Introduction to Brad Bird
Brad Bird is one of the most renowned and beloved animated filmmakers of our time. With a career spanning decades, he has made a significant impact on the world of animation. Starting with the 1999 classic, The Iron Giant, Bird has been a driving force behind some of the most iconic animated films. His work at Pixar has been particularly notable, with films like The Incredibles and Ratatouille being considered some of the studio’s most popular and influential projects.
Background and Previous Work
Bird’s journey in animation began with The Iron Giant, a film that has become a classic for its powerful story, lovable characters, and culturally relevant themes. He then went on to work at Pixar, where he brought to life the first two Incredibles films and Ratatouille. These films are not only beloved by audiences but also widely regarded as some of Pixar’s most iconic and influential works. In addition to his work in animation, Bird has also ventured into live-action projects, such as Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Tomorrowland.
Upcoming Project: Ray Gunn
It was announced in 2022 that Brad Bird would be leading Ray Gunn, a highly conceptual science fiction detective film produced by Skydance Animation. The project is being overseen by former Pixar executive John Lasseter, as well as producers David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. Despite the big names attached to the project, updates on the film have been scarce since its announcement in 2022. However, during a recent The Life of a Beetle reunion panel at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention, voice actor John Ratzenberger revealed that he had started recording dialogue for the upcoming science fiction film. This update, although small, confirms that Ray Gunn is still in active development.
Details About Ray Gunn
Details about Ray Gunn are relatively sparse, except that it is a science fiction detective story focusing on a human investigator in a world almost exclusively populated by extraterrestrials. This is a story that Bird has wanted to tell for some time, but like many animated passion projects, it has taken a while to come to fruition. Ray Gunn is expected to debut on Netflix, given SkyDance Animation’s distribution deal with the streaming giant. Apart from Ratzenberger, the full voice cast for Ray Gunn has not been unveiled, although composer and frequent Brad Bird collaborator Michael Giacchino is also reported to be on the project.
Incredibles 3 and Brad Bird’s Involvement
Fans were thrilled to hear that Pixar boss Pete Docter announced Incredibles 3 was officially in the works at Pixar during the 2024 D23 Expo, with Brad Bird already having started writing the script. While Bird was initially attached as a writer, it was announced earlier this year that he would not be returning to direct the film, with Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur, Elementary) taking over directing duties. It’s possible that Bird stepped back due to his commitments to Ray Gunn, which should give fans even more hope that this long-developed passion project will soon take flight.
Conclusion
Ray Gunn currently has no release date. As updates on the film become available, fans will be eager to learn more about this highly anticipated project from one of animation’s most beloved filmmakers. With Brad Bird at the helm, Ray Gunn promises to be an exciting and innovative addition to the world of animation.
