Roger Rabbit??

[yodomino6]

Does anybody know what the deal is with Roger Rabbit license? I heard a rumor from a cast member that every 6 years Disney trades off with Warner Brothers to have Roger in their parks...

Anybody know if that is true or any other info would be awesome...

 

[bluefaery]

I didn't think WB ownes Roger I think Disney does.

 

[kiawahman]

I doubt the two companies share the rights.

 

[Rob562]

I doubt the two companies share the rights.

It's not Warner Brothers, it's Amblin Entertainment (founded by Spielberg).

Disney and Amblin co-own the Roger Rabbit character (and probably Jessica and Baby Herman).

From IMDb:
"The Disney Afternoon character Bonkers Bobcat was created because Amblin Entertainment, co-owner of all of the characters created for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" refused to allow Disney to produce a TV series incorporating characters from the film."


-Rob

 

[Halfling418]

Roger is Disney.

 

[Halfling418]

Oh, yeah, he's Amblin too.

 

[Speedbird]

Roger is going to be big business in the coming year. I think it's the 20th Anniversary in 2008. Paris are building a whole Toontown and there's Roger Rabbit mechandise everywhere in the Studios Park and Disney Village.

 

[MickeyTigg]

I believe Roger the character is shared by Disney and Amblin while the rights to the movie are also shared with Warner Brothers.

 

[drew81]

I wish he'd come back to the Disney Studios for sets. He has a ride at Disneyland but he's not represented at WDW. Come on managers....put him back on the bid list!!!! Please!!!

 

[BG Rugger]

I loved "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". For some reson I remember being able to buy Roger Rabbit merchandise....Disney-MGM Studios I believe.

 

[mkt]

Different Countries, Different Licensing Rights.

In Europe, Parc Asterix is one of DLRP biggest local competitors.

In the US, Disney owns the licenses to Asterix.

 

[mkt]

I wish he'd come back to the Disney Studios for sets. He has a ride at Disneyland but he's not represented at WDW. Come on managers....put him back on the bid list!!!! Please!!!

It's not that easy Drew, and you of all people should know this.

How can they put out a character that they don't have legal permission to? He was out in 2001 in the Disney/MGM Studios, and the coordinator who sent him out was severely reprimanded for this.

 

[NoNoNoNoNo]

WB, Disney, HB and many other characters were USED, but they don't own the rights to Roger.

 

[drew81]

It's not that easy Drew, and you of all people should know this.

How can they put out a character that they don't have legal permission to? He was out in 2001 in the Disney/MGM Studios, and the coordinator who sent him out was severely reprimanded for this.

I know it's not that easy, and I know that Disney can't put him out on set. I just wish they could. Did Disney legal do anything to the coordiantor for doing for putting him out???

 

[tonganprince]

What about the statue at the POP?

 

[Magicot]

I was at MGM this past week and noticed if you stand near the '50s Prime Time Cafe and look towards the Blue Hat, you can see a big billboard advertising Maroon Studios with Roger, Jessica, and Baby Herman on it. So technically they are represented in the park if only minimally.

 

[mkt]

I know it's not that easy, and I know that Disney can't put him out on set. I just wish they could. Did Disney legal do anything to the coordiantor for doing for putting him out???

not that I know of... he/she's still working in WDW, but in another department as of at least a year or so ago.

 

[sgmco]

It's probably as simple as "Out of Sight, Out of Mind"-why we haven't seen Roger, et.al. There hasn't been any Roger sequels in the nearly 20 years since HFRR. Occasionaly you will see some Jessica Rabbit merchandise floating about (I know that I've seen several Jessica shirts and a Jessica Big Fig), but not much else.

BTW, those of you who are visiting in the next few days, or who live in the area--the first phase of the Pleasure Island rehab will begin on or around March 19, which may also include demolishing the West End Stage. As you recall the back of the stage has a large sign that features Jessica (and her once swinging leg). This may be your last chance to catch a glimpse of this once famous icon for PI!

 

[Mecha Figment]

Roger Rabbit use to be the poster child for Disney studios. Where HISTK's play area was use to be a Roger Rabbit Themed area with movie props. This was where the steam roller use to be that is now on the backlot.

The only evidence left of his existance is his name and foot prints infront of the chinese theater, the maroon cartoons bilboard, and wall painted to look like he had crashed into a wall located in a cast area behind the animation tour building.

 

[Rob562]

I was at MGM this past week and noticed if you stand near the '50s Prime Time Cafe and look towards the Blue Hat, you can see a big billboard advertising Maroon Studios with Roger, Jessica, and Baby Herman on it. So technically they are represented in the park if only minimally.

There's at least one other Roger Rabbit reference in this area. A window above Hollywood & Vine has a sign for Eddie Valliant's office, along with a shade with a Roger-shaped hole in it... (Though for the moment we'll ignore that the scene with Roger going through the window and leaving a hole in his shape happened in RK Maroon's studio office...)

Does anyone know at what point Genie replaced Roger in Spectromagic? Was it all the way back a few years to where Spectro returned after MSEP went to DCA?

And Roger merchandise isn't totally dead, either. Last fall DisneyShopping.com was selling both Roger and Jessica costumes for adults.

-Rob