"The Snow Queen" concepts arts by Herald Sieperman

[Gnomeo]

Wow. That sounds quite legit!

Could this be the hand-drawn animated feature to follow King of the Elves?

I don't know... i suppose will be directed by Mike Gabriel or Dean Wellins.


Here a draw of Gerda by siepermann:

[Neal]

I am sending off some e-mails to see what I can dig up!

[PatrickvD]

okay so. Last time I read an update on The Animation Guild Blog, Disney's animators were complaining that their pipeline was so empty compared to other studios like Dreamworks.

Now, they have Rapunzel, King of the Elves, Winnie the Pooh, The Snow Queen? Also, supposedly, production on their next handdrawn film wouldn't start for another 4 months. But suddenly reports of all these new films. Not to mention the numerous shorts.

What's happening in the hat building?

[Jules]

Well, they certainly should be busy now! Though, come to think of it, there was nothing particularly empty about the pipeline even before the updates. They still had to wrap up Princess and the Frog, and work at warp-speed on Rapunzel (which they have to complete in 1.5 years ... and there's still loads of work of work to be done) and King of the Elves.

By the way, I emailed Jerry Beck re The Snow Queen and he seemed quite excited!

[Neal]

Something wonderful, it would seem, is happening beneath that big blue hat!

Also, Julian, could you please post Mr. Beck's response? I'd like to see it! (Especially after he was so negative that Disney's 2nd 2D film of their 'return' was a Pooh sequel.

There slate now seems packed:

Theatrical Feature Films:
2009 – "The Princess and the Frog"
2010 – "Rapunzel"
2011 –"Winnie the Pooh"
2012 – "King of the Elves"
2013 – "The Snow Queen"

Theatrical Shorts:
2009 – "Tic Tock"
2010 – "The Ballad of Nessie"

Featurettes:
2009 – "Prep and Landing"

Also, presumably, there will be a short made for the "The Princess and the Frog" DVD/Blu-ray, as well as theatrical shorts made to premiere before "Winnie the Pooh", "King of the Elves", and "The Snow Queen".

Haha, I liked how "King of the Elves" is followed by "The Snow Queen".

Every film listed here is confirmed by Disney directly except for "The Snow Queen"!

[Neal]

Oh, and if anyone doubted the legitimacy of Gnomeo's art postings (as I did until a moment ago), I found proof that they are real!

They are actually from Harald Siepermann's blog!

(Gnomeo, you are really doing yourself a disservice by not posting this link, it seemed like you were lying!)

Here's the link:

http://haraldsiepermann.blogspot.com/20 ... -post.html

[Jules]

Also, Julian, could you please post Mr. Beck's response? I'd like to see it! (Especially after he was so negative that Disney's 2nd 2D film of their 'return' was a Pooh sequel.

Well ... it's just a short sentence, so I hope you won't be disappointed. First, here's the email I sent him:

Jerry, there's some very interesting information that's just surfaced. At the UltimateDisney.com forum, a user by the name of "Gnomeo" unearthed an interview with Alan Menken, posted today. It's in Italian, but in it Mr. Menken clearly states that he's currently working on the music for two animated features - Rapunzel and The Snow Queen.

Here is the link: http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSez ... girata.asp

And this is the quote:

"Nel suo futuro ancora Disney?

«Ancora. Sto preparando le colonne sonore di due cartoon, Rapunzel e Snow Queen, e di un film musicale live tratto da La bella e la bestia. Contemporaneamente sto anche lavorando a un musical che debutterà nell autunno 2010, Leap of Faith»."

Which translates to:

"Will there be more Disney projects for you in the future?

«Yes, again. I'm working on the soundtrack of two animated features - 'Rapunzel' and 'The Snow Queen' - as well as the live-action musical adaptation of 'Beauty and the Beast'. I'm also wroking on a musical that will debut in Autumn 2010, entitled 'Leap of Faith'»."

So ... what do you think? The forum member "Gnomeo" had previously claimed that 'The Snow Queen' was soon to go in production at Walt Disney Animation Studios, but he didn't have substantial evidence to back up his claims and everyone (including myself) was sceptical. But now, this seems to be quite legitimate!

Thank you for your time!

Julian Carter

And the reply I got back:

THE SNOW QUEEN has been rumored for years. Perhaps it's happening! Thanks for the tip.

[Neal]

Ah, not too exciting! Thanks, though!

[PatrickvD]

Alan Menken is doing some promotional rounds in Holland, where he will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 10th annual Musical awards.

I'm going to keep up and see if he lets anything slip about Snow Queen in possible interviews. I doubt it though. For now he'll probaply only mention Rapunzel.

Snow Queen seems like it's been off and on for years now. So if concept art surfaces that doesn't automatically mean it's back on. I can only imagine how much concept art from various artists is actually out there.

But Menken's supposed confirmation he's writing songs for it sounds like a legitimate lead on the never ending case of Snow Queen.

Fingers crossed.

[blackcauldron85]

I think we need a fainting emoticon. I am so excited!!!

I wonder how much of the film has been re-worked since the last time they were working on it. This was one of the films that I was the most excited about (in addition to Fraidy Cat, mostly, I guess), that had been started at Disney but had been stopped. Remember, Glen Keane stopped working on The Snow Queen to work on Rapunzel. I can't wait to learn more about this!

[Neal]

PatrickvD - I didn't mean to imply the concept art was a confirmation. Simply, we (you and I and others) doubted the art Gnomeo initally posted was real. I was defending him and proving it was - but it is old concept art, I know that.

[Neal]

I updated my blog with all the information I could find (without getting so boring it was unreadable)!

Read here.

[yukitora]

the russian animated film is pretty amazing. i wonder how this would match up to it. i hope they don't go all 'modern' in this tale.

[jotaabs]

Is this going to be a theatrical release? After King of the Elves?

Anyway, concept art looks much like Phantasy Star Online character FOmarl...

[Super Aurora]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_VBhCWRP4MM8/SGp ... queen2.jpg

http://bp2.blogger.com/_VBhCWRP4MM8/SGp ... queen1.jpg

These two are my favorite version of his Snow Queen sketches. If the movie is forwarded I hope they go with something like those two.

[nomad2010]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_VBhCWRP4MM8/SGp ... queen2.jpg

http://bp2.blogger.com/_VBhCWRP4MM8/SGp ... queen1.jpg

These two are my favorite version of his Snow Queen sketches. If the movie is forwarded I hope they go with something like those two.

i love those but to be honest... i think it's a little too white witch from narnia. i want to see her be this sexy yet sinister looking female. something ala the queen from snow white.. thin pretty but evil all in the same. and something very creative for the outfit.. nothing.. cliche.

[blackcauldron85]

i love those but to be honest... i think it's a little too white witch from narnia...i want... nothing.. cliche.

Those are my thoughts, too. I mean, concept art can and will change, so chances are she won't look exactly like the concept art in the finished film.

[Neal]

I thought White Witch right away, as well!

[Super Aurora]

I too thought White Witch but isn't White Witch actually based on the Snow Queen to begin with?

Reason I like those two concept art is cause

1. The snow queen, from reading the original story myself, wasn't made out as evil and gruesome like Grimm's Snow White's witch or any other Disney villain(hell nothing happens to her in the story if I remember correctly).

So I would if she is going to be portrayed as a villain take the route of non stereotyped evil villain look that the Queen, Malificant, Jafar, etc have. The all have the arched eyebrow and thin shape and form with colored eyelids.


2. I like the costume: It gives her this regal and powerful presence but yet a soft and sincere demure. A bit elegant pose.

[schoollover]

If the snow queen is made in 2013 in 2d then from 2008 to 2013 they are having 6 animated films, one for each year.

Here's how it could go down,

2008- Bolt- CGI
2009- The Princess And The Frog- 2D
2010- Rapunzel- CGI
2011- Winnie The Pooh 2- 2D
2012- King Of The Elves- CGI
2013- Snow Queen- 2D

It goes every year CGI,2D,CGI,2D

This with Pixar's film every year, plus live action disney films, and the probable decline of drramworks animation due to too many sequels, disney and pixar could dominate while dreamworks becomes like disney pre Lilo and Stich. Very good disney.