Buzz
For over two decades, Pixar has reigned supreme in the world of animated theatrical releases, earning both box office success and critical praise. However, not every concept made it to the screen. Here’s a look at six short films, feature films, and sequels from Pixar and Disney that never saw the light of day.
1. Monsters, Inc. 2: Lost In Scaradise
Prior to Disney’s acquisition of Pixar in 2006, their distribution agreement allowed Disney to retain sequel rights to Pixar’s characters. This meant Disney could produce follow-ups without Pixar’s input. To capitalize on this, Disney established Circle 7 Animation, a studio dedicated solely to creating sequels based on Pixar’s beloved franchises.
Enter Monsters, Inc. 2: Lost In Scaradise. This unproduced sequel would have seen Mike and Sulley from the original Monsters, Inc. journeying to the human world to surprise their friend Boo on her birthday. However, upon discovering Boo’s family had moved, the duo embarks on a quest to locate her.
The sequel was ultimately abandoned when Disney shut down Circle 7 in 2006 as part of the Pixar acquisition. Before its closure, Circle 7 had also developed unproduced sequels for Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo. Pixar later revisited the Monsters, Inc. universe with the prequel Monsters University, which premiered in theaters today.
2. A Tin Toy Christmas
In 1988, John Lasseter earned an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Pixar’s Tin Toy. This success led to more commercial and television opportunities for Pixar. In 1989, Pixar was tasked with creating a Christmas TV special titled A Tin Toy Christmas. However, when funding dried up, the project was shelved, and Pixar shifted its focus to developing a feature-length film.
A Tin Toy Christmas eventually laid the groundwork for the first Toy Story movie. Tinny, the tin toy soldier, inspired Buzz Lightyear, while the ventriloquist dummy evolved into Woody.
3. George and A.J.
Following the 2009 success of Up, Pixar planned a short film centered on George and A.J., employees at Shady Oaks Retirement Village. The short was meant to explore their humorous escapades after Carl Friederickson, the protagonist of Up, lifted his house using thousands of helium balloons. Although the project was never completed, Pixar released it as a bonus feature due to Up’s immense popularity.
The animation is rough and presented in a storyboard-style format, yet it manages to deliver plenty of humor and heartfelt moments, staying true to Pixar’s signature storytelling.
4. Car Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales - Backwards to the Forwards
Surprisingly, one of Pixar’s most lucrative franchises is Cars. While the films may not match the success of Toy Story or Finding Nemo, Cars merchandise dominates the market, making spin-offs featuring its characters a key focus for Pixar.
Pixar has created several short films featuring Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen, but Backwards to the Forwards was one they ultimately abandoned. The short depicted the Cars duo caught in a mysterious thunderstorm that creates a time portal, trapping them in a sci-fi adventure. The concept was a playful nod to the classic film Back To The Future.
Animator Scott Morse conceptualized the story for the short but decided to drop the project when it didn’t align with his vision. Morse is also known for his work on Your Friend the Rat, which was included as a bonus feature on the Ratatouille DVD.
5. and 6. The Original Storylines for Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3
Initially, Toy Story 2 was planned as a direct-to-video sequel running about an hour long. However, after Disney executives saw some completed scenes, they decided to upgrade it to a theatrical release. This forced Pixar’s team to rework the storyline and extend the film, with John Lasseter stepping in to lead the project. The team had just nine months to overhaul the story and meet the theatrical release deadline.
While the core premise of Toy Story 2—Woody being kidnapped by a toy collector—remained consistent, the original storyline featured different members of “Woody’s Roundup.” Early versions included a Prospector (later Stinky Pete), a talking Bullseye, and Senorita Cactus, the Prospector’s villainous partner. These characters were eventually reimagined, with Jessie replacing Senorita Cactus in the final cut.
The original plot of Toy Story 2 was enriched by introducing Jessie the Cowgirl. Her backstory added emotional depth to the film, emphasizing the theme of abandonment and the fear of being forgotten by one’s owner.
During the nine-month overhaul of Toy Story 2, the film was nearly lost when a mistaken command erased it from Pixar’s servers. With backup files also damaged, the team faced restarting the animation process just months before the release. Fortunately, the technical director had saved copies on her home computer, saving the production from disaster.
In 2005, Disney’s Circle 7 studio began developing a sequel to Toy Story 2 without Pixar’s input. Their script for Toy Story 3 centered on a global recall of Buzz Lightyear toys, forcing Andy’s mom to return Buzz to Taiwan. The other toys then devised a rescue mission to bring him back. Tim Allen had agreed to voice Buzz regardless of Pixar’s involvement.
However, after Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, the original Toy Story 3 concept was discarded. Pixar took over, with Lee Unkrich directing and Michael Arndt writing a new script. The film premiered in 2010 and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
