Foodfight! (partially lost sizzle reel for CGI animated film; 2000-2003): Difference between revisions

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[[File:11FOODFIGHT1-articleLarge.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Larry Kasanoff, the film's director, with concept art and stills of the original version of the film.]]
[[File:11FOODFIGHT1-articleLarge.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Larry Kasanoff, the film's director, with concept art and stills of the original version of the film.]]
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81uIhu8qrrs|320x240|right|An original trailer for the film.|frame}}
'''''Foodfight!''''' was a CGI animated movie from Threshold Animation Studios that was set to be "Toy Story in a supermarket," as it was about a supermarket that came to life when the store closed and was supposed to have cameos from more than 80 famous food mascots and their products. Helmed by Larry Kasanoff, it was set to star big name actors Charlie Sheen and Hillary Duff playing original mascots like Dex Dogtective and Sunshine Goodness and was going to show what Threshold Animation Studios could do to the world, hopefully making them "the next-generation PIXAR."


The film hit a strike in its production someway along the road however, as in December 2002, hard drives containing the film's progress were reportedly stolen, leading to the entire film having to be made over again from scratch. As the majority of the budget was already spent on licensing products, mascots and actors and progress on the film that was now gone, it was given a new "live-action" take and was produced using insufficient software. On its heavily delayed release in 2012, the movie was critically panned, most criticism directed towards abysmal CGI animation that was stiff, jerky, lifeless and unfinished in addition to other problems like uncomfortable sexualisation and a terrible script.
'''''Foodfight!''''' '''(Early Version)''' is a lost CGI-animated movie from Threshold Animation Studios, having been originally slated for a Christmas 2003 release. However, the hard drives that contained the film were stolen, and production was delayed for a decade.


It's unknown whether ''Foodfight!'' could have somewhat lived up to the hype [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/movies/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-computer-animated-foodfight.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0 surrounding its original production], but unfortunately the early progress on the film that may have been salvageable ([http://uk.ign.com/articles/2003/03/25/afterlife-foodfight-cross-threshold there may have been around 60% of the film complete] ) lies on the hard drives that to this day are still unknown as to their whereabouts. The few things that are available from the early version of ''Foodfight!'' include an early trailer with significantly better animation, displaying the various merchandise made to promote the film.
== History ==
Conception for the lost early version of the film first materialized in 1999, from Lawrence Kasanoff and Joshua Wexler, at the time, an employee of Threshold. A $25 million grant was issued on behalf of a Korean capital firm, at the request of Wexler, and an additional $50 million was expected through various product placement and pre-sale market hype of the film. With cash in hand, development of the film began in 2002. CGI and voiceover work took place at Threshold's Santa Monica, California studio.
 
However, the film reached an impasse in development in December 2002. Hard drives containing the film's progress were reportedly stolen, leading to the entire film having to be made over again from scratch. As the majority of the budget was already spent on licensing products, mascots, actors, and production, it was given a new "live-action" take, and was produced on a very restricted budget, using insufficient software. On its heavily delayed release in 2012, the movie received negative reviews, with most criticism directed towards the abysmal CGI animation. Critics described the movie as "stiff, jerky, lifeless and unfinished", in addition to noting other problems, like uncomfortable sexualization and a terrible script.
 
The pre-theft version was a hopeful production that was expected to showcase the uniqueness and ability of Threshold Animation Studios. Critics and investors were initially so confident in the film that some of them actually called Threshold "the next-generation PIXAR."
 
== Plot ==
''Foodfight!'' is stylized as "''Toy Story'' in a supermarket," as it was about a supermarket that came to life when the store closed. The film includes many legendary food mascots, representing the large portion of the budget that came from product placement. The film stars actors and actresses such as Charlie Sheen and Hillary Duff, playing original mascots Dex Dogtective and Sunshine Goodness, respectively.
 
== Discoveries ==
It's unknown whether ''Foodfight!'' could have somewhat lived up to the hype surrounding its original production. The early progress on the film that may have been salvageable currently resides on the hard drives that, to this day, are still lost. It's estimated that there may be around 60% of the completed film in existence. The few things that are available from the early version of ''Foodfight!'' include an early trailer with significantly better animation, displaying the various merchandise made to promote the film.
 
=== '''Videos & Images''' ===
[[File:Threshold Animation Studios Reel|thumb|right|325x325px|A show reel for Threshold Animation Studios, showcasing a slightly different clip of Dex Dogtective's "wild take" from the original trailer (2:03 - 2:06).]][[File:Foodfight! Trailer|thumb|left|328x328px|The original trailer for the film.]]
[[Category:Lost Animation]]
[[Category:Lost Movies]]

Revision as of 07:05, 11 May 2015

Larry Kasanoff, the film's director, with concept art and stills of the original version of the film.

Foodfight! (Early Version) is a lost CGI-animated movie from Threshold Animation Studios, having been originally slated for a Christmas 2003 release. However, the hard drives that contained the film were stolen, and production was delayed for a decade.

History

Conception for the lost early version of the film first materialized in 1999, from Lawrence Kasanoff and Joshua Wexler, at the time, an employee of Threshold. A $25 million grant was issued on behalf of a Korean capital firm, at the request of Wexler, and an additional $50 million was expected through various product placement and pre-sale market hype of the film. With cash in hand, development of the film began in 2002. CGI and voiceover work took place at Threshold's Santa Monica, California studio.

However, the film reached an impasse in development in December 2002. Hard drives containing the film's progress were reportedly stolen, leading to the entire film having to be made over again from scratch. As the majority of the budget was already spent on licensing products, mascots, actors, and production, it was given a new "live-action" take, and was produced on a very restricted budget, using insufficient software. On its heavily delayed release in 2012, the movie received negative reviews, with most criticism directed towards the abysmal CGI animation. Critics described the movie as "stiff, jerky, lifeless and unfinished", in addition to noting other problems, like uncomfortable sexualization and a terrible script.

The pre-theft version was a hopeful production that was expected to showcase the uniqueness and ability of Threshold Animation Studios. Critics and investors were initially so confident in the film that some of them actually called Threshold "the next-generation PIXAR."

Plot

Foodfight! is stylized as "Toy Story in a supermarket," as it was about a supermarket that came to life when the store closed. The film includes many legendary food mascots, representing the large portion of the budget that came from product placement. The film stars actors and actresses such as Charlie Sheen and Hillary Duff, playing original mascots Dex Dogtective and Sunshine Goodness, respectively.

Discoveries

It's unknown whether Foodfight! could have somewhat lived up to the hype surrounding its original production. The early progress on the film that may have been salvageable currently resides on the hard drives that, to this day, are still lost. It's estimated that there may be around 60% of the completed film in existence. The few things that are available from the early version of Foodfight! include an early trailer with significantly better animation, displaying the various merchandise made to promote the film.

Videos & Images

File:Threshold Animation Studios Reel
A show reel for Threshold Animation Studios, showcasing a slightly different clip of Dex Dogtective's "wild take" from the original trailer (2:03 - 2:06).
File:Foodfight! Trailer
The original trailer for the film.