'Toy Story 3' Producer 'Surprised' by Best Picture Nod

By Stacy Jenel Smith Posted Jan 25th 2011 01:26PM

The gang over at Pixar is celebrating its 'Toy Story 3' Academy Award nominations today, most notably for Best Picture. "Lee Unkrich [director] and I called each other, and John Lasseter [executive producer] at 5:45," producer Darla K. Anderson tells PopEater. "We were all whooping it up and texting each other. It's really fun."

Anderson says that watching the nominations being read was a nerve-wracking experience for herself and fellow 'Toy Story 3' colleagues.

"When they read off the nominations, we were at the bottom of the second half of the list, and I thought, 'Oh, my God. Come on.' My heart was pounding. The potential was killing me. I personally was surprised."

"It's something you don't take for granted, what a gigantic honor it is, such a huge honor, to be nominated for an Academy Award."

She notes that, "I'm here at Pixar, which is exactly what I want. I want to be with the 400-plus people who made this film possible. We'll definitely be celebrating. It may be as simple as gathering somewhere and hugging each other," she said this morning.

As for what she thinks is their biggest competition? "It seems like 'The King's Speech' and 'The Social Network' are doing so well -- but you never know what is going to happen," Anderson replies.

As the film's lone producer, Anderson would have chief honors of accepting the Oscar if they win Best Picture.

The team knew they were going out on a limb with their animated tale in some respects, but she says, "When this film was finished and in the can, I have to be honest, I felt really an enormous amount of peace."

She says that as a producer, she didn't have to leave any stones unturned in the making of the film, and they made sure that it was exactly how they wanted it to turn out.

"We did take a lot of risks on this film -- we had some moments of loss and poignancy," she said. "We risked Andy giving the toys away, and a lot of intensity, along with a lot of laughter. And I wasn't sure how people would respond to the film -- but I knew we told the story we wanted to tell, and took the story to all those places we wanted to take it."

'Toy Story 3' received five major nominations, including best picture, animated feature, sound editing, original song and adapted screenplay.

► See a List of Nominees!

Tags: Academy Awards, darla k. anderson, Oscars, toy story 3

Comments

(4)

Tuesday 25 January

By mw

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Love Toy Story 3, all of them in fact. I don't know if Toy Story 3 will win though. It would be nice.

By danny

I didnt see Toy story 3, however,the only good thing about the Oscars expanding the Best Picture nominations to 10 is that now the biggest and best movies of the year actually have a chance to win what they deserve, instead of a little seen borefest,like they usually nominate.

By larson6600

I can see why TS3 was nominated; it was a pretty good film. My only hope is that Pixar doesn't go back and make a TS4 as a cash cow. Take the franchise out on a high note.

Wednesday 26 January

By Momof4

I see Toy Story 3 at least 5 times a week, per having four kids, that part of the job. I hate Tom Hanks and Joan Cusacks political bs. I almost did not buy the DVD, but broke down. It is just a good movie about the love of friendship. The music is Great and you feel good. Having my oldest who was 3 when the first movie came out and now he is 17 and going off to college in fall. All of my kids loved and love their Woody's--Woody doll and Buzz!!

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