Disney Back to 2D with "The Frog Princess"

[Pasta67]

Ron and John are back at Disney?!

*Sky opens, angels emerge from the clouds, a brilliant light shimmers down towards the Earth, and hundreds of flowers pop out of the groud while singing the Three's Company theme song*

Best. News. All. Month.

Ron & John are my favorite directors at Disney, and some of the best directors in animated cinema in general. In my opinion, the two of them are the PIXAR of Disney directors; they've never made a movie that wasn't good. With them on board, in addition to Alan Menken, hand-drawn animation's return, Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios, and John Lassiter & Don Hahn as supervisors, I honestly don't see how this movie can possibly be bad.

Although, I'm afraid that all of this news of new/cancelled projects has me a bit confused. We know that Meet the Robinsons is coming out next year, but what's after that? Enchanted? Rapunzel Unbraided? I'm usually not this "out of it", but I really haven't been keeping track.

[Luke]

Although, I'm afraid that all of this news of new/cancelled projects has me a bit confused. We know that Meet the Robinsons is coming out next year, but what's after that? Enchanted? Rapunzel Unbraided? I'm usually not this "out of it", but I really haven't been keeping track.

<i>Enchanted</i> is still on track for release next November, which it should make, as only a portion of it is animated. <i>Rapunzel</i> feels like it's always been far off - but I guess a 2009 release is conceivable for that. Pixar is supposed to be on a 1-a-year schedule now too, so they'll have <i>Ratatouille</i> next June and something else each summer (or fall, if they go back to their old preferred window) henceforth.

[Jules]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this year, 2006, is the first year not to see a Disney animated feature since 1993.

Strictly speaking I saw a Disney film this year; Chicken Little, as it was released last February in Malta.

In fact, in my country, 2005 was the non-Disney film year.

[Kram Nebuer]

OOPS ! I should've peeked before I posted. I accidentally bumped an old thread since I thought that was the only one about the Frog Princess. Stupid Kram didn't use the search button...

Anyhow, YAY! 2-D Animation! Yay!!!

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this year, 2006, is the first year not to see a Disney animated feature since 1993.

I'm guessing we're supposed to pretend it's The Wild or Cars as regular people probably think so. But I know what you mean. That is creepy!

ETA: I just realized why it is going to be a female version of The Frog Prince. The Frog Princess will just be another character to add to the oh so popular, high and mighty Disney Princess Line-Up.

[Wonderlicious]

IMDb News has an article up about this. It mentions that it'll be based on a Russian fairy tale like I speculated (though knowing IMDb, this should be taken with a grain of salt) and since UD is often used as a source of reference, have I inspired some IMDb article writer?

Although, I'm afraid that all of this news of new/cancelled projects has me a bit confused. We know that Meet the Robinsons is coming out next year, but what's after that? Enchanted? Rapunzel Unbraided? I'm usually not this "out of it", but I really haven't been keeping track.

Using the Wonderlicious Disney tracker, here's what we know about so far (though The Frog Princess is said to be ready for 2008 on IMDb, considering how long it takes to make a 2D feature film, I highly doubt that we'll be seeing it in 2008, probably in 2010 instead)...

March 2007: Meet the Robinsons
June 2007: Ratatouille
November 2007: Enchanted
2008: American Dog
2008: Gnomeo and Juliet (through Miramax)
2009: Rapunzel Unbraided (if they'd just take the "Unbraided" out of the bloody title )

[TheSequelOfDisney]

2008: Gnomeo and Juliet (through Miramax)

So Gnomeo and Juliet is still on?! I wondered if it was going to be a movie or not, because I didn't know if it was cancelled.

[Jules]

2008: Gnomeo and Juliet (through Miramax)

So Gnomeo and Juliet is still on?! I wondered if it was going to be a movie or not, because I didn't know if it was cancelled.

Will it be animated? I'm getting confused? ?:?:?

[Elladorine]

I knew it would come around again. . . but does this mean they'll have to rebuild the studio? The idiots went and lost most of their 2-D animators when they were closing that department down.

[Mr. Toad]

2009: Rapunzel Unbraided (if they'd just take the "Unbraided" out of the bloody title )

I thought they did take it out.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Don't forget Toy Story 3 is also scheduled for 2008.

Though something tells me, if they really do make it, they'll delay it at least 1 year.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Interesting, particularly since it wasn't that long ago traditional animation was abandoned, apparently. If it won't come until 2012, that's a good thing, I'd say - then there should be time to do the job right. Come on, Disney, impress me, please.

[Gurgi30]

I read on one of the numerous Disney news sites that John Lassiter is offering the directors of whichever movies are getting the green light the chance to choose between CGI and 2-D. He wants to leave it up to the directors and allow them the freedom to do the movie in whatever format they believe it will be better in. Besides the Frog Princess, there was another movie that was greenlighted and given the choice, but work had already been done in CGI so the director decided to keep it that way.

I think this is a great decision and hopefully Disney will have a great mix of both CGI and 2-D to come in the future.

[musicradio77]

I'm so glad to see 2D coming back. The last 2D animated feature was "Home on the Range" in 2004. Both "Chicken Little" and "The Wild" are just 3D animation, but why bothered to bring 2D back. I always love 2D animated Disney films from "Snow White" to "Home on the Range".

[Ting Ting]

I'm looking forward to it!

[DisneyChris]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this year, 2006, is the first year not to see a Disney animated feature since 1993.

You can say this year is the first year not to see a Disney Animated Classic since 1993. Because direct-to-video films are also called Disney animated features.

[ichabod]

Looks as though the project has been officially greenlit:

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... isney.html

[Disney-Fan]

All I can say is WOOT!.
I'd settle for Alen Menken's return. I'd settle for Ron and John's return. I'd settle for going back to traditional animation, I'd settle for just another fairy tale adaptation! But to get 'em all?! YAY! Colour me excited. Can't believe I haven't responded here yet.

[Jules]

All I can say is WOOT!.
I'd settle for Alen Menken's return. I'd settle for Ron and John's return. I'd settle for going back to traditional animation, I'd settle for just another fairy tale adaptation! But to get 'em all?! YAY! Colour me excited. Can't believe I haven't responded here yet.

Same here!

[kbehm29]

It's about time. REALLY Can't Wait for this one!

[Dottie]

Awesome!! Another era is about to start!! (hopefully)