Writers Tapped for Disney's Animated Rapunzel

[MickeyMoose15]

Writers Tapped for Disney's Animated Rapunzel
Wednesday, April 30, 2003 12:15 CDT

Sibling scribes Adam and Melanie Wilson have been hired to write the animated adaptation of Rapunzel for Walt Disney Feature Animation, says Variety. The movie is intended as an all-CGI production.

The Wilsons also wrote the spec Evergone, a dramatic fantasy about a boy's journey into the Bermuda Triangle in hopes of finding his long-lost father.

Melanie Wilson is a former unit publicist, while Adam Wilson worked in production at MTV and VH1.

From Comingsoon.net

 

[trekkie]

Yes! If done right, this sounds like it could be very good for Disney (Especially since DINOSAUR, TP & ATLANTIS have all under-performed, and Pixar is gonna ditch Eisner soon).

 

[MickeyMoose15]

Wrong.

Pixar and Disney are almost ready announce a newl deal signed between the two.

 

[trekkie]

Really? I must've missed that. Was it just announced?

I wonder what the agreements are. Wasn't Pixar previously angry at Disney for not treating them fairly?

 

[prberk]

Originally posted by trekkie
Wasn't Pixar previously angry at Disney for not treating them fairly?

This is often a public move that pushes the "other side" to sweeten the deal. It simply gives leverage for a better deal. It doesn't really mean they want out.

I think Pixar stills wants to work with Disney, just with the best terms that they can get. They benefit from the rest of the Disney universe (parks, stores, easy merchandising tie-ins with other Disney merchants....)

 

[prberk]

As for this project, though, I am not sure that a story like Rapunzel is best suited for CGI (although it depends on the look). It sounds more to me like the pure result of the new animation chief's push for digital no matter what.

Lilo and Stitch should have reminded everyone that cel animation was still wonderful and marketable, especially with the right story. It has more subtlety than most CGI.

They still need to go back to the well-done musical and comedy format that worked so well for Beauty, Lion King, Little Mermaid, and Aladdin.

And I hope MTV and VH-1 were not his only "major" qualifications!

 

[trekkie]

A few years ago, I heard that Alan Menken was writing a score for some new Disney feature. I wonder what happened with that.

Aside fro ANASTASIA, I cannot remember any recent theatrical good cartoon musicals. The music to ROAD TO EL DORADO is good, but the film itself is boring. And PRINCE OF EGYPT has good music & awesome animation, but I feel the movie as a whole is kind of blah.