After six years in the making, The Good Dinosaur is set to arrive in theaters Thanksgiving weekend! Not only do we get two Pixar movies this year (Inside Out was the other one) but this is also the first Disney Pixar release on Thanksgiving since Toy Story 2!
We've gathered 17 fascinating facts about the labor of love that was The Good Dinosaur from where the original idea came from, previously cast actors, how a sunken GoPro camera influenced the river scenes, what animals were studied to create the characters in the movie, and how the U.S. government helped in making the film.
The Good Dinosaur is sure to become a family favorite and a great addition to the Pixar Animation list of films (it's the 16th). Join Arlo, Spot, the T-Rex family, and all the other great Disney characters in this family friendly film!
http://www.ranker.com/list/20-facts-about-and-_39_the-good-dinosaur-and-_39_/derrick-deane,
An Associate Producer Narrowly Escaped Serious Injury Horsebackriding
Associate producer Mary Alice Drumm narrowly escaped serious injury during the group’s horseback expedition. "We’d been riding for a long time," she says. "We’d reached the top of a hill where we found snow on the ground and were about to turn around to head back when my horse got cold and decided to drop and roll over in the dirt. I jumped off, but my foot was caught in the stirrup." Drumm pulled her leg out before the thousand-pound horse could hurt her, but the incident showcased just how tentative life in that environment could be.
John Lithgow Was Originally Cast As Poppa
The original cast featured a number of familiar names. In addition to Lithgow who was cast to voice Arlo's father, Poppa, the lineup included Judy Greer, Neil Patrick Harris, and Bill Hader. Among the original cast, the only remaining actor was Frances McDormand who voices Arlo's mother.
The Film Was in Production for Six Years
The film was originally set to release on Memorial Day weekend in 2014, but former director Bob Peterson had trouble nailing down the final act of the movie. The film was pushed back to Finding Dory's original release day, setting a domino effect of knocking that movie back to 2016. One of the biggest changes that was made to the story was ditching the idea that dinosaurs were farmers and making Mother Nature the main antagonist.
Original Movie Idea Was Based On Animatronics
Original director Bob Peterson, the first idea for the movie came from his impression of dinosaur animatronics he saw at the 1964 New York's World Fair. Wonder if he saw George Clooney zipping around there before he went to Tomorrowland...
First Thanksgiving Release Since 'Toy Story 2'
Ok so Toy Story 2 was the only other Pixar movie so far to be released during the holiday weekend, but The Good Dinosaur is also the first November release since The Incredibles in 2004. It's also the first Pixar movie to not be released in June since Up in 2009.
It's the Biggest Effects Film in the History of Pixar
"It’s the biggest effects film we’ve done in Pixar history, by far," says effects supervisor Jon Reisch. "Typically, about 30 percent of a film’s shots are effects shots. For ‘The Good Dinosaur,’ it’s more than twice that—60 percent of the film, over 900 shots out of about 1500, featured the work of the effects department."
Momma's Look Was Based On Classic Brontosaurus
Artists used classic brontosaurus references for Momma’s look. "Her legs are tapered from top to bottom, her back has a curve to it," says character art director Matt Nolte. "Momma is kind; she provides stability for the family and the farm. Her design reflects those qualities."
Animals and Humans Inspired the Look of Spot
Says Supervising Animator Mike Venturini, "We referenced lots of animals—dogs, raccoons, cats and squirrels. We wanted him to move in a way that’s familiar to the audience, but not too literal and not too human. His expressions are more like an animal’s—simple in design, not as complex as a human’s. He’s often wide-eyed. We had fun with Spot."
The T-Rexes Motions Were Based On Cowboys
Filmmakers wanted to give Butch and his T-Rex children the look of true cowboys. When they’re running, their lower bodies mimic that of galloping horses, while their upper bodies have the feel of the riding cowboys. "We referenced a lot of cowboy movies," says character art director Matt Nolte about Butch’s look. "We created this heavy-jawed, squinty-eyed dinosaur that technically breaks the anatomy of a T-Rex."
Classic Western Movies Were Referenced in the Story
The filmmaking team consulted experts about dinosaur anatomy and child psychology. To develop their own tone and style, filmmakers referenced a host of iconic films—Western films like Shane, Carol Ballard movies like The Black Stallion, plus Lawrence of Arabia, Top of the Lake and Stand By Me, among others.