a guy like Mark Andrews telling a heroines tale. He's good at blowing sh#t up.
This is a shame - Pixar just keeps replacing/firing any new directors.
Toy Story 2, Newt, Brave, Cars 2, Ratatouille -
If you want to direct a film but aren't in with he old boys club don't even bother applying!
NO she shouldn't leave!!!!:(
look! some scene from Brave( behind her ).
Well, i don't know about this,but, Mike Andrews is also a great artist( work on the incredibles, one man band, etc.). But being directed by a woman who really work-with-her-heart absoulutely bring a greater impact.
There's a bit of good news here... with a guy on directing board it now might not be such a girly flick as it was originally was going to be. My faith in Pixar was badly shaken when I saw they were going to do a girl film...
I kind of doubt the reliability of these "unnamed sources" at the moment. Need more.
This news stinks. Not just because I love Chapman, but because I don't trust Lasseter's decisions anymore when it comes to new director replacements. Examples:
How Chris Sanders and Dean Deblois were booted from their own project in favor of the two new directors who made the dry, boring "Bolt,"
and Glen Keane, whose brilliant Rapunzel vision was replaced with the thing we're going to get in theaters next month.
Toy Story 3 Blu-ray has trailer for The Incredibles on Blu-ray!!!
This is a somewhat disappointing development, but Pixar has OFTEN commented on the grueling process before finish on each of their films and how they're almost always horrendous at one point or another, and yet they've had a pretty stellar track record so far.
So while I was eager to see more from Brenda Chapman, I'm leaning towards the idea that this was just a result of that point in their process. Hopefully.
Is it really needed to "tout" that someone will be the first female Pixar director? Is that really an accomplishment? They just need to keep good directors at the helm regardless of race, gender or creed.
If we're thinking in that direction, we could easily have "touted" Sarah Palin as our first female vice president.
One more quick comment; The Prince of Egypt was, by far, the best animated feature to come out of Dreamworks.
She did an amazing job with that.
Anonymous #4: What the heck?! You think "Bolt" is dry and boring? Admittedly, it's not "Pixar-grade," but it is still one of the best efforts Disney has put out in the entire 21st century.
And even if you didn't like the plot, you still should have laughed a lot. Rhino the Hamster is one of the funniest animated figures we've seen in a while.
I am so disappointed in you.
Aw man, I was actually really looking forward to Pixar's first female director doing essentially their first female protagonist story. I feel like having that woman's perspective would've really went well with that. I wonder why the decision was made. :\
I wonder what happened to warrant her to leave.
Maybe their standards have grown too high, and are afraid their next movie won't be as good. Which sucks, because they have to accept that not everyone can have 10 hits in a row.
In my opinion, they didn't even get 7 in a row as they blew it a bit too much for my taste in "Ratatouille." Granted, that one was fairly decent, still definitely worth watching (3.5 out of 5 stars), but unfortunately, I still am smelling a rat here.
Now, they're about to make their 4th awesome movie in a row, since Cars 2 oughta be awesome. "Brave" will be lucky to whop past 300 million worldwide.
Thanks for the update, even if it's not the news I was hoping. From a number of talks from Ed Catmull, they seem to try and do everything to make it happen for a director, if things aren't quite working they switch people working with the director ect. However at some point if the teams aren't following the director they take the hard decision and replace them. Cool to here that she is still with Pixar.
I'm incredibly disappointed in Pixar's move here.
Do they think this doesn't have repercussions? There have been almost NO female directors in the animation field, and having one of the few who HAS sort of made it get fired DOES ACTUALLY HAVE AN EFFECT. What about all those aspiring female animators out there? What sort of message does this send, other than that animation is an all-boys club?
I liked One-Man Band, but I absolutely would have preferred to see a story about a girl, by a girl, and also, by the person who originally came up with it.
And this comes on the heels of all the sexist actions that have been taken by Disney of late toward their animated features, vastly changing Rapunzel (oh, sorry, 'Tangled,' we don't dare feature the main female's own name in the title, it may drive off the boys!), shelving The Snow Queen, a movie about a girl saving the day, but continuing with three other animated films ALL WITH MALE LEADS.
For shame, Pixar. For shame.
Obviously, if she's still with Pixar this wasn't a big fall-out type deal. Just a creative decision. If Pixar feels they needed a new director for the film I trust them.
Brave has always been a tricky one in my mind, because it has a tendency to fall into the "animated fantasy flick" cliche. I'm sure they're trying their best to avoid that.
I just saw this interview of Ed Catmull yesterday, though it's from April.
http://vimeo.com/10727413
In the interview he talks about the process of choosing, and sometimes replacing, directors.
Check it out when you've got a half hour.
I have to agree with Zumie. I'm very disappointed. The director's gender really shouldn't make any difference, but Pixar has a strange aversion to having female leads in their movies, let alone female employees. John Lassester's wife (or daughter, I forget who exactly) had to ask him to put a female character into Toy Story 2! Over and over again, nothing but male characters with only Atta, Jessie, Dory, Elastigirl, Eve, and Colette as anything close to main characters. I love Pixar, but I'm sick of male buddy films. (Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Cars, Up, Cars 2)
All of Pixar's directors have been great, but I was really thrilled a woman was finally going to direct. Now we're stuck in the old boys club again. If they made the change because she wasn't a good director, then the movie better be brilliant, or no one will let them live this down.
Both Beauty and the Beast and the Prince of Egypt were brilliant films.
I hope this works out for the better for Pixar and the viewing public. Hey alot can happen in 2 years.
Beauty and the Beast is entertaining enough, but animation wise it doesn't hold up that well (lucky for us that doesn't matter).
Prince of Egypt flopped for a good reason--it's a self important, ego driven mess. Horrible movie. As were all of the first 6 dreamworks cartoons.
I can get and respect changing things for the sake of making something work better/enhance a project. I trust Pixar for making solid calls when it comes to their projects, I hope that faith isn't tested when this movie comes out. As a female animation student it would be awesome to see a major Pixar film being directed by a woman, but only if that woman was truly doing something for the project, just being a woman doesn't instantly make me assume it'd be a better film than what a male director could produce. It'd be a major milestone, but only if the person in question had achieved a good film.
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