Last night’s analyst meeting highlighted the live action and animation studios. All of the presentations have begun with the presenter focusing on Disney’s dedication to quality and innovation. It was noted that the reorganization of Feature Animation is almost complete bringing all of Feature Animations, Animators under one roof in Burbank, CA which the company expects to result in reduced production costs of 50%. The last traditional full length feature in development is Home on the Range to be released in April, everything else in development is currently set to be 100% computer generated. However, during the Q & A session, the door was left slightly open for a return to traditional animation at Feature Animation. In terms of Television Animation the company will continue to introduce direct to video sequels. On tap are sequels to Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Tarzan, Bambi and Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas. It was noted that the average Television Animated movie costs $20 million to produce and that the average home purchases 15 DVD’s each year.
There were a few things that strike me as odd and I definitely question the company’s commitment to quality. Regarding the savings in Feature Animation, it’s a known fact that the Orlando studios were already producing movies at a lower cost than the Burbank studios have been able to. If cost was the only concern, Feature Animation should now be located in Orlando and not Burbank. If Disney is dedicated to quality then why do they continue to produce full length features such as Atlantis and full length feature sequels such as Jungle Book II with poor story lines? Why are classic full length animated features made into sequels with sub par animation? Does anyone remember the days when the only sequel to a Disney full length animated feature was Rescuers Down Under? Heck, two of the sequels to be released this year already have a squeal in Lilo & Stitch and Tarzan so now we’re getting sequels on top of sequels!
If the company is as dedicated to quality as it claims to be, I would submit that the following suggestions should be adopted. Television Animation should only be used for the actual animated television shows and the direct to video movies based on those shows such as Recess, Teachers Pet, Kim Possible and The Prod Family. By producing these as direct to video movies only, the company can continue to make large profits from low cost production DVD’s without lowering the quality of the Feature Animation catalog.
Feature Animation should release one, and only one new full length animated feature per year. By releasing just one new movie per year the company will be able to restore the prestige of Disney Animation to its full length animated features. The average family will actually look forward to seeing a Disney movie as it once did. The market for animated movies is currently flooded and has had a negative direct result on Disney films such as Treasure Planet and Brother Bear. Both were quality movies with good stories that good lost in the sea of family movies available at the time of their respective releases.
In terms of traditional animation vs. computer generated, the company should use which ever form best suites the individual story, this isn’t an all or nothing situation. For example, IMHO I can’t see movies like Lilo & Stitch or Brother Bear as computer generated films or Toy Story as a traditionally animated movie. I believe that there is a use for both forms when used with the right story. As for sequels, if there is a good story and there is room to further develop the characters then go for it. But don’t just repackage the same movie, slap a 2 on the end of the title and sell it as all new, like Little Mermaid II or Jungle Book II. But again, the sequels should only be produced by Feature Animation and should be released to the theaters not direct to video.
Finally, what to do with the 43 full length animated feature movies that are already in the vault? Well in terms of theatrical presentation, what if the company returned to showing one of the moves at the theater each year as it did for years? Going to the movies is still a big event for the family, an opportunity that the company is currently missing out on. As for DVD, only 4 of the full length animated features have NOT been released on DVD over the last 4 years. Anyone out there remember the days when these movies would only be released once ever 8 to 12 years on video? Unfortunately the company has already earned the profits on almost the whole catalog by releasing these movies over a very short period of time. Take the remaining 4 titles and release one each year for the next four years along with the single new theatrical release from each of the four coming years. That would bring us to 2008 when the company should begin to re-release 2 or 3 of the movies that were released in 2000. Spread out the rest of the catalog from 2009 to 2021 averaging 4 releases per year. Here again, your creating a big demand for a quality product.
In all cases, only ‘quality’ stories that have memorable characters that the audience can identify with should be released regardless of its distribution be it by TV, direct to video or theatrically. Oh and one more thing, for the love of Pete, please, please, please bring back ‘quality’ sound tracks to the full length animated feature, the last IMHO was Hercules. Speaking of which, anyone else out there willing to pay a few bucks to see a Broadway adaptation of Hercules?
This thread is not intended to be a bash Disney or Eisner thread; there are plenty of those available already! But rather I simply wanted to point out where Disney is falling short in its animation studios and some suggestions on how to fix it. And now I’m looking for your thoughts on what I’ve presented as well as any thoughts you may have on how to improve things in this area of the company. Oh and in live action, Pirates 2 is coming in 2005 and Pirates 3 in 2006.
There were a few things that strike me as odd and I definitely question the company’s commitment to quality. Regarding the savings in Feature Animation, it’s a known fact that the Orlando studios were already producing movies at a lower cost than the Burbank studios have been able to. If cost was the only concern, Feature Animation should now be located in Orlando and not Burbank. If Disney is dedicated to quality then why do they continue to produce full length features such as Atlantis and full length feature sequels such as Jungle Book II with poor story lines? Why are classic full length animated features made into sequels with sub par animation? Does anyone remember the days when the only sequel to a Disney full length animated feature was Rescuers Down Under? Heck, two of the sequels to be released this year already have a squeal in Lilo & Stitch and Tarzan so now we’re getting sequels on top of sequels!
If the company is as dedicated to quality as it claims to be, I would submit that the following suggestions should be adopted. Television Animation should only be used for the actual animated television shows and the direct to video movies based on those shows such as Recess, Teachers Pet, Kim Possible and The Prod Family. By producing these as direct to video movies only, the company can continue to make large profits from low cost production DVD’s without lowering the quality of the Feature Animation catalog.
Feature Animation should release one, and only one new full length animated feature per year. By releasing just one new movie per year the company will be able to restore the prestige of Disney Animation to its full length animated features. The average family will actually look forward to seeing a Disney movie as it once did. The market for animated movies is currently flooded and has had a negative direct result on Disney films such as Treasure Planet and Brother Bear. Both were quality movies with good stories that good lost in the sea of family movies available at the time of their respective releases.
In terms of traditional animation vs. computer generated, the company should use which ever form best suites the individual story, this isn’t an all or nothing situation. For example, IMHO I can’t see movies like Lilo & Stitch or Brother Bear as computer generated films or Toy Story as a traditionally animated movie. I believe that there is a use for both forms when used with the right story. As for sequels, if there is a good story and there is room to further develop the characters then go for it. But don’t just repackage the same movie, slap a 2 on the end of the title and sell it as all new, like Little Mermaid II or Jungle Book II. But again, the sequels should only be produced by Feature Animation and should be released to the theaters not direct to video.
Finally, what to do with the 43 full length animated feature movies that are already in the vault? Well in terms of theatrical presentation, what if the company returned to showing one of the moves at the theater each year as it did for years? Going to the movies is still a big event for the family, an opportunity that the company is currently missing out on. As for DVD, only 4 of the full length animated features have NOT been released on DVD over the last 4 years. Anyone out there remember the days when these movies would only be released once ever 8 to 12 years on video? Unfortunately the company has already earned the profits on almost the whole catalog by releasing these movies over a very short period of time. Take the remaining 4 titles and release one each year for the next four years along with the single new theatrical release from each of the four coming years. That would bring us to 2008 when the company should begin to re-release 2 or 3 of the movies that were released in 2000. Spread out the rest of the catalog from 2009 to 2021 averaging 4 releases per year. Here again, your creating a big demand for a quality product.
In all cases, only ‘quality’ stories that have memorable characters that the audience can identify with should be released regardless of its distribution be it by TV, direct to video or theatrically. Oh and one more thing, for the love of Pete, please, please, please bring back ‘quality’ sound tracks to the full length animated feature, the last IMHO was Hercules. Speaking of which, anyone else out there willing to pay a few bucks to see a Broadway adaptation of Hercules?
This thread is not intended to be a bash Disney or Eisner thread; there are plenty of those available already! But rather I simply wanted to point out where Disney is falling short in its animation studios and some suggestions on how to fix it. And now I’m looking for your thoughts on what I’ve presented as well as any thoughts you may have on how to improve things in this area of the company. Oh and in live action, Pirates 2 is coming in 2005 and Pirates 3 in 2006.
