(Concept Art by Chris Block)
Like I said in my Top 5 Favorite Cancelled Animated Movies, I said that I would go into more detail about this movie because, well, it deserved it. And I really think an amazing project like this should have been made in the first place. But unfortunately, having a couple directors being replaced, being “rebooted” in an sense, and possibly being in development hell forever. There’s an unlikely chance we will ever see a single glimpse of footage on the big screen. Before I explain, here’s a glimpse of what the movie could have been.
(Art by Chris Block)
Me and My Shadow is a DreamWorks movie and it would The film would’ve had a blend of both CGI and hand-drawn animation. It would’ve been the first DreamWorks Animation film to feature traditional animation since Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, excluding 2D animated segments in The Croods and the King Fu Panda movies. The first director of the movie was Alessandro Carloni, who directed Kung Fu Panda 3, along with Jennifer Yuh Nelson. The project was then handed to Mark Dindal, who directed Emperor’s New Groove, Chicken Little, and the upcoming Garfield movie.
The plot revolves around Stanley (Josh Gad), who has a shadow named Stan (Bill Hader) who wants more excitement but can’t have it because he’s attached to Stanley. When Stan uncovers a criminal plot in the shadow world that involves an shadow who wants to lead a rebellion to take over the human world (the villian was rumored to be voiced by Tom Hiddelston but I can’t find any evidence to back it up), he decides to take over of Stanley to stop the shadow villain from leading the rebellion. Stanley would’ve had a love interest named Heidi. Electronic band Owl City would’ve provided the soundtrack for the movie.
Concept art by Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay.
The movie was set to be released in 2014, but date was pushed back and Mr. Peabody and Sherman took its release date. Later, director Edgar Wright took the helm to direct Me and My Shadow, but the movie was described as a new take on a previously developed concept about shadows. Therefore the movie’s original plot might have been scrapped. Might of, because there’s very little information on what Edgar Wright’s version might have been like. All that is known about it that Wright had written 3 drafts, but the project will still stay in limbo. Years later and still no new information has released regarding Me and My Shadow. And it’s a real shame.
Visual development by Jason Scheier.
While medium mixing animated movies isn’t anything new, Me and My Shadow provided with an original idea with talent behind it. Wouldn’t be it cool to see 3D and 2D animation meticulously blended on the big screen? DreamWorks hasn’t done an original movie in five years (excluding Abominable), and a fresh new idea like this would have been delightful to see. Though since it’s cancelled or probably stuck in limbo, chances of ever seeing this in theaters is zero. Though, that doesn’t stop people from uploading production art from it.
If you want to see more from this movie check out this art masterpost by twitter user Art of Lost and Cancelled Media. With people actively missing this movie and wishing it was released, I guess Me and My Shadow is actually still alive… in a weird way. ~
UPDATE (08/26/2019): Added a link to a article about the upcoming Garfield movie.
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