CARS Well Kept Dirty Little Secret

[Sarangel]

I agree that the OP has given us little more than "because I said so & I'm telling the truth," but it's worth the benefit of the doubt. I seem to recall many here (several years ago) laughing at the idea that Disney could have stolen the idea for their sports complex - but they lost that lawsuit. I'm in the wait and see camp on this one.

 

[Another Voice]

Do you know what type of food was served at this building's cafe (ie. burgers and fries)?

So you're basing your ENTIRE claim on trivia about some insignificant building of a long closed department?

I have no doubt something like this is possible. But I also know the extreme lengths that all movie companies go through to protect themselves from the "I mailed in my idea and you stole it" claims that follow every successful movie (and it's always funny that no one ever claims they had a stolen idea for a movie that flops). Furthermore I also know that similar ideas pop-up in different places all the time. Most people really do think alike.

I'd be much more impressed you would stop these silly kiddy "I'm An Important Person" games (which just show how little you really know) and could show how John Lasseter saw the alleged movie idea. Knowing slang terms from WDW's kitchen staff doesn't do anything for your credibility.

 

[Euphscott]

I'd be more inclined to take the idea seriously if the claim was made somewhere other than inside this thread. No news of this anywhere else on the internet, no other postings or news articles. That in and of itself does not prove a negative, but real news generally appears in places other than one lone fan forum thread.

Color me skeptical.

 

[A_Real_Critic]

1) The animator in question spent long hours and lots of his own money to develop a car-themed cartoon for Nascar. One of the key features of his movie was, unlike "My Mother the Car" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," cars that has moving mouths. When discussed among among our family, we referred to this project as the "racing car film".

2) My relative took a meeting with NASCAR and presented his idea to senior staff. They liked the idea but declined to pursue it with him.

3) Now we have a film from Pixar with many similarities, including the tow truck that has buck teeth and talks like a southern hick.

4) John Lasseter, who has claimed to have "Disney's blood in his veins," said he came up with the concept while on a raod trip with the kids.

That's it in a nutshell. This is a lot different than a writer sending an unsolicited manuscript to a TV show production office and then claiming their idea was stolen. My relative followed standard procedure, including copyrighting his intellectual property, and, we believe, had his concept stolen.

 

[rocketriter]

Unless Disney signed a confidentiality agreement with the original author and then broke the agreement, the case is very weak.

Years ago, when the original Fantasia was in production, Disney lawyers discovered a problem with Igor Stravinsky's copyright of The Rite of Spring (used for the dinosaur sequence). According to Stravinsky they sent him $5,000 as a courtesy, but also informed him that he had no recourse if he wanted to stop them or change the amount. Stravinsky was stuck--although he did get even in his autobiography by calling the orchestral performance "execrable" and asking of the animated sequence, "...how can one criticize an unresisting imbecility?"

 

[Sarangel]

Nowhere has anyone shown a connection between this independant film & John Lassiter or Pixar. The only connection seems to have been with Nascar officials.

 

[YoHo]

It's already been mentioned but I'll say it again, Disney had a short from the 50s with an anthropomorphic car in it. Further, Chevron has been running ads with this theme for decades now. The idea of Anthropomorphic cars having personalities related to their typical drivers is standard fair as well. In short, I have no problem elieving someone else came up with a similar idea. I bet thousands of someones came up with it. doesn't mean Pixar stole it. It just means people think alike.

 

[DisneyBaby!]

The evil empire has struck again. I am getting bored with the stories of the big bad company taking advantage of the little guy. This pops up all the time with a popular movie, someone says, hey they stole my idea! But like many of the posters stated, unless the op has definative proof that John Lassitar was in the room when the story was pitched, than you have to belive him when he says the idea was his. There is proof that mythological creatures around the world sprang up , at the same time and independantly of other cultures that had no contact. To put it simply, did the, lets say Romanians steal the idea of dragons from the Chinese. Happens all the time. Ever go to work and someone is wearing the exact same outfit as you? Did they steal that idea from you or did you come up with the idea both on your own.

 

[Another Voice]

This is a lot different than a writer sending an unsolicited manuscript to a TV show production office and then claiming their idea was stolen. My relative followed standard procedure, including copyrighting his intellectual property, and, we believe, had his concept stolen.

But where, where is the link between “showing the idea to NASCAR” and “Pixar made a movie with talking cars”? That’s the key. How do we know the people that made Cars knew of your relative’s idea? What evidence or indication is there at all that Pixar didn’t come up with a vaguely similar idea?

The idea of “talking cars with mouths” is hardly original. Mouths and eyes are the most important elements to add to make any object “human’. Recently we had a decade of Chevron commercials with exactly that same idea. How many hundreds of other talking cars, trains (like Thomas), planes, boats, etc. have been in movies and cartoons over the years?

I know how terrible it is to work hard on a project and have no one bite. Hollywood is a miserable and rotten place filled with the lowest forms of human life on two legs. And Disney is certainly no better than any other studio. Ask any member on this board, I am hardly the cheerleader for anything Disney. In fact, most people rather think that I'm out to destroy everything they like.

But fair is fair.

You’re accusing Disney of something when you don’t have any evidence, you only have coincidence. Disney and Pixar have the presumption of innocence on their side until it can be shown they’ve done something wrong. Show us why we should be as outraged as you and you’ll find plenty of support around here. But until then all this sure sounds like another Tragic Tale of Tinsel Town.

 

[Mubs33]

First off. Thank you Sarangel. I was getting hand cramps from trying to defend myself on this board and I don't even know why I should. Came here to speak about a highly-intelligent, creative, team - not to get all this guff. I haven't said anything negative about any of you (unless in self defense).

Why did I choose to go here? Well actually one of your veteran members told me that DISBOARDS was the place to go to tell of this. They said people here are great. Well, I now feel otherwise. I had no idea that everyone here could be so closed-minded, rude and attacking. Hope you longtimers are proud of yourselves. Seems that if anyone says anything that goes against the "bible of the mouse" - you pounce. You have ruined my opinion of the Disney Fans here. As earlier stated, I love going to the parks just as much as you do. I count down the days and would be happy to just sit on a bench if only to feel like part of the magic. After this is all over, I will not return to your precious boards. I'm sure many of you are giving a collective hooray to that statment and sobeit. Once again, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. But I'm not going to criticize you for it.

Why did I choose the Rumors thread - actually I didn't at first. Looked at something with CARS on it and went to the Road Trip thread instead. My inexperience with postings showed up there, which is why it came up so many times. Like I said before - my mistake. So I looked for another spot for which this might be a fit - thus the Rumors board. Until such time that this reaches a court of law and a decision is made, I do not feel this information belongs anywhere else.

Now as promised, here are the answers to the questions I posed this morning. Doesn't seem to matter much now, but it does give me some slight satisfaction, knowing that for all that you DISboard guys and gals think you know - NOT ONE OF YOU COULD ANSWER THEM so far. Go ahead and verify if you wish.

1. The location of the feature animation building was on a private drive off of the main road to MGM. The entrance is behind the Tower of Terror and directly next to the Rockin Rollercoaster soundstage. Don't plan on going there - SECURITY GUARDS will get you!

2. The color of the building was a rusty redish color. A parking gargage was directly across from the entrance.

3. The piece of Disneyanna that used to sit here is a car from the "DUMBO the Flying Elephant" ride at TMK. Never been used as far as I know.

4. Food served here was healthy fare, including tuna on multi-grain bread, veggie chili, and organic smoothies.

5. Finally, the name the DISNEY castmembers use to lovingly refer to tourists...TURONS. You figure out what that means. It's pretty easy.

OK. I have a real job, a real life, and a very real family. So I am not going to spend my time on here just mulling over the same old thing. I gave one of you a Private Message with more details because I thought you deserved it. This person knows who they are. Had you other guys been a little more accomodating, maybe I would have done the same for you.

I will leave the rest up to a "A REAL CRITIC" to handle if they wish. I grow tired of this High School like atmosphere.

 

[Another Voice]

I grow tired of this High School like atmosphere.

Yes, indeed.

I asked you why I should believe you. All I got is a childish “quiz” that you think makes you look like an "insider" – but in reality only shows you know nothing about what’s going on. You’ve been inside the building. Big deal. Any janitor can tell me what they serve in the cafeteria; tell us what you had last week in the Rotunda if you want anyone’s attention.

Sorry, when you make big charges you have to give out big reasons why you should be believed. Demanding to be taken seriously or you'll take your ball and cry home to mommy…that’s high school.

You will find an intelligent group here. Treat us with respect and intelligence and you’ll get the same in return. But if you want to snizel and whine then please do as you wish.

You’ll find the rest of us at the local theater buying our tickets for Cars.

 

[Mubs33]

Good for you. Go spend your money like every other person in the "bubble". Whatever you want. GO FOR IT!

I am not whining, big bad bully person. I just don't owe you anything. I have much more knowledge of this than what I have posted but have been careful because I don't want to get certain people in trouble. BUT, Just try to get it out of me - you won't ANOTHER VOICE.

Let the 2 other people on this website that have some knowledge of this answer you.

You waste my time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[YoHo]

I suggest you read a few more threads before drawing any conclusions about the makeup of this board. I also suggest you get down off your high horse with regards to WDW minutia. It won't earn you any points on this topic.


10s of thousands of scripts and treatments are registered in Hollywood every year. 10s of thousands, you think each one is unique? Unless you are willing to offer some substantial proof, then there is no way to distinguish your claim from the claims of hundreds of Low level animators, tape room clerks and Dennys waiters that fuss about their stolen ideas every day.

The fact of the matter is that the basic ideas on which Cars is based have been around for Decades. heck, Disney's Chevron Sponsered Autopia could be considered a source for the material. So, you can't just make a blanket statement and expect to be believed without providing more evidence.

 

[Mubs33]

You want names? You want a copy of the tape? I could provide that, but why. You've already made up your mind.

 

[Goobergal99]

Who cares , Why do ppl register just to take pot shots at the mouse. This isn't the first time that hollywood has capitalized on someone else idea. Here's an idea, try copyrighting your stories and then you don't have to worry about them being stolen

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Why Mubs? Because you made a SERIOUS allegation.. And REFUSE to back it up... If this is copyrighted material from a friend or relative of yours, give us some info and we can go to the government's copyright website and read for ourselves.. Did you even know the government puts copyrighted material on their site so you can find out if your idea is already taken?? Also, you cannot copyright an idea.. Characters and designs, sure.. but not ideas... So, if your friend had the idea, too bad... All anyone asked for on here was some sort of proof.. You kept spewing venom about Pixar and Disney stealing an idea, but never backed it up... Kind of like someone coming on here saying I KNOW SOMEONE IN THE KNOW WHO SAID A NEW RIDE WAS COMING... Ok, prove it... Now, I will give you the benefit of the doubt ONLY when you provide us with some proof... And by the way, that little quiz you gave, I knew the answers to it.. Just I am in work and haven't had a chance to read this site until now... So, you didn't prove you are someone in the know, because, I am not in the know and I knew those answers...

 

[Another Voice]

I just want to hear how and when John Lasseter saw the "presentation".

Until you can show there's a link between the "idea" and the "thief", you don't have any case.

It's a simple request.

 

[YoHo]

The only thing I've made up my mind about is that you're not someone I particularly am fond of at the moment. Perhaps if the supposedly offended party has sought legal restitution on public record, or has some form of proof in the form of a confirmed dated script, or some sort of connection between lasseter and the offended party wherby Lasseter would be privy to the script, then you'd have something to offer.


So far, you've given us nothing to back up your claims.


Anyone remember the Lucas Film Radioland Murders?

Somehow I think we could use this thread to redo that story with a modern twist.

 

[Mubs33]

Hum. You want me to provide proof. Well I gave you almost 7 hours to answer my dumb little quiz and you didn't. Pretty easy to claim you knew those answers after the fact... isn't it.

I only posed the quiz in the first place to respond to those who doubted I have been in the building...nothing more. I said it wouldn't prove anything. It was just kinda fun. I have a sense of humor too you know.

 

[Mubs33]

And a confirmed dated piece of media does exist. And a link to Lasseter does exist. You want more...try to get it.

And by the way...I feel the same about you both