Disney (and others) at the Box Office - Current State of Affairs

Disney Irish

Premium Member
The Burbank headquarters of Walt Disney Animation Studios was involved with the project even when it was conceived as a series. The Vancouver branch still falls under the Walt Disney Animation Studios umbrella and isn’t some shoddy outside operation. Disney has long had such satellite studios (Orlando and Paris, both now closed) and they have always been considered in-house. I didn’t much like Moana 2, but the visuals weren’t the issue.

As for the previous two WDAS films flopping, immediately before them was Encanto, second only to Moana as last year’s most-streamed movie, and Zootopia 2 and Frozen 3 are already in development. I see no reason to worry.
Exactly, I don't know where this idea that this was done by some cheap offshore outside group came from. This was done by WDAS, just in Canada. It would be no different if WDAS had their Orlando team do it, as you mentioned.

This is also why the comments of it being like DisneyToons also irritates me, as this isn't the same thing.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Exactly, I don't know where this idea that this was done by some cheap offshore outside group came from. This was done by WDAS, just in Canada. It would be no different if WDAS had their Orlando team do it, as you mentioned.

This is also why the comments of it being like DisneyToons also irritates me, as this isn't the same thing.

Yes, leave us Vancouverites alone! I am sure our WDAS offices are beautiful and wonderful.
 

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
How many sequels are up to the same standard as the original? Most fall short of the original, and most if not all never exceed the original.
I wouldn't say "if not at all". Sure it's more common for the original to be better. But I can think of plenty of sequels that are better than the first. The issue is when a sequel is far less than the original in quality. There are PLENTY of sequels that might not be as good as the original, but are very much quality films worthy of being a sequel.
Also where did I say the public ONLY wants sequels, didn't make that the claim so I think you misunderstood what I meant when I say they eat up sequels.
Maybe I did, but you did say
if the public is really only coming out in droves for sequels
So if they only come out for sequels, that means they don't to come out for original ips. So it seems easy to misunderstand.

But that would make your first response to me make very little sense. I never said anything about why Disney is doing sequels. In fact multiple times I've said they absolutely should, it's expected. The original post that I responded to was about people here complaining about sequels. And my response was they absolutely want them, just good ones.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
I would prefer that the world move forward then staying back in your day

The problem there is that this isn't my call. Did you read the Variety article?

The call was made by the global marketplace of Billions of consumers of Disney's family entertainment products that has already spoken on that issue in 2022-2023. And Bob heard them and is now making his teams at WDAS and Pixar listen to their customers.

Marvel and Lucas and Searchlight and 20th Century will all keep making PG-13 or R Rated movies with sexual themes of various sorts, no problem. I haven't heard a single person upset about that. I'm certainly not. Aside from the government censors in Muslim and Communist countries that don't allow those Burbank movies to be shown anyway, who would care???

But the issue with Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Animation and Pixar is settled, and Bob Iger has gone on record saying so. And once they get past Snow White this March, it should be onward and upward and back to fairly consistent profitability. It really boils down to a branding issue for specific studios aimed at the family audience globally.

As for "staying back in my day", that's mostly the gay bar scene of the Disco Era and the 80's. And you wouldn't believe the things I've seen! Some of it would need an NC-17 rating, it wouldn't even get an R. The box office would be questionable though. 🤔
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Yes, leave us Vancouverites alone! I am sure our WDAS offices are beautiful and wonderful.

It's a gorgeous city! Your comment made me Google...

The Disney Animation studios in Vancouver are downtown at 1132 Hamilton St., in a hipster neighborhood, in a remodeled brick building about 5 stories tall. Above a blowout hair bar and a place called Yaletown Distillery that makes its own small batch gin.

Sound like a heavenly place to work, doesn't it? 🤣 🍸
 

TsWade2

Well-Known Member
The problem there is that this isn't my call.

The call was made by the global marketplace of Billions of consumers of Disney's family entertainment products that has already spoken on that issue in 2022-2023. And Bob heard them and is now making his teams at WDAS and Pixar listen to their customers.

Marvel and Lucas and Searchlight and 20th Century will all keep making R Rated movies with sexual themes of various sorts, no problem. I haven't heard a single person upset about that. I'm certainly not. Aside from the government censors in Muslim and Communist countries that don't allow those Burbank movies to be shown anyway, who would care???

But the issue with Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Animation and Pixar is settled, and Bob Iger has gone on record saying so. And once they get past Snow White this March, it should be onward and upward and back to fairly consistent profitability. It really boils down to a branding issue for specific studios aimed at the family audience globally.

As for "staying back in my day", that's mostly the gay bar scene of the Disco Era and the 80's. And you wouldn't believe the things I've seen! Some of it would need an NC-17 rating, it wouldn't even get an R. The box office would be questionable though. 🤔
For once, TP200 has a good point. While Marvel, LucasFilm, and 20th Century Fox will continue including LGBTQ characters in live acton movies and shows, but only for PG13 and R movies, and TV14 and TVMA TV shows and movies. And WDAS and Pixar has to get out of that which they are. Besides, not only DIsney needs to impress us Americans, they need to impress people from around the world to make profit. Which is why Lightyear and Strange World flopped at the box office. No, I'm not going to mention Wish. Wish is fine to me, despite of it's flaws. Anyway, my point is that Disney needs to respect the costumers whether we agree with them or not. Sorry, that's how business is whether we like it or not.
 
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LittleBuford

Well-Known Member
It won't be long before Disney makes a successful animated movie with queer characters. Pixar already did it with Elemental. Anyone who thinks we are about to experience a longterm retreat from representation is kidding themselves or betraying their own ideological unease. The march of progress is unstoppable.
 

Disney Irish

Premium Member
I wouldn't say "if not at all". Sure it's more common for the original to be better. But I can think of plenty of sequels that are better than the first. The issue is when a sequel is far less than the original in quality. There are PLENTY of sequels that might not be as good as the original, but are very much quality films worthy of being a sequel.
This however is very subjective when talking about quality, lets use the example of Moana 2 since its recent. You may not feel its a quality film and thus isn't a worthy sequel and living up to the quality of the original. I however may disagree feeling its a quality film on its own but just falls shorts in terms of its status to the original.

Maybe I did, but you did say

So if they only come out for sequels, that means they don't to come out for original ips. So it seems easy to misunderstand.
That doesn't mean I was saying that the public doesn't want originals, just that they aren't taking the much risk of seeing them in theaters when they come out. Elemental, as you mentioned, is an example of an original where the public was hesitant at first, but then came out after some time.

Basically the public is gun shy when it comes to originals, just instead sticking to the more comfortable sequels. And this isn't just isolated to Disney, rather all of Hollywood. Which is why there are so many sequels to just about every franchise you can name being pumped out left and right.

But that would make your first response to me make very little sense. I never said anything about why Disney is doing sequels. In fact multiple times I've said they absolutely should, it's expected. The original post that I responded to was about people here complaining about sequels. And my response was they absolutely want them, just good ones.
What I gathered from your post is that you are ok with sequels only if there is a "story" to tell, and be a good story, otherwise don't make a sequel. And that was what I was commenting on, just saying the public doesn't seem to care that much about the story overall, just that they are getting to see their favorite characters again. So in that regard, cash grab or not, Disney is giving the public what they want, even if you think the quality of the story is lacking and not worthy of the original.
 

Chi84

Premium Member
For once, TP200 has a good point. While Marvel, LucasFilm, and 20th Century Fox will continue LGBTQ characters in live acton movies and shows, but only for PG13 and R movies, and TV14 and TVMA TV shows and movies. And WDAS and Pixar has to get out of that which they are. Besides, not only DIsney needs to impress us Americans, they need to impress people from around the world to make profit. Which is why Lightyear and Strange World flopped at the box office. No, I'm not going to mention Wish. Wish is fine to me, despite of it's flaws. Anyway, my point is that Disney needs to respect the costumers whether we agree with them or not. Sorry, that's how business is whether we like it or not.
Disney has respect for all of its customers.
 

LittleBuford

Well-Known Member
Yes, leave us Vancouverites alone! I am sure our WDAS offices are beautiful and wonderful.
I looked it up, and the offices are in a space "previously occupied by Motion Picture Company (MPC), a major global visual effects, CGI, and animation studio that produced popular films including Watchmen, Life of Pi, The Lion King, Dumbo, Blade Runner 2049, Sully, Maleficent, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I looked it up, and the offices occupy a space that was "previously occupied by Motion Picture Company (MPC), a major global visual effects, CGI, and animation studio that produced popular films including Watchmen, Life of Pi, The Lion King, Dumbo, Blade Runner 2049, Sully, Maleficent, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."


(TBH, I have job alerts set... been trying to get hired there for some sort of non-technical civilian job, haha)
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
(TBH, I have job alerts set... been trying to get hired there for some sort of non-technical civilian job, haha)

I think you should start hanging out at Yaletown Distillery just off their lobby. I'm sure the animators and staff hang out there after work on a Friday evening!

Lana Turner was discovered at the soda counter at Schwab's, remember! But you could be enjoying gin instead of a malted.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I think you should start hanging out at Yaletown Distillery just off their lobby. I'm sure the animators and staff hang out there after work on a Friday evening!

Lana Turner was discovered at the soda counter at Schwab's, remember! But you could be enjoying gin instead of a malted.

I would hope they are hanging out somewhere a bit nicer, lots of amazing spots nearby! Great foodie / drink area.
 

LittleBuford

Well-Known Member
I think you should start hanging out at Yaletown Distillery just off their lobby. I'm sure the animators and staff hang out there after work on a Friday evening!
It closed almost two years ago.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you're trying to undermine the legitimacy of the Vancouver studio because of its downtown location. Please note that the now-closed Paris studio, responsible for some of the animation in such esteemed films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was located in a somewhat dangerous suburb of the city. As long as the work they produce is good, who cares whether the Vancouver team's location is swanky or not?
 

celluloid

Well-Known Member
It closed almost two years ago.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you're trying to undermine the legitimacy of the Vancouver studio because of its downtown location. Please note that the now-closed Paris studio, responsible for some of the animation in such esteemed films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was located in a somewhat dangerous suburb of the city. As long as the work they produce is good, who cares whether the Vancouver team's location is swanky or not?

The employees and their families?
 

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