Disney's "The Snow Queen" in 2013?
- DisneyJedi
- Platinum Edition
- Posts: 3737
- Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:53 pm
- Gender: Male
-
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:00 am
They made that promise before they released Princess and the Frog which simply did not make enough money; if audiences choose not to watch a hand-drawn feature, that is not Disney's fault. Perhaps you could say that they shouldn't have made that promise before seeing how PATF performed but they can't be blamed if a medium that is expensive to produce doesn't earn back those costs. Disney is a business, like it or not, money matters.DisneyJedi wrote:So, in other words, the guys at Disney lied to us about their "1 hand-drawn film every two years" deal. And by the way, I thought films were created originally for entertainment purposes?
Walt was lucky he had Roy who, as a skilled and intelligent financier, was able many times to convince banks to loan the company money to achieve his brother's dreams. Thanks to Roy, Walt never had to let money put a limit to his ideas and plans but he certainly cared about it, particularly when costs of landmarks like Snow White and Disneyland were constantly growing.DisneyDuster wrote:He has repeated quotes about he doesn't care about money, but art. So, if the Disney company is to stay Disney, it would have to keep up all this, including the hand-drawn art aspect.
We're not going to Guam, are we?
- Sotiris
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 21069
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:06 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Fantasyland
Many would argue that TPatF underperformed not because of audience's distaste for the medium but because of poor marketing and a horrible release date. I remember that the film was caught between Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and Alvin and the Chipmunks 2.DisneyAnimation88 wrote:They made that promise before they released Princess and the Frog which simply did not make enough money; if audiences choose not to watch a hand-drawn feature, that is not Disney's fault.
In any case, one film underperforming is not an excuse. I didn't see them stop producing CGI films when Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt underperformed. So, when a hand-drawn film underperforms it's because of the medium but when a CGI film underperforms it's always because of something else and not the medium. Double standard much?
-
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:00 am
It's not one film; Brother Bear underperformed, Home on the Range underperformed, Atlantis underperformed, Treasure Planet underperformed. I enjoy all of those films and I really enjoyed Princess and the Frog but for whatever reason, it didn't do well at the box office.
I am not defending what Disney has or hasn't done. I think that hand-drawn animation will continue at the studio; according to the TAG blog you have posted excerpts from, Ron Clements and John Musker are working on hand-drawn projects and the management is being supportive of that. So I'm just going to continue to wait and see what happens in regards to hand-drawn animation at Disney, perhaps something will develop soon.
I am not defending what Disney has or hasn't done. I think that hand-drawn animation will continue at the studio; according to the TAG blog you have posted excerpts from, Ron Clements and John Musker are working on hand-drawn projects and the management is being supportive of that. So I'm just going to continue to wait and see what happens in regards to hand-drawn animation at Disney, perhaps something will develop soon.
We're not going to Guam, are we?
-
- Signature Collection
- Posts: 5207
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 11:34 am
- Location: The Netherlands
I think the best thing to do is for Disney to figure out a way to make hand drawn animated features at a lower budget. Pooh cost $35 million and it would be ideal if they can make hand drawn features costing no more than $50 million.
The simple fact is that these films don't do great business and the industry and fans can't expect Disney to spend $150 million+ on production and marketing when they're not getting anything out of it.
The Princess and the Frog worked purely as a boost for the Princess line. Something Tangled did to greater success because it was also a hit in theaters and on dvd.
The simple fact is that these films don't do great business and the industry and fans can't expect Disney to spend $150 million+ on production and marketing when they're not getting anything out of it.
The Princess and the Frog worked purely as a boost for the Princess line. Something Tangled did to greater success because it was also a hit in theaters and on dvd.
- DisneyJedi
- Platinum Edition
- Posts: 3737
- Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:53 pm
- Gender: Male
Yes, exactly! And it wouldn't have underperformed if Disney was smart enough to release on Thanksgiving weekend nationwide than making the release limited! I mean, really. If anyone finds the 'genius' who was put in charge of TPatF's release date, could they smack that person upside the head for me, please?Sotiris wrote:Many would argue that TPatF underperformed not because of audience's distaste for the medium but because of poor marketing and a horrible release date. I remember that the film was caught between Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and Alvin and the Chipmunks 2.DisneyAnimation88 wrote:They made that promise before they released Princess and the Frog which simply did not make enough money; if audiences choose not to watch a hand-drawn feature, that is not Disney's fault.
That just proves they're idiots that are biased to only one medium!Sotiris wrote:In any case, one film underperforming is not an excuse. I didn't see them stop producing CGI films when Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt underperformed. So, when a hand-drawn film underperforms it's because of the medium but when a CGI film underperforms it's always because of something else and not the medium. Double standard much?
-
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:00 am
I would agree with this if Disney showed that they could maintain the quality of their past hand-drawn features even if working to a lower budget.PatrickvD wrote:I think the best thing to do is for Disney to figure out a way to make hand drawn animated features at a lower budget.
If you look at the past ten years or so, hand-drawn features have not done well at Disney, probably with the exception of Lilo & Stitch. It's not like Disney looked at the results of Princess and the Frog and killed hand-drawn animation based only on the commercial success of that film. When all is said and done, it is not definitive fact that Disney will not continue with hand-drawn animation, right now everything is speculation, including rumours of what Ron and John might be up to. But for once, the rumours are positive and suggest that the management are supportive of the medium so I don't want to write them off just yet.
We're not going to Guam, are we?
- Sotiris
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 21069
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:06 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Fantasyland
There is a new Russian CGI animated film of Snow Queen currently in production scheduled for a 2012 release.
Official website
http://inlayfilm.ru/projects/snowqueen?l=en
Poster

Opening sequence/trailer:
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25093106? ... portrait=0" width="400" height="170" frameborder="0"></iframe><p>
Do you think that if this film gets a U.S release it will hurt the chances of Disney's Snow Queen getting produced?
Official website
http://inlayfilm.ru/projects/snowqueen?l=en
Poster

Opening sequence/trailer:
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25093106? ... portrait=0" width="400" height="170" frameborder="0"></iframe><p>
Do you think that if this film gets a U.S release it will hurt the chances of Disney's Snow Queen getting produced?
- disneyprincess11
- Diamond Edition
- Posts: 4363
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:46 am
- Location: Maryland, USA
Probrably not! We're in US, they're in Russia. Besides, Disney had the rights to Snow Queen 4 years anyway.Sotiris wrote:Do you think that if this film gets a U.S release it will hurt the chances of Disney's Snow Queen getting produced?
REALLY awesome sequence/poster! CGI needs improvement. Anyone care to translate what the mom and dad were saying?
- Disney's Divinity
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 16239
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:26 am
- Gender: Male
This is what Disney gets when they drop the ball on things. Maybe this'll inspire them to keep it 2D, so that it will be somewhat different than the Russian version.
I think it's mostly silly that they were betting hand-drawn animation all on one film's failure or success. And, yes, it's true that the films you mentioned didn't perform well (partly because their budgets were colossal in comparison to TP&TF's). However, they didn't make the statement until TP&TF was about to come out, not before Atlantis, TP, Brother Bear, and so on.
But it did earn back its cost.They made that promise before they released Princess and the Frog which simply did not make enough money; if audiences choose not to watch a hand-drawn feature, that is not Disney's fault. Perhaps you could say that they shouldn't have made that promise before seeing how PATF performed but they can't be blamed if a medium that is expensive to produce doesn't earn back those costs. Disney is a business, like it or not, money matters.
I think it's mostly silly that they were betting hand-drawn animation all on one film's failure or success. And, yes, it's true that the films you mentioned didn't perform well (partly because their budgets were colossal in comparison to TP&TF's). However, they didn't make the statement until TP&TF was about to come out, not before Atlantis, TP, Brother Bear, and so on.

Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
-
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:00 am
That was my point; hand-drawn animation has not been hugely successful at Disney for a while so I don't agree with the notion that Disney would kill the medium based on the performance of one film. Until they say otherwise, I still think hand-drawn animation has a future at the company.
We're not going to Guam, are we?
I'm pretty sure The Snow Queen is in the public domain, which means that everybody has the rights to it.disneyprincess11 wrote:Probably not! We're in US, they're in Russia. Besides, Disney had the rights to Snow Queen 4 years anyway.
"There are two wolves and they are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins? Whichever one you feed." - Casey Newton, Tomorrowland
-
- Diamond Edition
- Posts: 4661
- Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:47 am
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Considering it's an independent film from a foreign studio that will at the very most have a limited or misplaced release, I don't think so. If a major studio like Dreamworks were making their own adaptation or a film quite similar, then it would be a different matter.Sotiris wrote:Do you think that if this film gets a U.S release it will hurt the chances of Disney's Snow Queen getting produced?
- DisneyJedi
- Platinum Edition
- Posts: 3737
- Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:53 pm
- Gender: Male
But WHY weren't Disney's recent hand-drawn films, save for Lilo & Stitch, hugely successful?DisneyAnimation88 wrote:That was my point; hand-drawn animation has not been hugely successful at Disney for a while so I don't agree with the notion that Disney would kill the medium based on the performance of one film. Until they say otherwise, I still think hand-drawn animation has a future at the company.

Their lacking originality is my guess. Lilo had a fresh look to it. Princess, while enjoyable was generic. they relied on returning to disney's roots to sell the movie, rather than making it a better movie. Brother Bear again recycled elements of lion king and other hit disney movies. I liked both of these movies, but still recognize their faults.
Too many of their attempts have become inbred because their afraid of taking more risks, when in reality being unoriginal has become their downfall. They need to stop focus testing what the public thinks they want and just make the movies they want to make. With art styles that don't just adhere to stock Disney designs. overall quality is more important than how well their next princess fits in with the rest of their Disney princess line up. When you set out to be the next *insert successful movie or franchise* your doomed from the start in most cases.
Too many of their attempts have become inbred because their afraid of taking more risks, when in reality being unoriginal has become their downfall. They need to stop focus testing what the public thinks they want and just make the movies they want to make. With art styles that don't just adhere to stock Disney designs. overall quality is more important than how well their next princess fits in with the rest of their Disney princess line up. When you set out to be the next *insert successful movie or franchise* your doomed from the start in most cases.
- Disney's Divinity
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 16239
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:26 am
- Gender: Male
I wouldn’t deny that those films recycled plotlines, but…Tangled also recycled many of the same Disney elements from the '90s and yet it was a smash. Critically, both Tangled and TP&TF were well-received. The only difference plays out in the box office numbers.
I have to also inject that the most popular/bestselling films out these days are sequels, remakes, and all sorts of films that copy one another to some extent or another. Originality is apparently not something the buying public requires when they decide what to see at the theaters.
Methinks the medium does play some of a factor, considering there's been a decade or so now of nothing but popular CGI films (while in the meantime most of Disney's 2D stuff sucked--well, at the time, Disney was honestly no longer a competitor, 3D or not). Maybe the marketing has a role, too. I also think in a lot of ways people viewed TP&TF as a gimmick because of the first black princess thing, and the film's quality had little to do with it.
I have to also inject that the most popular/bestselling films out these days are sequels, remakes, and all sorts of films that copy one another to some extent or another. Originality is apparently not something the buying public requires when they decide what to see at the theaters.
Methinks the medium does play some of a factor, considering there's been a decade or so now of nothing but popular CGI films (while in the meantime most of Disney's 2D stuff sucked--well, at the time, Disney was honestly no longer a competitor, 3D or not). Maybe the marketing has a role, too. I also think in a lot of ways people viewed TP&TF as a gimmick because of the first black princess thing, and the film's quality had little to do with it.

Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
-
- Gold Classic Collection
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:38 am
I think a lot of it depends on word of mouth. Tangled had staying power, which is why it became a hit. Princess and the Frog was bland, and the only comment I ever heard about it was, "It wasn't as good as they used to be". Pixar has a strong reputation. Disney's is still weak at the moment and each project depends on an elusive element to become profitable. It'd be interesting to see how a traditionally-animated film released by Pixar would fare, actually. I can't accept that it's the medium...
I do think, if Disney wants to revive 2D, they should find someone other than Ron & John to helm a project...
I do think, if Disney wants to revive 2D, they should find someone other than Ron & John to helm a project...
- Disney's Divinity
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Posts: 16239
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:26 am
- Gender: Male
Of course, I personally don't feel TP&TF was bland, but I still don't think the quality of a film really decides it's success/failure many times over. Otherwise the HP, Shrek, and Chipmunk films would be considered some of the best films of all time. *scared* On the other hand, there are many films that are good that do well, so it's hard to explain.
I think R&J are great directors. The only films they've made with Disney that weren't large successes were Treasure Planet and TP&TF (and only the former was a flop)--in a period where, already stated, nearly everything Disney released was a failure to some extent. Personally, I would expect more from them than most people.
I think R&J are great directors. The only films they've made with Disney that weren't large successes were Treasure Planet and TP&TF (and only the former was a flop)--in a period where, already stated, nearly everything Disney released was a failure to some extent. Personally, I would expect more from them than most people.

Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
-
- Limited Issue
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:00 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Heres the directors blog, for the russian version of snow queen:
http://maxsveshnikov.blogspot.com/
And heres a behind the scenes/tour of the studio Inlay films btw. in russian
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PetWkEwiogs" frameborder="0"></iframe>
http://maxsveshnikov.blogspot.com/
And heres a behind the scenes/tour of the studio Inlay films btw. in russian
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PetWkEwiogs" frameborder="0"></iframe>
fatcaketom.blogspot.com