When Brad Bird came to Pixar to shake things up with THE INCREDIBLES, he also wanted to raise the bar for DVDs as well, bringing a video camera in tow all through production. Judging from the some of the supplemental material on the fabulous two-disc COLLECTORS EDITION that streets today (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99), there were plenty of friendly creative fights. Brad was a great documentarian, DVD producer Ann Brilz told AWN. He wanted to record the experience warts and all. Gathering the material with Brad was an honest, candid look at the production. He was into showing it all.
Indeed, there is informative commentary about the craft of animation from Bird, producer John Walker and a host of animators (including animation physics, the numerous sets, costume and hair challenges and other war stories); deleted scenes such as an alternate opening about the domestic lives of our superheroes that really doesnt fly; a making of doc; bloopers and outtakes; a lost 2D cartoon; and Bud Luckeys BOUNDIN short.
But, of course, the best exclusive bonus feature is the brand-new short, JACK-JACK ATTACK, which fills in the gap during the sequence when the baby is alone with babysitter Kari and displays his heretofore-unknown superpowers. It turned out to be the perfect choice for a short since Bird had to delete the scene from the feature because it slowed the pace. Brilz said the short not only expanded what Bird had previously envisioned, but also resulted in a larger role for Kari in THE INCREDIBLES.
The production of JACK-JACK ATTACK ran for nine months in parallel to THE INCREDIBLES, utilizing some of the same crew, so the ramp up was a normal roll over that they were used to, Brilz added. Brad eked out every possible moment that he could. Pixar has made no decision about whether to screen JACK-JACK ATTACK in theaters or to enter it in the Oscar competition next year.
Bonus features include:
* Commentary by writer/director Bird and producer Walker* Commentary by various animators* JACK-JACK ATTACK exclusive short* "Incredi-Blunders" bloopers and outtakes* Deleted scenes, including alternate opening* Making of featurette* Seven additional behind-the-scenes featurettes* Pixar short BOUNDIN' with optional commentary by director Bud Luckey* "Who is Bud Luckey?" featurette* Top secret NSA files on all the Supers* "Mr. Incredible & Pals" cartoon with optional commentary by Frozone and Mr. Incredible* "Vowellet": an essay by first-time vocal talent Sarah Vowell (Violet) of NPRs THIS AMERICAN LIFE * Introductions with Bird
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
