Beauty and the Beast gets 3-D makeover

[blackcauldron85]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111799 ... id=13&cs=1
(via http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... drawn.html )

'Beauty' gets 3-D makeover
Disney film to be released in 2010
By MARC GRASER

The Mouse House is adding "Beauty and the Beast" to its already packed dance card of 3-D pics it will unspool over the next two years.
Disney is re-rendering "Beast" using its Disney Digital 3-D technology, and will release the film in 2010. A specific release date has yet been set.

Pic's original team of filmmakers, including producer Don Hahn and co-directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale will oversee the process, along with Sara Duran-Singer, senior VP of worldwide post production at Walt Disney Feature Animation.

The re-rendering is expected to take about nine months to complete.

"By going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and unique 3-D experience for existing and new fans of the film," Hahn said.

Studio's release sked already includes 10 other films bowing in 2009 and 2010 -- more than any other studio. It's bowing the 3-D version of "Bolt" this weekend.

Next year's slate includes the "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie," Pixar's "Up," Jerry Bruckheimer's "G-Force," and Robert Zemeckis' "Disney's A Christmas Carol."

In 2010, the sked includes Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," "Toy Story 3," "Rapunzel," and "Step Up 3."

Disney is also re-rendering "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" in the 3-D format to bow in 2009 and 2010.

First off, why doesn't the article mention The Princess and the Frog???!!!??? When I was reading the article, I was wondering if this means that TP&tF will also be in Disney Digital 3D, since didn't Disney mention that all their animated features will be in Disney Digital 3D from now on? And weren't people unsure if whether or not TP&tF (and other forthcoming traditionally-animated films) was included?

I didn't see the IMAX rerelease of B&tB, and I don't know if I'll see the 3D rerelease of B&tB. Just like I don't know if I'll see the "Toy Story" films when they get their 3D rereleases. I'm more likely to see B&tB, though.

I just have never seen any Disney movie in the theater that I already have on VHS or DVD...It would be very cool to see on the big screen again, absolutely. Movies in Disney Digital 3D do cost more, though...at least $3, I think.

I think that it's interesting that Disney is rereleasing B&tB is 3D, but I kind of wonder why. Are they testing out the technology to see if a traditionally-animated film can utilize Disney Digital 3D? TP&tF comes out next year, so I wonder if maybe that film won't use Disney Digital 3D, and the success (both technological and monetary) of B&tB will determine if other traditionally animated films (both new and old?) will have the Disney Digital 3D treatment.

[yukitora]

Although I know they existed back in the 50s (or maybe earlier), I've personally never seen a 2D animated film in 3D, and so I'm not to sure if it is a good decision.

I don't mind converting CGI films and stop motion films into 3D, but this I might... I don't want them to ruin my childhood memories by gimmicky ideas like this.

[BrandonH]

Didn't Disney already try something like this with The Nightmare Before Christmas? Obviously, Beauty and the Beast will attract a bigger crowd, but I can't imagine it will look too different.

I'm not sure what to think about these rereleases of 2D movies into 3D. I enjoy the immersive nature of the Disney Digital 3D process used on Chicken Little and Meet the Robinsons, and I make sure to see the new films at least once in 3D to show my support. I'm just not seeing the point of making 2D movies into 3D. I would rather they spent their resources on new movies, 3D or not.

[ichabod]

My God! So they've finally got round to doing this! Took them long enough.

They were originally going to do this to Dumbo back in about 2005. Those plans seemed to be shelved. Then obviously Chicken Little came along in 3D and instead of a traditionally animated film, they instead gave the 3D makeover to The Nightmare Before Christmas. Obviously since 3D has taken off in a big way, I'm not surprised.

Also since theatrical re-releases don't happen that often these days because of DVD it's not often you get to relive Disney classics in the theatre. I assume this is to coincide with the platinum DVD. And who knows it may bring the film to a whole new audience.

Can't really see why anyone would be against it.

[Jack Skellington]

Wow this is wonderful news, I wonder what that would be like.

If this would be succesful, then I'd bet they'd do that to Aladdin, and The Lion King, maybe even TLM.

I just hope they release them here. Sadly I haven't seen TNBC on 3D.

[Disney Duster]

Amy, this is such big news I really think this should be in a thread of it's own!

CJ...what do you think? Would you move it?

BrandonH, and EVERYONE I guess, they are, for the first time, able to use (from what it sounds) the characters seperate from the effects seperate from the backgrounds in an old film to make it truer to 3D, wholly or completely in 3D, or just better at being 3D.

I agree with Iccy on this one this time, with everything he said. 'Cept I didn't know about Dumbo! I will be very glad to see Beauty and the Beast or any Disney animated film in 3D!

[akhenaten]

a 3d version of BATB with the imax colors will blind anyone who see it. i personally cant wait for FANTASIA to be in 3d..thatll be a spectacle.

when they say having the original background and digital files..does this mean...they still have the workfiles for all CAPS disney films? in layers like in photoshop?

[Jules]

when they say having the original background and digital files..does this mean...they still have the workfiles for all CAPS disney films? in layers like in photoshop?

Of course! Goodness Mehmet ... did you think they'd chuck all the original digital files away!?

[akhenaten]

i just assumed they ran on an old comp system..and to keep each sequence's work files would occupy millions of gigabytes. if that is indeed true..i wonder if any of the animators ever tinkered with them by putting pocahontas in the french village background or something

[Jack Skellington]

Actually Amy this deserves to be announced at the site's home page let alone have it's own thread.

[ichabod]

I agree with Iccy on this one this time, with everything he said. 'Cept I didn't know about Dumbo! I will be very glad to see Beauty and the Beast or any Disney animated film in 3D!

Go nuts:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 96&start=0



Also if it supposedly takes 9 months to complete the procedure, perhaps that's why Froggy isn't being done. Perhaps it's down to time constraints.

[Neal]

I thought The Steadfast Tin Soldier segment of Fantasia 2000 was 2D painting and art with 3D layering. Or am I wrong.

If it was, I don't know if I like that look.

[Disney Duster]

THIS NEEDS TO BE FRONT PAGE AND HAVE A THREAD TO ITSELF!

Julian, Akhenaten, it's rather sad that the older films got some of their cels sold off (not any backgrounds I think...I hope!), but the films done in the computer, all the new ones, get to have all their artwork saved! It's unfair!

Iccy, thank you, though the original article disappeared. You know, the flying would look cool in 3-D. But also, I wonder if I would start disliking the original 2D films after seeing them in 3-D...I might feel something's missing!!!

Neal, this film will not be made into 3D as in CGI. It will be given Disney Digital 3-D, where you put on glasses to watch it pop out at you.

And other reason I hate hand-drawn being called 2D and CGI being called 3D....

[Neal]

No, no I know the difference. I guess I was thinking they were hoping to give ... I don't know what I was thinking,

[blackcauldron85]

Mike, I used the search function! I did what I thought I was supposed to do!!! Albert won't yell at me now.

I also don't like it when CGI is referred to as "3D"...I'm sure I've probably called it that before, but I try not to...it irks me.

[Disneykid]

I think this is great news. It's going to attract a much wider audience in digital 3-D than it did on IMAX simply because many modern theaters are already equipped with this system. My nearest IMAX theater is about 40 minutes away, but my nearest theater with digital 3-D is only 15 minutes away (and is the theater I usually go to for normal features, anyway).

Based on the "Working for Peanuts" short that was played before Meet the Robinsons' 3-D presentation, hand-drawn animation can still be very effective in the format.

I've always wanted the chance to see classic Disney films on the big screen, and now the time's arrived. If Disney makes this a concurrent thing with each of their Platinums, I'll go and see every one of them. Let's see how successful Beauty and the Beast's run is. I hope it will be, if only for the chance to experience another certain Disney film rumored to become a Platinum in 2011...

[Disney Duster]

Yea, Amy...but I really think this is such BIG news...

Oh, and I call CGI 3D for ease and so others get what I mean easily, and to call it something different other than CGI every time. But...maybe I should stop unless I'm really referring to the dimensionalness of the mediums, in which case they still try to make hand-drawn 3-dimensional...

Disneykid, thanks for reminding me this may be for the Platinums! But then...why not start with Snow White? Or even Pinocchio? And why didn't Sleeping Beauty get it? All these beautiful, adventurous special effects-filled films would be terrific for the format.

I wonder if it'll only be the newer, digitally kept films after all, 'specially since they have all the artwork to work on seperately (to pop out more, and more in the ways they want). And come to think, the IMAX re-releases were only new digital films too!

[CJ]

I agree that this topic is deserving of its' own thread, so I have split the posts out of the old thread.

[Kendris]

I am not sure how successful this would be. I'm not sure that this film needs to be made in 3D but we will see how it'll do.

[Dottie]

Wow, I can't imagine how pretty BatB is gonna look in 3D with all the nice effects, especially in the "Be our guest" scene and the big fight for the castle.
This is amazing and seeing Beauty and the Beast back in theaters is a dream come true. I was 4 when I saw it in theaters, so this will certainly be an amazing experience. Thank you Disney!

So, I guess we can safely assume that BatB will definitely see a new Platinum Edition in 2010 and they will release this coinciding with the release of the new DVD?