Since A Bug’s Life, there has been a short attached with each new Pixar film. This year we got the excellent Day & Night with Toy Story 3. Last year’s Up had the equally great Partly Cloudly. In 2008, Doug Sweetland directed the story of a magician and his rabbit, Presto, which premiered before Wall-E. Working at Pixar for last 16 years, he has now been attached to his first feature debut. [Heat Vision]
It won’t be for Pixar though, but rather Sony Pictures Animation. Titled The Familiars, the “story centers on three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions, or familiars — an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog — to escape.”
Sam Raimi will produce with Josh Donen and writers of the original children’s book it is based on, Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, will scribe. The duo also worked on Not Another Teen Movie. I loved Presto and have faith in Sony Pictures Animation after delivering Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, count me excited for this.
Did you like Presto? What do you think about Sweetland’s directorial debut?