Pixar Canada creative director at VFS

Following the listing of the first career opportunities for Pixar Canada in Vancouver, Pixar animator Dylan Brown, creative director for the satellite studio, was on hand yesterday at the Vancouver Film School (VFS) to speak about what's in the works. Pictures of his visit and presentation are on Flickr.

In his presentation, Dylan revealed what looks to be the logo for the Vancouver studio. Quite cool, although the "Canada" could have been made smaller, like the Google Canada logo.

Not much else can be deduced from the photos, so if any readers were at VFS yesterday, please share event details by emailing pixarblogunofficial@yahoo.ca.

By the way, this seems like a good moment to point out that, while I always carefully read each email readers send, I'm unable to respond to all due to the sheer volume of mail I receive. My apologies.

First Pixar Vancouver studio job listings

The first job listings for Pixar's future studio in Vancouver, British Columbia have appeared on the web (here and here) at two independent websites (they're not yet posted on the careers page at Pixar.com).

The positions Pixar is seeking to fill are Manager of Information Systems, Production Manager, and Layout Artist. The Production Manager will report to the general manager of the Vancouver studio and their producer in Emeryille.

Each of the listings term the satellite studio Pixar Canada, a "wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios". As we've known since the project was announced, "the Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars".

A well-placed source confirms that the new campus will be up and running "sometime in 2010".

'Up' "For Your Consideration" ad in Daily Variety

In true Hollywood style, Up was advertised to as "the best reviewed film of the year" on the front page of yesterday's edition of Daily Variety, as part of the ongoing Oscar campaign for the film.

Expect a lot of similar ads promoting the film to A.M.P.A.S. members in the coming weeks. Academy Award nominations will be handed out on February 2.

Thanks reader David S. for linking to this in comments

'George & A.J.' [UPDATE]

This is interesting: Along with theatrical short Partly Cloudy and DVD/Blu-ray short Dug's Special Mission, the iTunes Extras [requires iTunes] release of Up (in standard definition and HD) includes an exclusive feature-based short storyboard film entitled George & A.J., not available on the DVD or Blu-ray.

I haven't seen it, considering I got the Blu-ray, so I really can't say much, only that it follows George and A.J. (pictured above) the Shady Oaks retirement home nurses/caretakers who come to take Carl away in the film following his 'public menace' conviction. It runs approx. 4 minutes and was written and directed by Up storyboard artist Josh Cooley.

(via Pixar Talk)
----
Update: Disney/Pixar posted George & A.J. for free on Facebook today. Pretty funny actually. Watch it here.

(Updated Nov. 19)

Twenty animated features submitted for Oscars

A record twenty animated feature films, including Pixar's Up, have been submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) for consideration in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the upcoming 82nd Academy Awards.

According to A.M.P.A.S. rules, if at least sixteen of the films qualify for competition (and they should) there will be five nominees in the category rather than the usual three. That would be a very welcome change.

Of course, Up remains the front-runner for the feature animation award, as well as a strong contender for a Best Picture nomination, if the Academy's historic bias against the art form doesn't get in the way.