The concept of ‘Up’ is derived from an image in the director Pete Docter’s head — ‘A gloomy old man holding rainbow colour balloons’. The team, led by himself and co-director Bob Peterson, developed the idea of ‘balloons holding a floating house’. The story then gradually took shape — a grumpy old man named Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill the wish of his wife Ellie (the younger Ellie is dub by Elie Docter, the daughter of the director) who passed away, therefore begins the biggest adventure of his life at the age of 78.

It was when Docter began this project that Joe Grant, Docter’s mentor and great friend, passed away. Grant is the creator of classic animations in the 1930s, such as ‘Snow White’ and ‘Dumbo’. Docter always come to Grant when he has a new idea. ‘There has to be real emotion between the characters, then it becomes memorable for the audience’ — this is the first and foremost principal Docter learned from Grant. For him, Grant is the Carl and Ellie in real life.

‘Up’ is the first 3D animation by Pixar. The team understands that the fancy techniques service the purpose of story-telling. As a result, the 3D techniques are integrated into the story in the most subtle and thoughtful way. In the first half when Carl lives in the city, the visual is detailed and carefully controlled; When Carl’s adventure takes him to South America, the 3D technique highlights the vastness and vividness of the nature. When taking off from the ground, there are more than 20,000 balloons holding the floating house. A delicate and carefully calculated process, this specific scene is created by a separate team.

Never have I experience a movie with the ability to move the audience into tears within the first ten minutes. ‘Up’ opens a brand new territory for story-telling.

Text: BEBOP | Translation: dilettante
Photo Courtesy: Intercontinental Film Distributors (H.K.) Ltd.
Update: 17 Jul 2009

RELEASE DATE:
30 Jul 2009
DIRECTOR、WRITER:
PETE DOCTER、
BOB PETERSON(CO-DIRECT)
STORY：
PETE DOCTER
THOMAS McCARTHY
BOB PETERSON

《UP》
disney.go.com/disneypictures/up