Disney Circle Seven Animation (partially lost production material of cancelled Pixar sequel films; 2004-2006)

FEATURED

The studio's logo.

Status: Partially Lost

In January 2004, Pixar announced they would not be renewing their agreement with Disney, due to rising tensions between the two companies. While Pixar left to find different distributors, Disney bought the rights to the Pixar characters and created Circle Seven Animation.^[1]^[2] The company was formed to make direct-to-video sequels of Pixar’s movies.^[3] Circle Seven Animation had a total of 3 films in production.^[4] However, they didn’t get very far in production with their projects, as Michael Eisner (then-CEO of Disney) was kicked out, and Pixar was bought by Disney for approximately $7.4 billion. Thus, Circle Seven Animation was shut down on May 26th, 2006.^[5] When the studio closed, Circle Seven Animation had 168 employees.^[6]

Cancelled Projects

Toy Story 3

Not to be confused with Pixar’s 2010 sequel film of the same name, Circle Seven's Toy Story 3 would've focused on a malfunctioning Buzz Lightyear who is shipped off back to the original Buzz Lightyear factory in Taipei, Taiwan. But as it turns out, the Buzz Lightyear brand has been recalled, so Woody and the gang ship themselves to Taiwan to rescue Buzz.^[7]

An earlier draft, written by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner (of Disney's Teacher’s Pet fame) involved Andy visiting his grandmother’s house, with Woody and the gang ending up getting involved in a murder mystery.^[8]

Bryan Seeker's video on the film.

Monsters, Inc.: Lost in Scaradise

Monsters, Inc.: Lost in Scaradise would have focused on Mike and Sulley wanting to celebrate Boo’s birthday. However, Boo has moved, which results in Mike and Sulley getting trapped in the human world, so Mike and Sulley go on a mission in the human world to search for Boo and find a way home in time for Mike and Celia's wedding.^[9]

Years later, Pixar started production on a prequel film to Monsters, Inc. entitled Monsters University. Although before its release it was theorized/rumoured that Monsters, Inc.: Lost in Scaradise was reworked into Monsters University, this was not the case as University was a prequel to the original rather than a sequel.

Hemmas Studios’ full plot summary on the film.

Finding Nemo 2

Not to be confused with Pixar's 2016 sequel film Finding Dory, Finding Nemo 2 (code-named "NEMO 2") would've focused on Nemo reuniting with his long-lost twin brother "Remy." Marlin (Nemo and Remy's father) then gets captured and sent to the aquarium "PLANET BLUE," so Nemo, Dory and Remy have to go and rescue him. Unlike Circle Seven's other planned films, no concept art for Finding Nemo 2 has surfaced as of now.

Bryan Seeker's video on the film.

Availability

Very little video footage of these projects was ever released, most likely because Circle Seven Animation was shut down before they could produce any more video material. The only images to have surfaced of these projects are multiple pieces of concept art. It is unknown if Disney still has these scripts, as Pixar has stated that they will never look at the scripts.

Currently, Monster's Inc.: Lost in Scaradise is the only Circle Seven film to not have its script become publicly available.

Findings

At an unknown time, artist Shane Zalvin released artwork for many character designs he had created for Circle Seven's Toy Story 3.^[10]

On November 24th, 2010, artwork and details on the production of Circle Seven's Toy Story 3 were revealed by screenwriters Bob Hilgenberg and Rob Muir on their blog, both of whom had worked on the script.^[11] Days later on December 7th, 2010, the blog uploaded another piece of art by Rick Sluiter, along with more insight into what they thought of the "Pixaren't" label that the studio had received.^[12] At a certain point, these blog posts were removed for still-unknown reasons.

On October 13th, 2018, Lost Media Wiki user Veggiefinder found the entire script for Circle Seven's Finding Nemo 2 on the official Raindance Film Festival website.^[13]

On October 14th, 2018, a day after the Finding Nemo 2 finding, Lost Media Wiki user Veggiefinder discovered that a "REVISED DRAFT" for Toy Story 3 dated December 8th, 2004, was available to purchase for $15 on scriptcity.com, a website for buying and selling Hollywood scripts and stageplays.^[14] The finding remained unnoticed until September 5th, 2019, when Lost Media Wiki user YoshiKiller2S found out about Veggiefinder's finding. After finding out, YoshiKiller quickly purchased the script and has since shared it with the public via Google Drive.^[15]

On December 10th, 2019, Lost Media Wiki user YoshiKiller2S contacted former Circle Seven Animation screenwriter Jim Herzfeld and inquired about him possibly sharing his draft of Toy Story 3. Jim Herzfeld quickly responded and gladly agreed to share his script with YoshiKiller, Yoshi then made it public the next day via Google Drive.^[16]

On August 11th, 2020, Jim Herzfeld sent YoshiKiller2S a new piece of concept art from Circle Seven's Toy Story 3. This piece was a colourized version of an already existing piece of concept art by Jim Martin, depicting the toys on a makeshift vehicle escaping the Taipei 101 building daycare.

On December 4th, 2022, YouTuber "Hemmas Studios" uploaded a video revealing the plot of an undocumented draft of Circle Seven's Toy Story 3 (dubbed "The Blended Family Draft").^[17]

Gallery

Footage

Demo reel containing test footage for Circle Seven's Toy Story 3.

Videos

Hemmas Studios’ video on the history of Circle Seven Animation.

Hemmas Studios’ plot breakdown of the "Blended Family Draft" of Toy Story 3.

Kai's place's video on the subject.

Images

Teaser poster for the scrapped Toy Story 3 shown at SIGGRAPH 2005.
Rough animation still of Toy Story 3 by Jim Martin.
Concept art of the factory from Toy Story 3 by Ric Sluiter.
Concept art from Toy Story 3 by Ric Sluiter.
More concept art from Toy Story 3 by Ric Sluiter.
Another piece of concept art from Toy Story 3 by Ric Sluiter.
Woody concept art by Ric Sluiter.
Buzz staring out the window by Ric Sluiter.
Concept art for the toys exploring the streets of Taiwan by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art of a Taiwan alley by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 greyscale concept art of a Taiwan street by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 colour concept art of a Taiwan street by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 colour concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art of The "Recall Room" by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art of The "Recall Room" by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art by Jim Martin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for "Rosey," a recalled toy by Chris Aguirre
Toy Story 3 concept art for Apology Bear, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Cindy Scissors, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
More Toy Story 3 concept art for Cindy Scissors, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Don B.B., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Handy Hans., a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Little D, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Mr. Kagoy, the founder of Wocka-Wocka Toys by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for Mini-RC, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
More Toy Story 3 concept art for Mini-RC, a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Toy Story 3 concept art for "Rosey," a recalled toy by Shane Zalvin.
Scaradise concept art (part 1).
Scaradise concept art (part 2).
Scaradise concept art (part 3).
Scaradise concept art (part 4).
Scaradise concept art (part 5).
Scaradise concept art (part 6).
The cover of the Monsters, Inc.: Lost in Scaradise screenplay.