Calling All Robots was going to be a 3D computer-animated motion-capture sci-fi adventure film by Walt Disney Pictures and ImageMovers Digital. The film was going to be directed by Michael Dougherty with Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins co-writing the screenplay.
Plot[]
In a world where giant monsters called megacreatures have been in conflict with humanity since 1958, Ray, a young boy seeking to avenge his father who died during a megacreature attack, seeks to become part of the giant robot program that defend humanity, even though his elderly paternal grandfather (a former engineer on the giant robots turned fishing enthusiast) warns him not to become bloodthirsty against the megacreatures.
Eventually, Ray and his new friend Yuriko discover that the rise in monster attacks was manipulated by General Parker, the narcissistic General in charge of the robot program and Ray's idol/surrogate father figure, as a means of becoming a war hero and the monsters' aggression was manipulated by tracker tags invented by Parker.
Soon, Ray and Yuriko seek out to expose Parker (who soon resorts to mutating himself into a megacreature to kill Ray) and allow humans and monsters to peacefully coexist.
Why It Was Cancelled[]
- Disney and ImageMovers decided to close ImageMovers Digital after the box office failure of Mars Needs Moms.
- In 2010, the Academy enacted a new rule regarding the motion capture technique employed in films such as A Christmas Carol (2009) and The Adventures of Tintin (2011), each directed by Academy Award for Best Director winners Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, and how they might not be eligible in this category in the future. This rule was possibly made to prevent nominations of live-action films that rely heavily on motion capture, such as Avatar (2009). This prevented motion capture animated films from being Oscar baited.
Result[]
- The film was permanently cancelled.
Trivia[]
- Parts of the plot were used in Pacific Rim.
- An animatic for the film can be found here.
- Concept art as well as storyboards can be found here and here.
Gallery[]
