Wednesday, January 26, 2011

2011 NOMINATED SHORT: Day & Night

In the lead up to the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27th, we are taking a closer look at this year's nominees, all of which will be available to download from iTunes on February 22nd. Today, one of this year's Best Animated Short Film nominees, Day & Night.

Best Animated Short Film nominee, Day & Night


DAY & NIGHT USA/6 MIN

Director/Writer: Teddy Newton
Producer: Kevin Reher

When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other's unique qualities - and come to realize that each of them offers a different window onto the same world - the friendship helps both to gain a new perspective.

Director’s Biography:
Teddy Newton came to Pixar in July of 2000 to work on Pixar’s sixth feature film, The Incredibles and has since contributed his considerable character design skills to many of Disney•Pixar’s award-winning feature and short films, including Ratatouille, Your Friend the Rat and Presto.  He was also instrumental in the creation of the “End Titles” of The Incredibles and Ratatouille and is frequently cast as a voice in Disney•Pixar films, including the role of Chatter Telephone in the feature film Toy Story 3.

For his Disney•Pixar directorial debut, Newton teamed with producer Kevin Reher on Day & Night, released with Toy Story 3 on June 18, 2010.

Prior to coming to Pixar, Newton worked in the story department and in character design at Warner Bros. on Iron Giant.  He also served as writer/producer for the independent feature film The Trouble with Lou.

Newton is inspired by the drawings of Al Hirschfeld and early Warner Bros animation. He grew up in Dana Point, California, and attended California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts).

Awards:
Nominated: Best Animated Short Subject, 38th Annie Awards
Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short, 9th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards

Festivals/Screenings:
Worldwide theatrical release, preceding feature film Toy Story 3.

View a brilliant Day & Night 'Making Of' below.