Could Viva Piñata have inspired new Pixar project?
Check below before you call this a sensationalistic headline
It’s no secret that we love Pixar. But who doesn’t? Watching one of their films is like taking a deep dive into absolute cuteness and a refreshing shower of good taste. For that very same reason, we like to label Rare as a pixaresque studio among game developers. People may agree or disagree with that definition at different levels, but there is a clear feel of refinement and artistry in the craftsmanship and aesthetic choices of both companies. So would it be that surprising to learn that the elusive sunbeam of inspiration struck Pixar artists while playing a Rare game on their Xbox 360?
Alright, this could be pure speculation from now on but it’s also fun to mention. Back in April this year, Disney Pictures announced like a zillion movies coming from all their divisions during the next four years. The already released and unbelievably moving Wall·E, this month’s Bolt or their promising, new traditionally animated film The Princess and the Frog. Pixar in particular revealed a whole bunch of projects that almost nobody ever heard about before that date. The last of them, currently scheduled for a 2012 release, was called Newt.
Some of you may have instantly thought of Viva Piñata’s utterly beautiful newtgats after reading that. So did we. But there already were newts in the world before Rare decided to include them in one of their games. However, the distance between Rare’s and Pixar’s newts narrows if we know that both are meant to perpetuate their breed. In the movie, the main characters will be the last remaining male and female newts on the planet, both forced together by science to save the species from extinction. Sadly, they can’t stand each other. Which turns the task of matching them into one hell of a nightmare.
Sounds familiar? Then you will be pleased to know that the very first picture related to this movie that has surfaced on the Internet shows the romance dance of Pixar’s newts. Now that’s a funny coincidence.
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5 Comments
Yeah, I’d have to agree with Billy on this one - I love you guys, but come on - this is clutching at straws here. Pixar movies usually have approximately two years of pre-production, and then two years of actual production - at least. That time bracket puts it well before Viva’s public knowledge. And before you suggest it, there’s no way a company owned mostly by Apple would be getting inside info from a computer game company owned by Microsoft.
The newtgat picture is still adorable though.
Comment by Ben K — 06.Nov.08 @ 1:53 pm
it’s just a dance it can’t prove anything, I mean I would like the idea of it having some inspirational work on this but it just doesn’t seem like it. when I first read this headline I thought it would mean that pixar was interested in making viva pinata into film or something similer
Comment by saicambanjo — 07.Nov.08 @ 2:58 am
We are not saying that they did base Newt on Piñata or anything. That’s simply false.
We are just pointing out a curious coincidence, since newts are one of our favourite piñata species. And what makes it more interesting is that, as a matter of fact, they could have perfectly come up with the idea while playing or watching a game like Viva Piñata. As you guys mentioned, Pixar movies take about 4 or 5 years to make. This one will open on 2012. How many years is that since the first Viva Piñata came out? You can do the math.
It’s still highly unlikely that they took any of their ideas from Rare, but technically possible. And in the end, the whole point of this news is to let people know about the movie, as all gamers who enjoyed Piñata will most likely enjoy this.
Comment by Liberance — 07.Nov.08 @ 3:14 am well yeah they could of been in some way inspired since I already knew when it was coming out but I just feel like this was some pretty unneeded news unless, they actually state that they got the idea of the movement from pinata.I would call Rare the Pixar of games in the graphics department though.
Comment by saicambanjo — 07.Nov.08 @ 4:12 pm
ok, i love this website as it gives better information than any other rare centric site, but come on… this is ridiculous, rare has nothing to do with pixar. the equivalent of what this article is saying is to say that the movie “open season” whose main character was a bear, was made because rare uses a bear as it’s main character in banjo kazooie… there is NO correlation!
Comment by billy — 06.Nov.08 @ 3:24 am