Disney/Roald Dahl's Gremlins available again after 63 years

ichabod · Post by **ichabod** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:06 am

I'm sure most of you know that Disney and Roald Dahl attempted to make an animated film in the 1940s about the 'Gremlins' based upon creatures that wrecked air planes during the war. Well for one reason or another the film never worked, but the story was released as a book in 1943.

However that was the only time it was ever published, but now Dark Horse publishing have released it after 63 years!

So a story by Roald Dahl, originally conceptualised as a Walt Disney Animated feature, with cover art by Mary Blair, foreword by Leonard Maltin and illustrations by Disney legends Bill Justice and Al Dempster, who could say 'no'!

Check out Dark Horse's website for a 13 pager preview: http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/previe ... eid=10-665

Also it's not just the book that getting a revival, so are the characters! There will be action figures and comic books, check the interview below for a fascinating read! With pictures of the moulds for the figures.

interview: http://www.darkhorse.com/news/interviews.php?id=1354

get over to Amazon and preorder a copy!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... /ref=nosim

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:36 am

That news is just TOO COOL! I've always wanted some "Disney's Gremlins" stuff!

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:56 am

The characters did however get published in Disney Comics of the time. There's a Gremlins strip in Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Comics book.

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:51 am

This book could be a "must-buy"!

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:31 am

2099net wrote:The characters did however get published in Disney Comics of the time. There's a Gremlins strip in Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Comics book.

I have that book, it's really fantastic. Yes, the character with his own strip is Gus Gremlin. I've been reading his (usually one page) comics for years. It looked like one of those figures they were making in one of those pictures might have been Gus!

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:38 am

I wonder if an animated film might be in the plan, though probably only if THIS stuff sells. I wouldn't be surprised to see one direct to video, probably in CGI.

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:02 am

So if there's public interest, might they start looking into a film project again?

-Aaron

James · Post by **James** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:22 am

Wow, didn't see this coming. Sounds like a direct to video movies could be in the offing, as people have said. I'm surprised that action figures and stuff are in the works, because I doubt that they'll sell well. I don't think that little kids would want gremlins as toys. That's kind of been done, with the 80s movie and everything. But then again I could be wrong. Hope that they actually make the movie, wouldn't mind checking it out.
-James

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:30 am

Well, these aren't quite the same sort of "Gremlins", are they...?

BlueDevilSF · Post by **BlueDevilSF** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:15 am

This reminds me of a Bugs Bunny wartime-era cartoon where he battles a gremlin that looks quite a bit like this one. It was hysterical and probably my favorite Bugs 'toon.

I'll have to check this book out; I had no prior knowledge of this, but it looks great.

ichabod · Post by **ichabod** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:19 am

BlueDevilSF wrote:This reminds me of a Bugs Bunny wartime-era cartoon where he battles a gremlin that looks quite a bit like this one. It was hysterical and probably my favorite Bugs 'toon.

That Bugs Bunny cartoon called 'Falling Hare' is actually a parody of this book.

During the 40s The Gremlins did have some popularity despite the film never being made thanks to books, comic books and merchandise of the time.

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:20 am

A short about "Gremlins from the Kremlin" springs to mind...

Elladorine · Post by **Elladorine** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:12 am

Wow, this is amazing news!!!! I'm a huge Disney/Roald Dahl/Mary Blair fan and I've always wanted to read that story. I did see a single-page comic repinted in WDC&S several years back, which was drawn by Walt Kelly. I used to wonder if the character was at all an influence to Jeff Smith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_%28comics%29 but from this article it says that he was inspired by Walt Kelly regardless.

I remember reading that Gremlins became quite the fad (even a type of ladies hat was named after them) and perhaps part of the reason it was never made was that Walt saw the fad was dying.

I also read that "Falling Hair" was originally supposed to be called "Gremlins fom the Kremlin" but Disney asked them to change their title since their Gemlins film was still in [pre?]poduction.

I'll always have a fascination for the WWII cartoons from Disney and Warner Bos. and I'm gonna be totally blown away if this builds up to something more. Perhaps Disney is considering Dahl's recent boost of popularity?

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:18 am

enigmawing wrote:Perhaps Disney is considering Dahl's recent boost of popularity?

Has he had one? I love Dahl, so that would be great. I haven't noticed.

-Aaron

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:21 am

I ordered my copy from amazon last night(through the site of course). I can't wait for it to come. I felt like I had seen these characters animated before, but couldn't place it. I must have seen the Bugs Bunny short mentioned. This is so exciting. I just watched "On the Front Lines" and am in the mood for more Disney war era stuff. I also LOVE Roald Dahl and the art of Mary Blaire, so I'm very excited for this book.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:23 pm

Ok. My copy of "The Gremlins" arrived yesterday from Amazon.com(through the site) along with the "Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Comics" collection and "Remembering Walt." I have fully read "The Gremlins." What an interesting piece of Diseny history. Leonard Maltin gives a great introduction which offers information on the author, Roald Dahl, how the unmade movie never came to be made, and where the idea for gremilins probably originated. I'm going to sum up the history of the book, because I found it all the more interesting after I knew about it. Gremlins weren't created by Roald Dahl or Walt Disney, but were a product at least of WW2, possibly WW1. The stories originated in Brittain and they were said to be little monsters with horns that sabatoge planes. Roald Dahl, who was a pilot in WW2 and had down time due to an ingery, concocted a story about the creatures and was going to attempt to have it published, when a friend of his introduced him to Walt Disney. Walt fell in love with the idea and invited Dahl to the studio. They signed an agreement and production started on the film. However, every other animation studio in Hollywood found out and tried to beat Disney to the punch by making their own gremlin film. Roy was able to talk all of them out of it except for Warner Bros, who had already almost completed two Bugs Bunny shorts featuring the characters. An agreement was made and the titles of the shorts were changed and no mention of the creatures being gremlins was given. However, after $50,000 worth of concept art and story development, Walt decided that America had been flooded with war related films, especially from his studio, and decided to scrap the project to work on non war related material. However, a book had been made to gain anticipation for the upcoming film and this is that book.

While reading it, I found it hard to see this as a classic animated feature. The book has 1 picture with a nazi plane in the background complete with schwastica (spelling probably wrong). Since the Gremlins inevitably join the human race in the war effort, I'm sure that Nazi planes would have been featured in the film, as well as Hitler references, or possibly Hitler actually being in the film. It was originally designed to be all live action, and the Gremlins would be animated. It was then turned into full live action, so it would have been a full length feature. I can't help but feel that if this film had been made, that it would suffer the same fate as "Song of the South." I highly doubt parents would want their kids watching cartoons with Hitler and nazi's in it. However, this was a very interesting book and I'm very glad that Dark Horse decided to re-release it. I highly reccomend it.

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:52 pm

Thanks for the great historical info! I know I had read or heard about all that before, but I can't recall where. I didn't know the film was going to be live-action though! Wow, that would have been interesting. If this new outting of Disney's Gremlins does turn into a film though, I do suspect they would make it computer animated and probably direct to video.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:46 pm

I agree that it would be direct to video, but I would hope Disney would do it traditionally animated. Especially since, at the moment, Disney Toon Studios' productions are almost always hand drawn. From looking at the art in the book, I can't see it as a CG film. However, I also suspect that if a movie were to be made, that the characters would remeain the same mischeivous cute beings from the book, but my suspicions are that there would be a now story. I just can't see Disney tackling a WW2 era direct to video movie about creatures that sabatoge plaines and help the U.S. and U.K. win the war. However, the book does contain the lore of Gremlins, about how they lived in a forest in Northern England and how man paved over it to build an airport, so they seek revenge on the "silver birds." I could see a film being made about that. The Gremlins live in peace in a beautiful forest until man destroys it, so they take revenge on man by sabatoging plans, ultimately residing in peace. By the way, when I say sabatoging, the Gremlins in the book NEVER killed a man. They would force them into landing by cutting holes in their wings or cause them to run out of gas, but no men died. Anyways, I'm not so sure it would work well as a film today, so I have mixed feelings about it being made now. But I can't really say anything until a movie is made and then I guess I can judge it when I see it.

MikeyMouse · Post by **MikeyMouse** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:42 am

goofystitch wrote:I ordered my copy from amazon last night(through the site of course). I can't wait for it to come. I felt like I had seen these characters animated before, but couldn't place it. I must have seen the Bugs Bunny short mentioned. This is so exciting. I just watched "On the Front Lines" and am in the mood for more Disney war era stuff. I also LOVE Roald Dahl and the art of Mary Blaire, so I'm very excited for this book.

Agreed. I kinda think I've seen these characters before, but I can't figure out where/when. Anyway, I'm very intrigued by the book and will most likely buy a copy. The figure mock-ups look neat, as well!

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:30 pm

goofystitch wrote:I agree that it would be direct to video, but I would hope Disney would do it traditionally animated. Especially since, at the moment, Disney Toon Studios' productions are almost always hand drawn. From looking at the art in the book, I can't see it as a CG film. However, I also suspect that if a movie were to be made, that the characters would remeain the same mischeivous cute beings from the book, but my suspicions are that there would be a now story. I just can't see Disney tackling a WW2 era direct to video movie about creatures that sabatoge plaines and help the U.S. and U.K. win the war. However, the book does contain the lore of Gremlins, about how they lived in a forest in Northern England and how man paved over it to build an airport, so they seek revenge on the "silver birds." I could see a film being made about that. The Gremlins live in peace in a beautiful forest until man destroys it, so they take revenge on man by sabatoging plans, ultimately residing in peace. By the way, when I say sabatoging, the Gremlins in the book NEVER killed a man. They would force them into landing by cutting holes in their wings or cause them to run out of gas, but no men died. Anyways, I'm not so sure it would work well as a film today, so I have mixed feelings about it being made now. But I can't really say anything until a movie is made and then I guess I can judge it when I see it.

No doubt, I would prefer it to be traditionally animated as well, but I could easily see them doing just about anything in computer animation at this point, and it seems that the folks making animated films feel the same way. I mean, there are Care Bears, Popeye, and Inspector Gadget computer animated movies now. It's weird. And now comes Tinkerbell?

I imagine if they did do a film, that it would include the lore of the creatures as well as the World War 2 stuff. I can't imagine a Disney's Gremlins movie that wasn't set during WW2. Movies about World War 2 are still made today, and even animated movies sometimes (Return to Neverland). It will always be great movie material because it's definitely one of history's best examples of good vs. evil (in a general sense). While I'm sure many people don't care for war movies (even I don't care for post WW2 ones), Plenty of folks do. However, just because the film is set during WW2 doesn't mean the war has to be the focus of the plot. It could merely be the setting. A new story could be written, but it should definitely be set during WW2. I'm reminded of the scene in the film "Heavy Metal," where the bomber pilot's plane is taken over by zombies and he has to crash land on an island, only to find the island is populated by zombies. My point is, here was a story (brief as it was), that was set during WW2 and involved pilots in the war, but didn't focus on Nazis and fighting and stuff. They could come up with something, but I'd be very disappointed if it wasn't at least SET in World War 2. I just don't think a different setting would be appropriate.

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Disney/Roald Dahl's Gremlins available again after 63 years

Disney/Roald Dahl's Gremlins available again after 63 years