Flight of fancy — In Disney's 'Robinsons,' new 3-D technology meets old-style comedy

The motto of a character in "Meet the Robinsons" is "Keep Moving Forward." And Disney's newest animated feature definitely does that.

"Meet the Robinsons" is a futuristic science-fiction comedy that was animated entirely in the Disney Digital 3-D format. And it's being shown that way, in select theaters.

The film is also curiously old-fashioned in several respects. Or as co-screenwriter/director Stephen J. Anderson puts it, "While we were making the film, we were looking to the future, and at the same time we were trying to be respectful to the past."

That includes emphasis on story and character — a big difference from many modern-day cartoons, which heavily rely on gimmicks and gags.

"Meet the Robinsons" follows Lewis, a young orphan and would-be inventor who gets a glimpse of the rather colorful future, thanks to a visitor from that time period, Wilbur Robinson. It's a story with tremendous resonance for Anderson, who was adopted. "I don't think any of the Disney executives were aware of that when they offered me the chance to direct the project. But I was glad they did, because it was the opportunity of a lifetime."

Anderson was one of four filmmakers from the project participating in a press tour, which included a stop in Salt Lake City. He was joined by art director Robh Ruppel, supervising animator Dick Zondag, and Kyle Odermatt, one of the computer-graphic supervisors responsible for converting the movie from 2-D to 3-D.

According to Odermatt, the Disney Digital 3-D format is stereoscopic in nature and doesn't utilize the familiar red-and-blue glasses. "It's got so much more depth to it and doesn't leave you with the expected headaches."

"Robinsons" is actually the second Disney film to be released in that format. "Chicken Little" was the first, though Odermatt said the process hadn't been perfect at that point. "We've made a lot of advances since then."

Also, Odermatt and company remastered the 1953 Chip 'n' Dale short "Working for Peanuts," which will be shown in theaters screening the 3-D version of "Robinsons."

"It's mind-blowing to see Chip 'n' Dale that way," Odermatt said with a laugh. (Theaters that show the more traditional 2-D version of "Robinsons" will also feature the classic 1938 color Mickey Mouse short "Boat Builders.")

Anderson stressed that making "Meet the Robinsons" wasn't all about filling it with cheap jokes and gimmicks. In particular, he wanted to cast voice talent that was "appropriate," as opposed to some of the "stunt casting" that commonly occurs in animated films today.