Animators gone forever???

[Yoop33]

I am reading this aritcle in the Sunday paper about a particular Animator for Disney but talks about the studio as well. It looks like a local article but might be something featured in a lot of Sunday papers.

First I would like to say that I am new here but love Disney like everyone else. I never followed much of what happened latley with what is going on (with Eisner) but after coming here and reading some of the posts I have realized what is going on and have been somewhat dissapointed with Eisner as well as most of you. After reading this article my dissapointment has grown.

The article tells the story of Disney Animator Craig Grasso. It talks about how Eisner has and will be closing the Animation Studios. Some have been closed already but the Florida Studio has been halted of its production and Animators have been told to look for new jobs. The thing that made me most upset when I read what Eisner did with pay cuts. Two years ago he cut salaries of Animators between 30%-50%. Later that year he gave bonuses of $400,000 to top executives and then bought ABC.

So now I know what you guys are talking about when you say you wanna get rid of Eisner. I had no idea. But please read this article. If you can't find it in the Sunday paper then try

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/21/Floridian/Lost_art.shtml

Let me know what the rest of you think

 

[pan11435]

Well, for one thing Disney bought ABC almost 10 years ago. Also, I do agree it seems harsh to cut their salaries by that much but you have to remember how out of hand they got. After the Lion king was such a success the cost of animated features doubled and in some cases tripled. This was caused by a sudden influx in animators salaries due to numerous new animation units such as fox, Sony, and DreamWorks. Many thought they could make money in the animation industry. This caused competition in employing animators. To keep them they had to give them huge raises. Now most of these new animation studies have closed. animation has not been as successful lately. Reducing salaries was a sad but necessary outcome.

 

[Yoop33]

Oh well that puts a different light on the subject. I didn't know all of that. To be honest with you I would much rather see a "Pixar" or 3D type movie compared to the regular animation or 2D films. Although I did like the popular movies like Lion King and Aladin I am leaning towards the newer type films but I don't think they should get rid of their studios. What is going to happen to the Disney Classics??

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by Yoop33
What is going to happen to the Disney Classics??

If this atitude keeps up, the classics will be kicked out the door!

IMO 2D movies were the most detailed movies ever created!

 

[pan11435]

Oh well that puts a different light on the subject. I didn't know all of that. To be honest with you I would much rather see a "Pixar" or 3D type movie compared to the regular animation or 2D films. Although I did like the popular movies like Lion King and Aladin I am leaning towards the newer type films but I don't think they should get rid of their studios. What is going to happen to the Disney Classics??

This is a great example of the power of the media. They can manipulate a specific opinion just by the facts the give out. While giving other facts could bring the opposite opinion. I hope they don't close the Florida studio. I love animation both tradition and CGI.

It is very similar to how everyone believes that almost everyone who rides Mission: Space gets sick. This couldn't be further form the truth. The media reports the negative and that's what we perceive to be the truth. In reality I have ridden it 17 times and not one have I seen anyone before, after, or during the ride get sick. Just smiling faces. Of coarse some may get sick as with any ride. I think it is important to know the strength of the media and how much influence they have on us. Don't make your entire opinion on the ray one reporter paints the situation.

 

[Figment1986]

I read about a quarter of that article and i dont like how they are doing this. but at least they are somewhat human and giving them pay till january and not like closing it and saying get out.

I wish they could keep this place open,

 

[FigmentJedi]

I know, let's wish on a Magic Kingdom Firework! Then the Blue Fairy will come, stick a rocket up Eisner's Butt and make him explode into a brilliant explosion during the Villians segment of Wishes, the best fireworks show EVAR!!!!!!

 

[alice]

fl studios

we talked to a cm at that magic of animation thing in mgm 2 weeks ago. he said that all the florida studios people were waiting to see if they had jobs to come back to after the holidays. even though they did mulan, lilo and stitch, and brother bear, that studio will probably be closed, because of the movies like treasure planet, atlantis etc. that didn't do so good; as well as the ever-growing success of pixar films ie nemo.
imho, kids can't tell the difference between computer-animated and the old fashioned stuff, they'll like it if it's a good story with characters they can relate to. so i think california should just be a little pickier on the projects they choose and let the ones that are doing a good job keep working!

maybe someone could start a petition to keep it open...

 

[General Grizz]

Don't listen to a crap about what the MGM Studios folks say. No offense to them, because they are *forced* to say that the animators on hiatus.

They're not. They are pretty much done. Some are unemployed now. . . others are moving to California to join Burbank.

Otherwise, we find out "officially" that they have been laid off in about ten days. Other than that, Disney will deny everything.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL!!

 

[OnWithTheShow]

If this isnt WDW Parks News and Rumors I dont know what is geez.

 

[prberk]

Originally posted by OnWithTheShow
If this isnt WDW Parks News and Rumors I dont know what is geez.

Agreed.

Although it also fits under "Motion Pictures...", etc. But most definitely "Parks News and Rumors"!

I guess if Steve moved it, though, it is his to move!

Anyhoo, I am still coming out of a sort-of self-imposed denial, anyway, about David Stainton. I think he thinks he is bettering everything by "breaking the mold," as he stated in early interviews; but it seems more like he is just trying to flush the past altogether: good, bad, and indifferent. And along the way, he is flushing wisdom and skills that could be put to good use in good stories, no matter the medium.

And we wonder what Roy was talking about when he criticised the current administration for losing good talent and management. This is what the new vision is: trade on heritage and "magic," but behind the scenes just throw it all away when the current situation seems bad. Revolving door..... cheap sequels... and playing dice with Pixar.

Here's an idea: how about ADOPTING Pixar's story and artist development model? After all, it used to be Disney's....

 

[handsdown04]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Don't listen to a crap about what the MGM Studios folks say. No offense to them, because they are *forced* to say that the animators on hiatus.

They're not. They are pretty much done. Some are unemployed now. . . others are moving to California to join Burbank.

Otherwise, we find out "officially" that they have been laid off in about ten days. Other than that, Disney will deny everything.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL!!

I talked to 2 different people at MGM in early December, both of which were not actual animators but just "guides" on the animation tour. When I questioned one about the "rumors" of the animation section of the studio being shut down he said that there were tons of "rumors" being spread by CM's, and if they were to get any "new project" they would know in the 2nd week of January. He said they had been working on a movie (Something about "ghosts") but work on that had been completely stopped due to struggles with the story. "We changed the title of the movie more times than we change our shirts"

I spoke to another CM a couple days later & when I asked him about the rumors he said "It all depends on how well Brother Bear does before Christmas, it's all about the $$$". This is one "rumor" I deffinitely believe due to how much the animators during the 1st part of the "tour" were pushing the movie. Making comments like "go see it for a 10th time" etc.

Once again, just rumors, but I figured I'd pass along what I heard.