A Flap in the Right Direction

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
While I have changed my mind about Iger being better, Eisner was starting to loose his marbles towards the end.

Iger will prove to be much better. You will never know it however because he shuns the spotlight and will give other people credit for the successes. Kinda the opposite of Eisner.

I feel bad for Eisner. He really could have had quite a legacy.
 

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
Iger will prove to be much better. You will never know it however because he shuns the spotlight and will give other people credit for the successes. Kinda the opposite of Eisner.

I feel bad for Eisner. He really could have had quite a legacy.

He lead the single biggest time of growth of Disney's history, how doesn't he have quite a legacy?
 

markjohns1

Member
I read the article. I think he has done wonderfully with the Animation side of things, but the studio still had a horrendous year last year. Other than Pixar, there's no bright spots in there IMO.
Bolt was the only thing to come out on the WDAS side of things, and they're having to rebuild a tarnished image as is it. Nothing too major came out with live action films. Just look at their upcoming releases, though, and it's plain to see the studio's future is very bright. And I know this gets pointed out all the time, but Pixar is Disney (thanks to Iger), so I don't see why we continue to act like that can be excluded.

In addition, revenue for Media Networks, P&R, and Consumer Products divisions have steadily improved since Iger took over. He is definitely improving TWDC.
And honestly, I think he is in over his head in the P&R division.
You may be right, and I hope he does make some changes at the highest level to take some of the pressure off. He got a tremendous amount of film/animation talent, and if some of that can be applied to P&R I think we may see some excellent improvements down the road. I know they are just rumors, but the buzz about ST2.0, TLM, and the like are definitely promising.

In his first year, Michael Eisner greenlit Duck Tales, Michael Jackson's Captain EO, and Star Tours. NUFF SAID.
While I really don't care about the "Iger vs. Eisner: The First 5 Years" competition, I think it's hilarious that Duck Tales, Captain EO, and Star Tours get a "NUFF SAID" up against Pixar. Classic.
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
He lead the single biggest time of growth of Disney's history, how doesn't he have quite a legacy?

He built it up (with the aid of FW) and then made enough poor decisions to nearly destroy all the gains. He was a net plus but only because he left in time.
 

The Conundrum

New Member
While I really don't care about the "Iger vs. Eisner: The First 5 Years" competition, I think it's hilarious that Duck Tales, Captain EO, and Star Tours get a "NUFF SAID" up against Pixar. Classic.

The Pixar deal was a no brainer and was going to happen no matter who was put in charge.

It could also be argued that Pixar's best stuff (minus Wall-E) was released during Eisner's time. Now we have movies like Up and Newt that just aren't in the same league. Oh and Iger doesn't like Ratatouille because it isn't franchisable.
 

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
He built it up (with the aid of FW) and then made enough poor decisions to nearly destroy all the gains. He was a net plus but only because he left in time.

Eisner's good far out weighs his bad. The man wasn't perfect, and I agree that Frank Wells is the unsung hero of the "Disney Decade," but you have to give credit where it is due. Eisner was an excellent leader and exactly what the company needed at the time. Being the eternal optimist you are, you have to see that.

The jury is still out on Iger. So far, he has done some good things, but he is far from flawless himself. :shrug:
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The Pixar deal was a no brainer and was going to happen no matter who was put in charge.

It could also be argued that Pixar's best stuff (minus Wall-E) was released during Eisner's time. Now we have movies like Up and Newt that just aren't in the same league. Oh and Iger doesn't like Ratatouille because it isn't franchisable.

Newt has not been released yet. :brick:

Wall-E appeals to your taste so of course you make an exception. The best judge is the box office. Which is going up with each new release under Iger/Lasseter.
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Eisner's good far out weighs his bad. The man wasn't perfect, and I agree that Frank Wells is the unsung hero of the "Disney Decade," but you have to give credit where it is due. Eisner was an excellent leader and exactly what the company needed at the time. Being the eternal optimist you are, you have to see that.

The jury is still out on Iger. So far, he has done some good things, but he is far from flawless himself. :shrug:

No, we disagree. If anyone can be blamed for the "walmarting" it is Eisner. He grew the product faster than the quality could keep pace.

I'm done talking about Eisner. That is so in the past.

*turns to face the future decade*:)
 

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
No, we disagree. If anyone can be blamed for the "walmarting" it is Eisner. He grew the product faster than the quality could keep pace.

I'm done talking about Eisner. That is so in the past.

*turns to face the future decade*:)

:lol:

You have become very amusing jt!

Blame it on Eisner even though it continues happening 5 years later. :rolleyes:
 

DisneyDellsDude

New Member
The Pixar deal was a no brainer and was going to happen no matter who was put in charge.

It could also be argued that Pixar's best stuff (minus Wall-E) was released during Eisner's time. Now we have movies like Up and Newt that just aren't in the same league. Oh and Iger doesn't like Ratatouille because it isn't franchisable.
IMO, I reguard Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Up as the best Pixar movies besides Toy Story. These three have had more adult concepts - I guess you could say - which I enjoy. Just my taste.
 

markjohns1

Member
The Pixar deal was a no brainer and was going to happen no matter who was put in charge.
This keeps getting brought up, but it really is not the case. In hindsight it is a no brainer, but it was a huge risk and investment (someone claimed earlier that Disney "overpaid"). You are carelessly undercutting Iger's impact on Disney's ability to make this move in an effort to prove your point. Claiming that anyone could have made it happen is simply false.
"Disney is the only company with animation in their DNA, and the only company that we think has this incredible collection of unique assets like the theme parks, that are very attractive to us as well," Jobs said on a conference call with investors. "They're the only company who has Bob Iger, who we like a lot and have grown to trust." -- Source

"And while Eisner warred with Jobs, Iger worked hard to improve Disney's relationship. A key part of the reason for the Disney-Pixar deal, says Jobs, was "we got to know Bob."" -- Source
It could also be argued that Pixar's best stuff (minus Wall-E) was released during Eisner's time. Now we have movies like Up and Newt that just aren't in the same league. Oh and Iger doesn't like Ratatouille because it isn't franchisable.
First of all, Eisner has nothing to do with anything Pixar was doing, as Disney only had a distribution deal. Secondly, that is such a pointless and subjective argument. Pixar has hit after hit, and thanks to Iger TWDC benefits tremendously from it.

Eisner's good far out weighs his bad. The man wasn't perfect, and I agree that Frank Wells is the unsung hero of the "Disney Decade," but you have to give credit where it is due. Eisner was an excellent leader and exactly what the company needed at the time. Being the eternal optimist you are, you have to see that.

The jury is still out on Iger. So far, he has done some good things, but he is far from flawless himself. :shrug:
No CEO is flawless, and I don't think anyone has been claiming that (I know I haven't been). I do think some are only looking at P&R when making their judgements, but that is just one piece of the pie. And isn't Rasulo the actual problem when it comes to P&R? Sure Iger hasn't replaced him, but lay the blame where it belongs.
 

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
No CEO is flawless, and I don't think anyone has been claiming that (I know I haven't been). I do think some are only looking at P&R when making their judgements, but that is just one piece of the pie. And isn't Rasulo the actual problem when it comes to P&R? Sure Iger hasn't replaced him, but lay the blame where it belongs.

I never said anything about talking exclusively about parks. :shrug:

I would expect Iger to make good moves with TV and Movies, that's what he knows the most about. That said, I wonder how much of it is Iger and how much of it is Lasseter. I believe Iger would've let Bolt come out with the with the original direction. Lasseter said it was crap and made them redo the film.

I honestly do not know if we have Iger or Lasseter to thank for the new direction of WDFA. :shrug:
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I never said anything about talking exclusively about parks. :shrug:

I would expect Iger to make good moves with TV and Movies, that's what he knows the most about. That said, I wonder how much of it is Iger and how much of it is Lasseter. I believe Iger would've let Bolt come out with the with the original direction. Lasseter said it was crap and made them redo the film.

I honestly do not know if we have Iger or Lasseter to thank for the new direction of WDFA. :shrug:

If it has to do with animation, I'd say Lasseter. But then you have to credit Iger for choosing Lasseter. If TPatF/Rapunzel are the hits they appear to be then they both share credit IMO. Of course there is a ton of other projects in the hopper that appear equally as promising. Tim Burton/Depp in AiW, live action releases from Pixar, the conclusion of the TS trilogy and much much more. Tron, 20K, Newt, WtP...........
 

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
If it has to do with animation, I'd say Lasseter. But then you have to credit Iger for choosing Lasseter. If TPatF/Rapunzel are the hits they appear to be then they both share credit IMO. Of course there is a ton of other projects in the hopper that appear equally as promising. Tim Burton/Depp in AiW, live action releases from Pixar, the conclusion of the TS trilogy and much much more. Tron, 20K, Newt, WtP...........

My question is did Iger actually appoint Lasseter or was his appointment a contingence in the Pixar deal?
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My question is did Iger actually appoint Lasseter or was his appointment a contingence in the Pixar deal?

My understanding is it was Iger's choice. Also to give Lasseter some influence at WDI. Maybe one of the insiders can clarify.
 

markjohns1

Member
I never said anything about talking exclusively about parks. :shrug:
It's true, you didn't. That statement really wasn't directed at you. It was more of a general response on the subject anyways. I actually agree with you in regards to Eisner. And while you feel the jury may be out on Iger, I think what he has done so far has been very good for TWDC as a whole. In some cases I think the jury should always be out. Look at how Eisner started, and how he ended up.
I would expect Iger to make good moves with TV and Movies, that's what he knows the most about. That said, I wonder how much of it is Iger and how much of it is Lasseter. I believe Iger would've let Bolt come out with the with the original direction. Lasseter said it was crap and made them redo the film.

I honestly do not know if we have Iger or Lasseter to thank for the new direction of WDFA. :shrug:
That is Iger's bread and butter, which is why it appears to me that TWDC is putting the emphasis back on its roots. Animation and film are what made this company what it is. It drove the success of the P&R and Consumer Products segments. I think when the studio entertainment segment gets back on track with both animation and live action films, which appears to be a reality, we will begin to see that reflected in P&R.

I also think a huge part of the improvements are to Lasseter's credit, but isn't that what a good CEO does? Iger's making moves that will help across the different segments of TWDC (Hulu, Dreamworks, etc.). Given the economic circumstances he's doing a pretty good job of staying ahead of the curve too. Now if we can just get that P&R segment straightened out... I think it's coming though.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom