Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
When it comes to Pixar’s acclaimed filmography, the one name that stands out is Brad Bird, responsible for two of the most acclaimed features the iconic studio has to offer. BothRatatouilleandThe Incrediblesare iconic in their own right and are considered by many to be two of the best films the medium of CG animation has to offer.
However, the director might not have landed this feat had he not hit it out of the park with his first animated feature, for which Bird almost got screwed over by the studio.
Brad Bird Had a Backup Plan Ready Before Making the Pitch
Often considered one of the best films of the ’90s and one of the best animated releases in general, the emotional prowess ofThe Iron Giantcan grow the Grinch’s heart three sizes. Inspired by a real-life tragedy,Brad Birddecided to put his soul into the adaptation of Ted Hughes’The Iron Manand to say that he delivered would be an understatement.
Uncanny Resemblance Between Despicable Me 4 and The Incredibles 2 Hasn’t Missed the Fans’ Eyes
But while Bird earned the screenplay credit for his directorial debut, initially, Warner Bros. hired two other screenwriters to pen the script with the help of the notes, made during his initial pitch. But thankfully,WGAcame to his aid.
During the panel discussion at the Los Angeles Animation Festival, Birdrecalled:
One of them almost got screen credit. But I was smart enough to write down and register it with the Writers Guild before I gave the pitch
Even though the film fell face-first at the box office upon its release, the critical success, and word of mouth, eventually boosted its numbers during home video sales.
Brad Bird’sThe Iron GiantWas Inspired by One Tragic Event
Bird’s movingpitchfor the film,“What if a gun had a soul and didn’t want to be a gun?”was inspired by the real-life tragedy that he incurred years back. In 1989, Bird’s sister Susan, whom he was very close with, died of gun violence by her estranged husband in a murder-suicide. Considering Bird was attempting to land a gig at directing for a long time and wasn’t sure about his future after his first feature, he made sure to put everything into it and dedicated the film to his sister Susan.
“How’s he going to do that”: After Inside Out 2, Producer Wants to Explore a Spinoff That Can Confirm ‘The Incredibles’ Crossover
He said (viaIndieWire):
I wasn’t thinking consciously about it when I proposed the idea, but my feelings about [gun violence] are in the film and it’s dedicated to her at the end. That was in many ways the hardest part I had to deal with. But the first film came late. I had been trying to direct for a long time, and wasn’t sure I would get to direct again. So I threw everything into it. I knew that the film happened through a fluke confluence of events. It’s like mushrooms only grow if they have the exact, right circumstance.
Despite not making a splash at the box office, as the late 90s saw the rise of CG animation, the film has cemented itself as a timeless classic, which continues to move people emotionally.
The Iron Giantis available to stream on Max.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2540
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
More from Santanu Roy
Tobey Maguire And Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man Era Dies In 2027: Reports
Good Boy First Trailer: Will The Dog Survive in The Scariest Horror Movie of 2025?
Sydney Sweeney’s Great Jeans Can’t Save Americana From Weapons Box-Office Onslaught: Full Report
Recommended
Every Peaky Blinders Villain, Ranked by How Close They Came to Actually Beating Tommy Shelby
Every Harry Potter Movie Ending, Ranked Worst to Best
“Just like a horse”: Aubrey Plaza, Amy Poehler Agree Rihanna’s Eyes Are on the Side of Her Head
2 Reasons Why the Helldivers 2 x Halo ODST Warbond Isn’t Perfect
Who Is Jasveen Sangha: Ketamine Queen Connected to Matthew Perry’s Death
