Making the case for LEAVING Pixar.............

[KevinPage]

As much as I enjoy their films and feel they are so engrained in the Disney family, I think certain relationships eventually run their course.

I don't really want Pixar to be gone, but if they are, part of me will be happy, from the respect that Disney needs to stop holding onto someone else to make HITS for them.

Disney needs the push to compete and get back to making quality films IN HOUSE. Having Pixar gives them the luxury of being lazy with their own films, knowing they already have potential hits in the pipeline.

I equate it a child finally leaving their parents home to make their own way in the world. A child can only rely on its parents for so long before they have to stop hanging on. Disney has been hanging onto Pixar for too long.

The Disney of old would never have had to get an outside company to make new characters and hit films for them. All of Pixar's success should be a wake up call for Disney to realize how far they have fallen and a blueprint on what they need to do to survive.

Also, with Pixar releasing films and Disney themselves, it feels like the market is saturated with too much Disney product. 2 animated films per year from any company is more than enough. Any more than that and the novetly and/or 'cache' wears off quickly.

Not to mention the proposal Jobs submitted to Eisner previously was the most 1 sided deal you could conceive and not be in Disney's interest whatsoever. If any CEO agreed to such a deal, they should be commited to an asylum.

 

[HauntedPirate]

You make several excellent points. Disney has not really had a hit since 'Tarzan', IMHO. They need to wake up and realize that without good stories (hint HINT) the coolest CGI in the world won't bring people back. Pixar has been uber-successful because their movies have a good story, quality characters, and you care about those characters.

 

[KevinPage]

You make several excellent points. Disney has not really had a hit since 'Tarzan', IMHO. They need to wake up and realize that without good stories (hint HINT) the coolest CGI in the world won't bring people back. Pixar has been uber-successful because their movies have a good story, quality characters, and you care about those characters.

You would think Disney realizes this about Pixar's films and the quality of the DVD's they release.

As long as Pixar is with Disney, they don't have the push to aim for more than mediocraty

 

[MKCP 1985]

KP, you started out your thread by conceding you really like the Disney/Pixar films and don't really want Pixar gone. I agree with those sentiments and feel that is where the focus should be throughout the remainder of the duration of the collaberative efforts between the companies.

I also agree that certain relationships run their course, like that between the Walt Disney Company and Michael Eisner. Isn't there some school of thought that the outrageous demands of Pixar were the result of acrimony between the top brass at Pixar and Michael E?

Perhaps with a new leader making the critical decisions, Pixar will be more reasonable and a long term agreement, beneficial to both companies and the money paying public can be reached. That would be a good thing.

As for Disney Animation - if you are right that Disney aims for mediocrity, the decision makers need to be replaced right away! Surely there is somebody still around at Disney who knows how to make a first class animated film!

 

[KevinPage]

KP, you started out your thread by conceding you really like the Disney/Pixar films and don't really want Pixar gone. I agree with those sentiments and feel that is where the focus should be throughout the remainder of the duration of the collaberative efforts between the companies.

I also agree that certain relationships run their course, like that between the Walt Disney Company and Michael Eisner. Isn't there some school of thought that the outrageous demands of Pixar were the result of acrimony between the top brass at Pixar and Michael E?

That is certainly possible and knowing what an ego maniac Jobs is I wouldn't put it past him just to make Eisner look bad. But if Pixar comes back with a radically different offer, it either proves they were trying to make a point OR they aer spineless and really need Disney more than they led on.

As for Disney Animation - if you are right that Disney aims for mediocrity, the decision makers need to be replaced right away! Surely there is somebody still around at Disney who knows how to make a first class animated film!

I'd say more that they have ZERO drive and very little clue about what makes a good film. The head of the animation department has an MBNA in business, he's not a creative guy, he has no clue except how to squeeze a pocketbook.

I won't be upset by any means if Pixar stays, but if they are gone, sometimes it's better to have a negative in the short term if it will improve your company in the long term.

 

[MKCP 1985]

Well, I hear ya. If Pixar DOES come back with the radically different offer, how will we know whether they were making the point or they were spineless CGI-men?

But on the importance of keeping it together, just look at these duos listed below and think of how the world would be such a better place if they had Just Been Able to Stay Together! :lol:
Ricky and Lucy
John Lennon and Paul Mcartney
Sonny and Cher
Laverne and Shirley
Mork and Mindy
Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo
Sean Penn and Madonna
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore
Rosanne Barr and Tom Arnold
Ben and J-Lo
Brad and Jennifer


Are you laughing yet? !!!

**insert photoshop photo of Steve Jobs and Bob Iger holding hands and waving daisies here**

 

[HauntedPirate]

I think the problem many have is that they identify Pixar with Disney. Pixar has overshadowed Disney in the animated movie realm.

I guess I don't care how it all turns out, as long as Pixar continues to make great movies, and Disney can pull it's head out of it's collective and start making good animated movies again, be they traditional (like it should be) or CGI (a natural step, but why not do both?).

 

[wannab@dis]

... The head of the animation department has an MBNA in business, he's not a creative guy, he has no clue except how to squeeze a pocketbook. ....

I have a MBNA credit card... do you think I could get a job? :lol: Sorry man, couldn't resist!

On the topic at hand, if Disney wants to come back as king of the animation movies, they can do so. But, it will take heart, soul and money to make this happen. They will need to get the right people and then push the STORY. A Pixar relationship is good for the bottom dollar, but I think it's allowed WDFA to take a creative break. they focused on low budget sequals to try to make a quick dollar.

That's fine for the short term, but what are you going to do when there are no more GREAT first runs to do a sequal for?

 

[HauntedPirate]

That's fine for the short term, but what are you going to do when there are no more GREAT first runs to do a sequal for?

Simple - make more sequels! They're bound to make money off of them somehow....

I realized something yesterday - There's been:

101 Dalamation (the original)
101 Dalmations (live action)
102 Dalmations (live action)
101 Dalmations II (animated)
101 Dalmations (TV series)

Where's the originality??? I personally believe that Walt would pat Eisner on the back for his first 10 years, and kick Eisner's a$$ for what he's done over the past 11 years.