They should release collector's boxsets every year.
Like, the first ten movies, all 2 discs and with slipcover inside a bigger boxset. Release the next 10 a year later etc etc.
OR....make it 5 movies and release one boxset every 6 months or so, with exclusive artwork and extra's, like art-cards or mini-posters replica's for each movie.
Ofcourse, sets would be available in DVD sets and Blu-Ray sets.
Your advice for Disney
-
Lazario
-
Wonderlicious
- Diamond Edition
- Posts: 4661
- Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:47 am
- Location: UK
- Contact:
-
Scarred4life
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1410
- Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:18 pm
Some of you read amazingly slow!Scarred4life wrote:Oh yes. Well worth the 15 minutes it took to read. And it pretty much covered everything else that I was going to say.
I agree soooooo much with Escapay, and I'm so glad he started with a lenghty bit about the working conditions in the Disney theme parks and third world sweatshops. It's something that gets sadly overlooked by Disney's fans, and people who mention it are branded as 'party-poopers', but it needs to be said over and over agan --until something changes. Actually, I feel bad that I contribute to Disney with every dvd or comic I buy. I'm a big fan of their animation, but I shouldn't feel guilty for buying their products when they can easily make the right changes. As a socialist, it's hard for me to indirectly keep a company alive that treats its workers like shit, just because I want to enjoy their classic art (their animated features). You could call me a hypocrite in that regard. And you wouldn't be wrong.
Other suggestion for Disney: put some effort into creating high-quality, distinct animated tv series again. You were singling out yourselves in a postive way from 1985-1995, but in the past decade you've been aping Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. Shame on you. Bring us shows like Duck Tales, TaleSpin and Gargoyles!
Last edited by Goliath on Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Scarred4life
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1410
- Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:18 pm
-
Escapay
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 12562
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:02 pm
- Location: Somewhere in Time and Space
- Contact:
Thanks everyone for the compliments regarding my list of suggestions. I didn't read any of the posts before writing mine, and when I finally posted it and looked back at the other replies, realized that everyone else wrote much of the same thing on various issues (alienating longtime fans, crappy DVD treatment, etc.). I purposely put all my selfish wishful-thinking suggestions at the end, because I wanted to concentrate on what the company can realistically do to better their public image, while still turning some profit. After all, as much as I'd love for a ten-disc Black Cauldron 27th Anniversary Edition, or whatever the old wikipedia joke was, it definitely won't ever happen.
albert
Unfortunately, Disney doesn't own the rights anymore. When the Weinsteins left/were kicked out of Miramax, they took with them a fair amount of titles from the library, along with the Dimension Films label (hence why Disney briefly went back to using Hollywood Pictures for a couple years). Along with The Thief and the Cobbler, they also took Cinema Paradiso. I'm sure they took more films with them, but those two are the only ones I'm aware of that were re-released on DVD by The Weinstein Company & Genius Products.BwayJoe wrote:Correct me if Disney no longer owns this movie:
Either finish "The Thief and the Cobbler" the way Richard Williams envisioned it or give the Criterion Collection permission to release a box set with the Recobbled Cut and the mangled theatrical versions.
Yeah, the working conditions is something I really hope Disney improves upon. I can only speak from experience in the theme parks, and if it was magical-hell-on-earth for me sometimes, I can only imagine what a toy factory in Cambodia is like.Goliath wrote:I agree soooooo much with Escapay, and I'm so glad he started with a lenghty bit about the working conditions in the Disney theme parks and third world sweatshops.
Most consumers are blissfully unaware of working conditions. Especially in theme parks. Guests go there to relax, everything should be easy for them. They're not aware just how much work goes into ensuring that having guests "take it easy" is actually possible.Goliath wrote:it's hard to indirectly keep a company alive that treats its workers like shit
albert
WIST #60:
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
-
tightlacedboots
- Limited Issue
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:55 am
Do they run commercials for new items in the Disney stores? If not, maybe they should. But I think the problem here is that not all Disney stores are alike. I forget about the stores because I rarely lived near one. Disney items are sold all over. Remind us why we should go to the Disney store.
And regarding the Disney lineup... even if they cater to a wider audience, a lot of people don't get the Disney channel, even with their cable package. Maybe advertise why they should want to include this in their package. I have only recently had the Disney channel and I could go without it.
If you're going to charge for a combo pack even for people that only want the blu-ray or only the DVD, then maybe package it differently. That way the discs have less chance of getting loose and people can share it. I know, this wouldn't save them any money, but for some people it's pointless to get multiple discs just to get one thing they want. I mean, who knows, maybe more people would buy it because they would chip in for the cost with a friend or relative that wants the other disc (ie. Grandma gets the DVD with a BatB case and Mom gets the blu-ray with a case to keep at home).
Or offer an option where you charge less and get only a blu-ray.
My blu-ray disc was loose when I opened it and scratched. I don't know if this is from it falling off a desk in my home or being tossed around in transit or what. But the part that holds the disc in place was not made very well. So do better packaging in some way or another. If you buy certain TV shows they will have three thin cases per disc inside a cardboard sleeve.
Do they re-release VHS versions of items that come out of the vault? If not, they should. Some people still collect VHS tapes as they are safer to let children handle (as long as the kid isn't pulling the tape out). We have a VCR in our son's room that is used all the time. Yes, the tapes and VCR can wear out, but simple handling doesn't cause scratching like DVDs get.
Show more rides/features on the commercials for Disney World (or Disneyland). If I didn't know any better I'd say there are like 5 things to do there. Spinning Tea Cups, Pirates of the Carribean, and a few other things.
And regarding the Disney lineup... even if they cater to a wider audience, a lot of people don't get the Disney channel, even with their cable package. Maybe advertise why they should want to include this in their package. I have only recently had the Disney channel and I could go without it.
If you're going to charge for a combo pack even for people that only want the blu-ray or only the DVD, then maybe package it differently. That way the discs have less chance of getting loose and people can share it. I know, this wouldn't save them any money, but for some people it's pointless to get multiple discs just to get one thing they want. I mean, who knows, maybe more people would buy it because they would chip in for the cost with a friend or relative that wants the other disc (ie. Grandma gets the DVD with a BatB case and Mom gets the blu-ray with a case to keep at home).
Or offer an option where you charge less and get only a blu-ray.
My blu-ray disc was loose when I opened it and scratched. I don't know if this is from it falling off a desk in my home or being tossed around in transit or what. But the part that holds the disc in place was not made very well. So do better packaging in some way or another. If you buy certain TV shows they will have three thin cases per disc inside a cardboard sleeve.
Do they re-release VHS versions of items that come out of the vault? If not, they should. Some people still collect VHS tapes as they are safer to let children handle (as long as the kid isn't pulling the tape out). We have a VCR in our son's room that is used all the time. Yes, the tapes and VCR can wear out, but simple handling doesn't cause scratching like DVDs get.
Show more rides/features on the commercials for Disney World (or Disneyland). If I didn't know any better I'd say there are like 5 things to do there. Spinning Tea Cups, Pirates of the Carribean, and a few other things.
-
Barbossa
- Collector's Edition
- Posts: 2944
- Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:23 am
- Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
My advice for Disney...
1. Quit playing us. If you are going to advertise a title for home entertainment release, then release it on the date you originally advertised it, i.e. Dumbo.
2. Keep the markets the same. Why are your global markets different? Dumbo got released in Europe. Crimson Wing got a theatrical release in Europe. Some of the other home entertainment releases were better oversease than they were here. What about North America, where the company originated?
3. Don't go cheap on your DVD releases. If you originally advertise the release as a 2-disc set, release it as a 2-disc set. There were a bunch of times we got let down with this.
4. For the Diamond Edition combo packs, go with a Blu-Ray case only. The DVD case version is highly mis-leading. A lot of people probably think there's a full 2-disc DVD set in that packaging as well - but there isn't.
5. Please promote Disneynature more! You could easily release two movies per year, one in the spring for earth Day, and one in the autumn. Hopefully Hidden Beauty will get a North American theatrical release, sometime after African Cats.
6. Build a theme park in Canada. Vancouver could use one.
7. Speed-up the production on National Treasure 3. I want to know what's on page 47.
1. Quit playing us. If you are going to advertise a title for home entertainment release, then release it on the date you originally advertised it, i.e. Dumbo.
2. Keep the markets the same. Why are your global markets different? Dumbo got released in Europe. Crimson Wing got a theatrical release in Europe. Some of the other home entertainment releases were better oversease than they were here. What about North America, where the company originated?
3. Don't go cheap on your DVD releases. If you originally advertise the release as a 2-disc set, release it as a 2-disc set. There were a bunch of times we got let down with this.
4. For the Diamond Edition combo packs, go with a Blu-Ray case only. The DVD case version is highly mis-leading. A lot of people probably think there's a full 2-disc DVD set in that packaging as well - but there isn't.
5. Please promote Disneynature more! You could easily release two movies per year, one in the spring for earth Day, and one in the autumn. Hopefully Hidden Beauty will get a North American theatrical release, sometime after African Cats.
6. Build a theme park in Canada. Vancouver could use one.
7. Speed-up the production on National Treasure 3. I want to know what's on page 47.
-
Flanger-Hanger
- Platinum Edition
- Posts: 3746
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:59 pm
- Location: S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters
OK, now I've read of all Scaps recommendations and I largely agree with them. They all relate to the basic issue I have with Disney today and it's their narrow minded focus that causes properties and or concepts to be ignored (currently existing within the company or otherwise).
The Proposal 2 is a perfect example of this. Any other movie company would have released it by now because of the profit the first one turned. But Disney? No, and for the absurd reasons you brought up.
And what's the point of producing all "franchiseable" blockbusters if most are duds like Persia and Apprentice? You need the "bread and butter" pictures in order to safely make some profit.
Treating consumers poorly is another thing that Disney has already suffered from, at least from their retail outlets. However, just changing the store's appearance will not guarantee the sales of the old Disney Store. They need to convince guests that value exists in the product carried and stocking a smaller selection of what Toys-R-Us or Walmart has for 1.5/2 times the price is not the way to do it. Remembering that Disney has cross generational appeal and an adult market would probably help to. If they do it in the parks why not across NA? Now that the number of stores has shrunk (as it should) the excuse of the cost of stocking adult items has weakened and should be reconsidered.
The Proposal 2 is a perfect example of this. Any other movie company would have released it by now because of the profit the first one turned. But Disney? No, and for the absurd reasons you brought up.
And what's the point of producing all "franchiseable" blockbusters if most are duds like Persia and Apprentice? You need the "bread and butter" pictures in order to safely make some profit.
Treating consumers poorly is another thing that Disney has already suffered from, at least from their retail outlets. However, just changing the store's appearance will not guarantee the sales of the old Disney Store. They need to convince guests that value exists in the product carried and stocking a smaller selection of what Toys-R-Us or Walmart has for 1.5/2 times the price is not the way to do it. Remembering that Disney has cross generational appeal and an adult market would probably help to. If they do it in the parks why not across NA? Now that the number of stores has shrunk (as it should) the excuse of the cost of stocking adult items has weakened and should be reconsidered.
-
Cordy_Biddle
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1597
- Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:02 am
- Location: the balcony of the Bijou...
Don't try to read consumers' minds by just sticking to what might appeal to the "tween" market and release titles like "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "Return to Oz" (and other "unpopular" Disney movies) on Blu-ray.
Just because these films didn't perform as expected at the box office doesn't mean that they should be sin-binned forever afterwards. "Bedknobs" and "Return to Oz" especially have very vocal, devoted cult followings and Blu-ray releases wouldn't automatically fail if a little thought and effort was put into them. Proper special features (preferably not featuring the latest tween Disney "face" as the host), restored transfers... We've waited long enough for their day in the sun. Do the homework and let the sales speak for themselves.
Just because these films didn't perform as expected at the box office doesn't mean that they should be sin-binned forever afterwards. "Bedknobs" and "Return to Oz" especially have very vocal, devoted cult followings and Blu-ray releases wouldn't automatically fail if a little thought and effort was put into them. Proper special features (preferably not featuring the latest tween Disney "face" as the host), restored transfers... We've waited long enough for their day in the sun. Do the homework and let the sales speak for themselves.
-
steetboris
- Member
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:05 am
I second that! To me it's the current BIGGEST problem Disney has.Other suggestion for Disney: put some effort into creating high-quality, distinct animated tv series again. You were singling out yourselves in a postive way from 1985-1995, but in the past decade you've been aping Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. Shame on you. Bring us shows like Duck Tales, TaleSpin and Gargoyles!
I'm 100% sure that without the Disney Afternoon series, none of the feature films from the 90's would have been such a success. They have contributed a lot to give a good image to the company to the general crowd.
And nowadays, things like "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", "Fish Hooks" or "Hanna Montana" which are aimed at a VERY restricted public (and as such, are hated by everyone who's not in that target) are destroying that image...No wonder they can't make a single "commercially successful" feature film.
Talespin Source : http://www.animationsource.org/talespin/en/
Animation Source : http://www.animationsource.org/
Animation Source : http://www.animationsource.org/
Possibly one of the best replies to a post ever Escapay, I agree on all your points. 
However, I would like to add one more point ....
Have an absolutley thorough clean out of your vaults. Make sure there is no corner left unturned, no place you havnt visited. Then you can get rid of the bullcrap tagline, "Newly discovered in the Disney Vaults ...."
As I have a feeling it isnt 'newly discovered', you just cant be arsed to create a difinitive version of any of your movies on DVD / Blu !!
However, I would like to add one more point ....
Have an absolutley thorough clean out of your vaults. Make sure there is no corner left unturned, no place you havnt visited. Then you can get rid of the bullcrap tagline, "Newly discovered in the Disney Vaults ...."
As I have a feeling it isnt 'newly discovered', you just cant be arsed to create a difinitive version of any of your movies on DVD / Blu !!
-
Sky Syndrome
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1187
- Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:07 am
- Location: Maine
I am very late to the party, and everyone else has already given great advice (Escapay and jpanimation in particular), but here are my suggestions. Don't know if they were given already, but here you go...
- Don't be afraid of being "controversial": What I mean by this is to not be afraid of diving into dark territories if the story demands it. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to rely on shock factor like blood, violence and sex. I mean stuff like character deaths, tragic events, questionable morals, real issues. You know why Pixar movies are so beloved? Because they aren't afraid of pulling punches. The great boss in Monsters Inc. cared more about money than the well being of children. Carl's wife Ellie died at the beginning of the film. Nemo's mom was killed by a barracuda. THE TOYS IN TOY STORY 3 WERE NEARLY BURNED ALIVE!
Don't wimp out of making a great story because you are afraid parents and kids will complain. We all grew up watching movies with very heavy and deep stories, and even if some kids of the 80s and 90s whine about how these movies made them cry (*COUGHNOSTALGIACRITICCOUGH!!!) in the end we still love them, because it made the stories real, characters easier to relate and made the movie that much memorable. And you CAN still include a happy ending. Disney movies like Snow White, Bambi, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Beauty and the Beast, Lion Kind etc. all had moments of tension, sadness, horror and grand human drama, and they all end on a happy end.
And no, Ray's death in Princess and the Frog doesn't count. There, I said it.
-NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE MERCHANDISED: Seriously, Disney. Just because you can put your name on everything it doesn't mean you HAVE to. Do we really need DISNEY PAINT? DISNEY EGGS? DISNEY WAFFLE MIX? This is absurd and beyond "selling out". Merchandising is OK because, let's face it, we all want a piece of our favorite stuff. But don't put your name on ridiculous stuff because you felt like it one day. It cheapens your brand name and it bothers the consumer.
-Be creative with your TV shows: Talespin was about the cast of Jungle Book characters living in a 1930s city where air pirates roam and Baloo in the star. Rescue Rangers had Chip and Dale teaming up with new characters solving pint sized crimes. Gummy Bears was about a group of colorful teddy bears who live in the forest, try to find their relatives and whenever they drink magical juice they jump around and beat trolls. What the hell happened??
Go wild with your TV shows once more. Don't be afraid of going out there and like Escapay explained, stop worrying about demographics. Phineas and Ferb is good, but lacks the strength the shows I mentioned had. Then you had shows like Reccess, Doug and Proud Family, shows that were pedestrian and TOO familiar.
How about bringing back classic characters and put them in new situations? I read that you guys were planning on doing a Horace Horsecollar action show. How about that for starters? Hey, Epic Mickey is coming out for the Wii. If that works out, you could do a whole show about Mickey battling Oswald in order to gain control of the Wasteland.
And speaking of Epic Mickey...
-Mickey and friends are for EVERYBODY!: I am happy that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has been a success for you. But I am afraid it is slowly turning them into pre-school idols rather than international icons like they were in the past. It's OK to have them in pre-school stuff, that's how it was back in the day (I remember owning a Baby Goofy plush toy while I watch Goofy being electrocuted in old Disney cartoons). Just don't keep them exclusive to children. Goofy in Home Theater was a good short. Have the characters in other shorts. Donald Duck should have exaggerated temper issues. Runaway Brain was awesome because Mickey was everything but the squeaky clean character you claim it is. Make another short like that, whiny parents be damned. Goofy should be teaching us how to connect to the internet and using Twitter and Facebook.
These characters are wonderful and everyone, young and old, has fond memories of them. They aren't exclusive to one sector so don't keep them in one area just because they are popular with a demographic.
Oh and for that matter... Kablam shorts? Axe 'em? Want to show classic shorts on Disney Channels? No edits, no new voices or sound effects. I watched them as they were as a kid, and I grew up to be a fine young man. No harm in showing the classics as they were.
- Don't be afraid of being "controversial": What I mean by this is to not be afraid of diving into dark territories if the story demands it. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to rely on shock factor like blood, violence and sex. I mean stuff like character deaths, tragic events, questionable morals, real issues. You know why Pixar movies are so beloved? Because they aren't afraid of pulling punches. The great boss in Monsters Inc. cared more about money than the well being of children. Carl's wife Ellie died at the beginning of the film. Nemo's mom was killed by a barracuda. THE TOYS IN TOY STORY 3 WERE NEARLY BURNED ALIVE!
Don't wimp out of making a great story because you are afraid parents and kids will complain. We all grew up watching movies with very heavy and deep stories, and even if some kids of the 80s and 90s whine about how these movies made them cry (*COUGHNOSTALGIACRITICCOUGH!!!) in the end we still love them, because it made the stories real, characters easier to relate and made the movie that much memorable. And you CAN still include a happy ending. Disney movies like Snow White, Bambi, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Beauty and the Beast, Lion Kind etc. all had moments of tension, sadness, horror and grand human drama, and they all end on a happy end.
And no, Ray's death in Princess and the Frog doesn't count. There, I said it.
-NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE MERCHANDISED: Seriously, Disney. Just because you can put your name on everything it doesn't mean you HAVE to. Do we really need DISNEY PAINT? DISNEY EGGS? DISNEY WAFFLE MIX? This is absurd and beyond "selling out". Merchandising is OK because, let's face it, we all want a piece of our favorite stuff. But don't put your name on ridiculous stuff because you felt like it one day. It cheapens your brand name and it bothers the consumer.
-Be creative with your TV shows: Talespin was about the cast of Jungle Book characters living in a 1930s city where air pirates roam and Baloo in the star. Rescue Rangers had Chip and Dale teaming up with new characters solving pint sized crimes. Gummy Bears was about a group of colorful teddy bears who live in the forest, try to find their relatives and whenever they drink magical juice they jump around and beat trolls. What the hell happened??
Go wild with your TV shows once more. Don't be afraid of going out there and like Escapay explained, stop worrying about demographics. Phineas and Ferb is good, but lacks the strength the shows I mentioned had. Then you had shows like Reccess, Doug and Proud Family, shows that were pedestrian and TOO familiar.
How about bringing back classic characters and put them in new situations? I read that you guys were planning on doing a Horace Horsecollar action show. How about that for starters? Hey, Epic Mickey is coming out for the Wii. If that works out, you could do a whole show about Mickey battling Oswald in order to gain control of the Wasteland.
And speaking of Epic Mickey...
-Mickey and friends are for EVERYBODY!: I am happy that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has been a success for you. But I am afraid it is slowly turning them into pre-school idols rather than international icons like they were in the past. It's OK to have them in pre-school stuff, that's how it was back in the day (I remember owning a Baby Goofy plush toy while I watch Goofy being electrocuted in old Disney cartoons). Just don't keep them exclusive to children. Goofy in Home Theater was a good short. Have the characters in other shorts. Donald Duck should have exaggerated temper issues. Runaway Brain was awesome because Mickey was everything but the squeaky clean character you claim it is. Make another short like that, whiny parents be damned. Goofy should be teaching us how to connect to the internet and using Twitter and Facebook.
These characters are wonderful and everyone, young and old, has fond memories of them. They aren't exclusive to one sector so don't keep them in one area just because they are popular with a demographic.
Oh and for that matter... Kablam shorts? Axe 'em? Want to show classic shorts on Disney Channels? No edits, no new voices or sound effects. I watched them as they were as a kid, and I grew up to be a fine young man. No harm in showing the classics as they were.
-
Elladorine
- Diamond Edition
- Posts: 4372
- Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:02 pm
- Location: SouthernCaliforniaLiscious SunnyWingadocious
- Contact:
Hah, the Up one actually brought out how bad this idea is. Granted, the shorts they use are comedic and nothing like Up, but it is an obnoxious practice. I recall reading on Cartoon Brew that the shorts felt a lot like you would see on the internet, like YouTube Poops and humor sites like Cracked and That Guy With The Glasses, and they are right.enigmawing wrote:PLEASE!!!pap64 wrote:Oh and for that matter... Kablam shorts? Axe 'em?
I mean, I don't even watch Disney Channel anymore but I still cringe at even the mention of those things.
Although I did enjoy the Up one that mocked them.
I mean, I love those sites, but this is DISNEY we are talking about. They are supposed to be better than this.
Not to mention Pinocchio, in which all the bad guys get off free! Honest John, Gideon, Stromboli and even the evil coachman never get punished for their actions. Instead, the coachman is probably *still* turning little boys into donkeys to sell them to the salt mines. How scary is that?pap64 wrote:Disney movies like Snow White, Bambi, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Beauty and the Beast, Lion Kind etc. all had moments of tension, sadness, horror and grand human drama, and they all end on a happy end.
I only wish it could've been Louis instead. It would have made the film a favorite of mine, had they killed off him.pap64 wrote:And no, Ray's death in Princess and the Frog doesn't count. There, I said it.
I agree with everything you said about television shows (I made that point, too), but I have to disagree here. Okay, I never saw Proud Family, but it looked cool to me. Maybe the executuon was too much like an animated sitcom? I thought Doug was very good, and Disney added enough twists to keep the concept fresh once they bought it from Jinkins. Recess I like because of its absurdity. It has so many original, bigger-than-life characters; it has an entire society in that schoolground, with its own rules and hierarchy; it's all so well thought-through and detailed and so worked-out... I immediately fell for it and I still enjoy it. In fact, I'd say I enjoy it more now, as an adult, than when I was a kid, because of the satirizing of real life that's going on.pap64 wrote:[television shows] Then you had shows like Reccess, Doug and Proud Family, shows that were pedestrian and TOO familiar.