IGN continues to release bits and pieces from their exclusive interview with Disney Pixar COO John Lasseter, who speaks about what happened to their now defunct film Newt. Lasseter suggests they may’ve canned it due to Dreamsworks’ Rio.

It seems the plots of the two films were too close to Pixar’s comfort. Says Lasseter:

“We’ve put movies into development and some get further than others and then we feel like things just aren’t quite ready we put them to the side and that’s just been put on a shelf and we’ll see where that goes in the future. It’s story was very similar to a movie that’s out in theaters right now with a blue parrot. Oh my! Wow, we were like … no, there was no … great minds think alike, I guess. It was really pretty similar.”

Both stories followed a creature who’s species is in danger unless they can do something to save it.

We have to agree with Lasseter – if two films with this story were released so close to one another, it would’ve stirred some controversy!