Disney & Pixar's 10 Most Bizarre Animated Movie Ideas
Disney and Pixar have created an impressive filmography of imaginative projects, but some of their initial ideas are certainly bizarre. It comes with the territory that animation can push the moviemakers in terms of their creativity, and the backdrop of sci-fi and fantasy really allows them to go in any direction.
While fairytales and fables, robots, and talking toys feel like pretty familiar concepts now, there are some ideas that are completely strange at first glance. Whether it's that initial premise or the way the overall narrative weaves itself around these odd themes, these Disney and Pixar movies are all the better for the risks that they take.
Wreck-It-Ralph isn't the first video game movie to ever be produced, but the idea that the world within the arcade title is fully alive is certainly a strange one. Add to that the fact that the villains of popular franchises, including Ralph himself, wish to turn good and it's definitely a bizarre concept to follow up on.
Disney actually getting to work with major licenses like Sonic within the context of the film was completely unexpected, but the heartwarming narrative that showcased that the bad guy isn't necessarily a bad guy, absolutely delivered.
Inside Out from Pixar Animation Studios was a slightly more difficult concept to grasp. With young Riley's emotions in her head getting turned into real thinking people, the film took audiences into the depths of a child's mind as her world begins to change around her.
It's a complex idea to really deliver on, especially since it could also incorporate so many other characters, considering every human supposedly has this console of emotions in their brain. The film is packed full of detail that fans only notice on a re-watch and its vibrant story beats somehow work even though the original pitch is so philosophical.
Zootopia is about as odd as they come. Having a whole world built around animals, where their society is carefully curated with separate biomes for different species, is absolutely a strange idea to have. On top of this, focusing the story on a bunny rabbit that wants to be a police officer; well that really takes the carrot!
The film works because of the buddy cop drama at the center of it, alongside the opportunity for plenty of comedy and the crime-mystery elements that drive the twists and turns. By the end of the film, the audience doesn't see these characters as ridiculous backyard animals but instead as living people with an array of ideologies and goals.
Lilo & Stitch may just be one of Disney's most unexpected successes considering the franchise has only grown in recent years despite there being no new releases. The popularity of the franchise is likely down to the familial themes at the heart of that original movie.
The concept itself is definitely strange though, with a killer alien being unleashed on Earth, only to find a home in Hawaii with a young girl. It might play on some of the tropes of classic sci-fi, but the way Disney delivered the narrative here, it very well could have missed the mark if it wasn't handled properly.
The jury is still out on where Turning Red lands in terms of the overall Pixar rankings, but there's no denying that no matter how well the movie may be resonating with audiences, the overall pitch for the piece is quite unique. A girl turning into a giant red panda could have been a head-scratcher.
Pixar managed to combine this odd transformation with some great lore, linked to the heritage of the character alongside her emotional state and development. What was once a concept that many would have laughed at suddenly became grounded with some genuine meaning.
The Emperor's New Groove has become quite the cult classic although still hasn't managed to quite hit the mainstream appeal. That might be because of its genius but absolutely odd premise, which sees an Emperor dethroned and turned into a llama.
The cast is impressive and the movie takes its audience on a real journey as a spoiled ruler comes to learn what it's really like to live the life of an everyday working person or llama in this case. The idea really came together but it's not exactly an easy thing to pitch to a regular audience to drive them into theaters.
There are some unbelievably brilliant films about food out there, but usually, the person making that gorgeous cuisine happens to be human. If any animal was to prepare a dish the last thing anyone would expect is if it was a rodent! Ratatouille tackled that rat prejudice head-on.
Remy is a beloved character and now that the film has been available to watch for years it's considered to be a real classic in Pixar's archives. It's absolutely a tough sell though, as any food made by a rat probably wouldn't be very appetizing. But that's the whole point of the film, after all, anyone can cook!
Chicken Little was by all accounts a flop. Looking back on it now, it's actually quite an original film with a lot of great humor and some really good animation. It probably didn't deserve to be ignored as it has been in the years since. It might be because of the strange idea behind the piece though.
A small chicken claiming that it's the end of the world doesn't sound like a winning formula on paper. Animal-based societies are always pretty weird but add to this a "boy who cried wolf" narrative and an apocalyptic theme and it's clear to see why it hasn't quite resonated despite its potential.
Even in its earliest days, Pixar didn't shy away from being different. Monsters. Inc, as an idea is something that people accept nowadays because they are so familiar with the franchise. Back during its original release, the concept of a world of monsters was a bit strange though.
Especially when their entire system is based on a power grid, designed to facilitate the scaring of kids. It's a funny but odd concept that was pulled off because of the buddy-style drama and introduction of Boo as the point-of-view character.
It's a pretty recent release for Pixar and really performed well, but this fantastical backdrop took some explaining. The idea that there are fish people beneath the waves and that they could be living amongst the community of a small Italian village is not a conventional tale to tell.
Acceptance and understanding a new culture comes into play within the main beats of Luca though, as these young men find their own voices in a real coming-of-age production. It doesn't matter that the protagonists might have secretly hidden gills as their development feels really genuine.