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

[Vegas Disney Fan]

"Walt's vision" for these characters was for them to be designed as cartoons. They cannot simply be directly adapted into "live action." Things that are expressive, or endearing, or comical in a cartoon are weird and off putting in a realistic setting.

I think this has been the downfall of most of the live action movie's, even the ones that have made a ton of money, they simply look “wrong”. There’s something charming and endearing about cartoons, that’s lost when they try to make something “real”.

We all know what a lion looks like and how a lion acts, when they try to combine reality with talking and non natural actions it feels wrong.

I enjoyed Mufasa but the entire time I felt like I was watching a presentation of CG technology, what they can do now is very impressive but it’s also a bit off putting because it still doesn’t “look” quite right.

 

[LittleBuford]

I think this has been the downfall of most of the live action movie's, even the ones that have made a ton of money, they simply look “wrong”. There’s something charming and endearing about cartoons, that’s lost when they try to make something “real”.

We all know what a lion looks like and how a lion acts, when they try to combine reality with talking and non natural actions it feels wrong.

I enjoyed Mufasa but the entire time I felt like I was watching a presentation of CG technology, what they can do now is very impressive but it’s also a bit off putting because it still doesn’t “look” quite right.

BRING BACK HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION!

Seriously, it’s so much more charming than computer animation (which I know wasn’t the point of your post, but I hope you’ll forgive me).

 

[Farerb]

BRING BACK HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION!

Seriously, it’s so much more charming than computer animation (which I know wasn’t the point of your post, but I hope you’ll forgive me).

Bob Iger will never do that.

 

[Agent H]

BRING BACK HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION!

Seriously, it’s so much more charming than computer animation (which I know wasn’t the point of your post, but I hope you’ll forgive me).

How about a compromise? Maybe we bring back the hybrid animation from wish?

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

BRING BACK HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION!

Seriously, it’s so much more charming than computer animation (which I know wasn’t the point of your post, but I hope you’ll forgive me).

I agree, I’d love more hand drawn animation.

One other thing I’d add is how “non real” CG typically works well, something intentionally cartoony like Cars works, had they made them photo realistic cars with eyes and mouths I think it would have come off as freaky though, I’m also optimistic something like Stitch will work because we don’t associate Aliens as real so our brains tend to believe them as CG.

When they try to make something real look real though they better nail it or our brains will instantly think it looks off.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

They should just release it at Disney+ at this point.

There might be some contractual reason with movie theaters why they can't put it on Disney+ too soon, but I doubt they'll wait 3-4 months.

 

[LittleBuford]

How about a compromise? Maybe we bring back the hybrid animation from wish?

I’m a child of the twentieth century. I will never enjoy computer animation as much as the hand-drawn variety.

 

[LittleBuford]

Bob Iger will never do that.

I’m not expecting it to happen soon, if ever. But stranger revivals have occurred.

 

[Chi84]

But stranger revivals have occurred.

Truer words . . .

 

[Agent H]

I’m a child of the twentieth century. I will never enjoy computer animation as much as the hand-drawn variety.

Fair enough. Personally I don’t feel strongly one way or the other. There’s bad 2d animation and there’s bad 3d animation. Both excell in their own ways.

 

[Farerb]

Fair enough. Personally I don’t feel strongly one way or the other. There’s bad 2d animation and there’s bad 3d animation. Both excell in their own ways.

I haven't enjoyed any of Disney's CGI films except Tangled and Moana and I only like 6 Pixar movies.

 

[WorldExplorer]

"Walt's vision" for these characters was for them to be designed as cartoons. They cannot simply be directly adapted into "live action." Things that are expressive, or endearing, or comical in a cartoon are weird and off putting in a realistic setting. Taking cartoon characters like the dwarves, with cartoon anatomy and proportions.... and then sticking on realistic human skin, hair, and clothes is ugly and disturbing. No clue how the people making these films greenlight this stuff with their eyes open.

Realistic dwarfs is just as stupid as trying to make a realistic CGI llama for an Emperor's New Groove remake.

(Not to imply that any kind of ENG remake would be smart...or any kind of Snow White remake, for that matter...)

Realitically speaking, actual people for the dwarfs is also not a good option, because they're not going to capture the charm of them either; that charm was inherently tied to their cartoonish-ness. It's just the least dumb option that makes the most sense with the "live action remake" premise; the result would be "okay-ish" rather than "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?".

The best idea was just to not make it, but Disney really wanted that money.

Current prediction is a 68% drop for Snow White in its second weekend (worse than Dumbo), with $13.7 million total

Jason Statham’s ‘Working Man’ With $15M+ Opening Puts ‘Snow White’ To Sleep & Sends Jenna Ortega’s ‘Unicorn’ Out To Pasture – Sunday Box Office Update

Jason Statham's 'A Working Man' leading the weekend box office with $15M+ ahead of Jenna Ortega's 'Death of a Unicorn' and 'Snow White'

deadline.com

Glad that worked out for them.

 

[LittleBuford]

Fair enough. Personally I don’t feel strongly one way or the other. There’s bad 2d animation and there’s bad 3d animation. Both excell in their own ways.

I would say there is no bad Disney 2D animation. Even when the storytelling was weak, the artistry was always excellent.

 

[TalkingHead]

There might be some contractual reason with movie theaters why they can't put it on Disney+ too soon, but I doubt they'll wait 3-4 months.

Have to suspect that’s why it didn’t get sent directly to streaming in the first place.

 

[Agent H]

I haven't enjoyed any of Disney's CGI films except Tangled and Moana and I only like 6 Pixar movies.

The only films I haven’t liked are raya and the last dragon strange world and Ralph breaks the internet.

 

[BrianLo]

That’s good? But I don’t think TWDC is interested in sorta breaking even while tying up 300m over 3-5 years.

You’ll note nowhere I implied it was good. Hence why we struggle having nuanced conversations here sometimes.

My qualifier was and has always been in this range “disappointing”.

Not a defense, but movies have their own subsidiaries during production for a reason. Capital isn’t tied up in these projects until release.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Uh….. no.

LOL, that's what I thought, but worth asking on this site. Why would they if they can make some more money on it? Oh well, so much for the internet for true information

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I’m a child of the twentieth century. I will never enjoy computer animation as much as the hand-drawn variety.

I've gone to Disneyworld when they had the imagineers in HS actually working on the next movie. We got to see them at work on "The Lion King" before it was released. I thought it was amazing how wonderful that looked, and also the fact that we got to see them at work. I think Disney is really missing that hand drawn effect on their new movies. Anyone can push a button to make the new effects, but nothing replaces hand drawn, IMO!

 

[LittleBuford]

I've gone to Disneyworld when they had the imagineers in HS actually working on the next movie. We got to see them at work on "The Lion King" before it was released. I thought it was amazing how wonderful that looked, and also the fact that we got to see them at work. I think Disney is really missing that hand drawn effect on their new movies. Anyone can push a button to make the new effects, but nothing replaces hand drawn, IMO!

I don't agree with the bolded—good computer animation takes a lot of skill—but I share your overall sentiments!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I don't agree with the bolded—good computer animation takes a lot of skill—but I share your overall sentiments!

Yeah, maybe that was a little harsh, but trying to make a point I guess