Disney artist makes a "Wicked" proposal

[SpringHeelJack]

Hey, they made it not suck. Maybe it should be animated.

You think Wicked sucks? I've never met a soul who doesn't love it.

Nice to meet you. You haven't met a lot of theatre people, have you? And by "theater people" I mean "theater beyond 'Wicked' 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Lion King'."

[disneyprincess11]

Grrrr...stupid NBC! I REALLY hope this happens. <3 Kirstin, Idina, and Stephen!

[Super Aurora]

You think Wicked sucks? I've never met a soul who doesn't love it.

Nice to meet you. You haven't met a lot of theatre snobs <strike>people</strike>, have you? And by "theater snobs" I mean "theater beyond <strike>'Wicked' 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Lion King</strike>really popular and successful theater"

fixed. LOL

[pinkrenata]

I was able to watch the video before it was taken down. I found it surprisingly good, but I somehow don't see Wicked as an animated film. Thinking of animated theater gives me visions of the <i>King and I</i> movie which, granted, I never did see, but hopefully never will.

I'm one of those "snobs" I guess, in that I really really like <i>Wicked</i>, but just can't bring myself to say I love it. Even so, I think it deserves the best treatment ever if, and when, it is made into a film.

[Marce82]

Hmmm...I've seen Wicked more than once in the theater, and have read the book as well. I don't think it would make a good animated movie...and I disagree that it's very much like a fairy tale, I would say it's more about human rights...and the whole "popular vs unpopular" college girl thing....its just so un-Disney!

[Escapay]

The video is still available on Heidi Gilbert's blog. Kram and I found it when we searched her name and "defying gravity" since he didn't get a chance to see it before Universal took it down.

Watch it now before Universal sends a cease and desist or something.

albert

[Animalia]

I was able to watch the video before it was taken down. I found it surprisingly good, but I somehow don't see Wicked as an animated film. Thinking of animated theater gives me visions of the <i>King and I</i> movie which, granted, I never did see, but hopefully never will.

I'm one of those "snobs" I guess, in that I really really like <i>Wicked</i>, but just can't bring myself to say I love it. Even so, I think it deserves the best treatment ever if, and when, it is made into a film.

I agree with you for the most part that it doesn't just seem like an animated feature to me. I think Beauty and the Beast proved though that something be practically broadway and still be a very good animated feature. The problem with the King and I, was a not so good script/acting and not the best singers. Also there already was a King and I movie that was amazing.

Maybe my skepticism is, I just can't see myself or any audience taking animated flying monkeys seriously?



P.S did anyone notice that in the storyboard she also used a part of the Savages song from Pocahontas?

[SWillie!]

You think Wicked sucks? I've never met a soul who doesn't love it.

Nice to meet you. You haven't met a lot of theatre people, have you? And by "theater people" I mean "theater beyond 'Wicked' 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Lion King'."

Well I'm no expert... but my girlfriend of three years has been in theater her whole life and so pretty much all her friends are as well... so I would say I've met a good number of them. And at least none of them think it sucks. Can I ask why in the world you think that? I mean if it's not your cuppa tea that's one thing but to deny the fact that it's a good show when it's one of the most successful ones ever is... I don't know... I guess Super Aurora had it right... snobbish of you.

Do you also think Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King suck?

[pinkrenata]

P.S did anyone notice that in the storyboard she also used a part of the Savages song from Pocahontas?

Oh yeah -- I was going to mention that! Silliness.

[Disney's Divinity]

I actually like some of the concepts in the video, particularly the last shot where it zooms up from the crowd to Elphaba in the sky. I also like how they have Elphaba look down at the wizard. I actually remember this awesome Youtube video that spliced famous Disney films to "Defying Gravity." It ended up getting removed for some reason.

Anyway, I would love to see an animated version of this, just so Chenoweth and Menzel could be involved (they're a little too old for a live-action version...). I mean, I'm not crazy about Wicked, but I vaguely enjoy it, and only animation could really do it justice, imo, what with the flying, magic, animals, etc.

[monorail91]

I guess I'd either want it to be animated, or done very much in a similar vein to Wizard of Oz - gorgeous PHYSICAL sets (I hate CGI) and lush painted backgrounds.

[fatcake]

the video could also be seen on this website

http://www.indiemoviesonline.com/news/a ... ers-020811

[Disneykid]

Thanks for the link, fatcake! It was driving me nuts reading people's reactions to it without being able to see it.

I'm really impressed by that reel. I do think it's very possible to do Wicked (the musical) as an animated film, though with a lot of cutting, particularly in Act II. One thing I absolutely require of any Wicked film is a sense of scope and scale. There's only so much you can do on stage, and the story is filled with opportunities to show the grandeur of Oz. That storyboard reel was filled with some truly majestic shots even in its rough state. I can only pray that the inevitable live-action film can give off such a sense of freedom. Of course, now with a TV mini-series based on the book, who knows how long it'll be before we get a musical adaptation.

[DisneyJedi]

Thanks for the link, fatcake! It was driving me nuts reading people's reactions to it without being able to see it.

I'm really impressed by that reel. I do think it's very possible to do Wicked (the musical) as an animated film, though with a lot of cutting, particularly in Act II. One thing I absolutely require of any Wicked film is a sense of scope and scale. There's only so much you can do on stage, and the story is filled with opportunities to show the grandeur of Oz. That storyboard reel was filled with some truly majestic shots even in its rough state. I can only pray that the inevitable live-action film can give off such a sense of freedom. Of course, now with a TV mini-series based on the book, who knows how long it'll be before we get a musical adaptation.

That would be the tough decision for the (possible) animated feature; condensing it to fit the 90 minute time limit and deciding what would fit and what would have to go. The same could be said for a hopeful animated version of Phantom of the Opera (if they followed the stage musical).

[monorail91]

Thanks for the link, fatcake! It was driving me nuts reading people's reactions to it without being able to see it.

I'm really impressed by that reel. I do think it's very possible to do Wicked (the musical) as an animated film, though with a lot of cutting, particularly in Act II. One thing I absolutely require of any Wicked film is a sense of scope and scale. There's only so much you can do on stage, and the story is filled with opportunities to show the grandeur of Oz. That storyboard reel was filled with some truly majestic shots even in its rough state. I can only pray that the inevitable live-action film can give off such a sense of freedom. Of course, now with a TV mini-series based on the book, who knows how long it'll be before we get a musical adaptation.

That would be the tough decision for the (possible) animated feature; condensing it to fit the 90 minute time limit and deciding what would fit and what would have to go. The same could be said for a hopeful animated version of Phantom of the Opera (if they followed the stage musical).

The first thing they'd have to cut is "Something Baaaaaaaad"

[Disneykid]

The first thing they'd have to cut is "Something Baaaaaaaad"

Agreed. If I had to pare Wicked down to a 90-minute musical, this is what I'd keep:

No One Mourns the Wicked (Need an intro song)
The Wizard and I (the "I Want" song for the heroine)
What Is This Feeling? (to set off Elphie and Glinda's arc)
Dancing Through Life (carries a ton of exposition and character development)
One Short Day (the big showy number for the film)
Defying Gravity (the "it" moment for the film)
Thank Goodness (carries a ton of exposition)
As Long As You're Mine (the love ballad for the romantic leads)
For Good (to wrap up Elphie and Glinda's arc)
Finale (Need an outro song)

Every other song can either be told through dialogue ("Something Bad"), a simple look ("I'm Not That Girl"), or ends up not having much relevance to the main storyline ("Popular").

I know the last one would be a really controversial deletion, but you've got this big number where Glinda tries to give Elphie a makeover, and the only payoff we get are a couple of lines of dialogue in the next scene from Fiyero saying Elphie looks ridiculous. Either get rid of this element completely, or cut immediately from Glinda telling Elphie "I know exactly what you need..." to Elphie walking to class the next day all made up.

"I'm Not That Girl" I'm sure would be another deletion that would get people up in arms, but there are too many solos for Elphie and not enough time were this a 90-minute animated film (heck, I actually think my above list is too much as it is). A few simple, understated shots can evoke the same thing, and the melody of the song could be incorporated into the score.

[zackisthewalrus]

Wait, there's a 90-minute limit on animated pictures?

[Escapay]

I think Kelvin was just using 90 as the ballpark figure since most animated films are less than 100 minutes long. Cars was nearly two hours, which made it even more insufferable. While Toy Story was a little over 80 minutes and moved like gangbusters.

albert

[SmartAleck25]

This video is AWESOME!

I actually remember this awesome Youtube video that spliced famous Disney films to "Defying Gravity." It ended up getting removed for some reason.

Is it this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1V8zP3lYUc

I know the last one would be a really controversial deletion, but you've got this big number where Glinda tries to give Elphie a makeover, and the only payoff we get are a couple of lines of dialogue in the next scene from Fiyero saying Elphie looks ridiculous. Either get rid of this element completely, or cut immediately from Glinda telling Elphie "I know exactly what you need..." to Elphie walking to class the next day all made up.

While it's a necessary change, I still must say...
ARGH! Popular is the second catchiest tune after Defying Gravity!

I mean, how can you resist the awesomeness of consecutive La's and ballerina twirling?!

[monorail91]

Would Glinda become an honorary Disney princess?

I think it'd be very interesting for Wicked to join the Disney canon. I would want them to focus on the darker aspects of the play, maybe incorporating more of the novel into it. The musical is a bit light and fluffy, even though it tries to deal with heavy issues.