What tales do you think would make a great Disney movie?

[Prince Eric]

Lately, Disney has been scouting stores for their oh-so-anticipated return to the fairy tale genre. Unfortunately, they're all being done in CGI, which is weird, considering a CGI musical fairy tale has never been done before. Now we know that Rapunzel and The Snow Queen are in development, along with the others listed at www.magicalears.com. However, I thought maybe we could post our own ideas on which fairy tales would make great Disney movies. Personally, I don't think a successful fairy tale has to be the traditional princess/prince-happily-ever-after formula, but just a really enchanting story that happens to be a...well, fairy tale! I think would be highly lucrative and successful is a fairy tale from a non-European source. That might be getting into the myth/folktale genre, but I'm sure every culture has their own popular stories that can be classified as "fairy tales." Any thoughts right off the bat?

[Disneykid]

Well, I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: I'd love to see Disney tackle The Wizard of Oz. I absolutely love the MGM musical, of course, but I'd like to see an Oz film that's darker and more like what L. Frank Baum wrote. Return to Oz was like that, and I'd like to see their interpretation of the original story. If they're afraid of comparisons with the musical, they can emphasize in their ad campaign how this is Baum's true vision of Oz as it's never been done before.

As for real fairy tales (as in short stories), I can't think of anything. They've already tackled the best ones (Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and now Rapunzel and The Snow Queen). The only one I can think of that'd be good is The Frog Prince. That story hasn't been done to death on film, which gives Disney lots of freedom to interpret and adapt it the way they want to.

[AwallaceUNC]

Yea, that's a good idea, DK. Much of my fairy tale knowledge comes from Disney, so I don't know a whole lot of them outside of what Disney has done.

I would love to see a live-action adaptation of the original Oz book that sticks pretty close to the book itself. As you said, as long as they don't market themselves as challenging the 1939 classic (no one would accept that), I think it could be accepted much like Return To Oz, The Wiz, this new muppets thing, etc. The same thing happened with Peter Pan. Disney would be just the people for it!

-Aaron

[toonaspie]

Disney needs to start researching Korean Fairy Tales. It is a massive collection of stories (hundreds of tales I reckon) to choose from along and there are a wide range of oppurtunities for bringing any Korean Story to life.

Plus gives Disney a chance to do more films in a nonwestern setting

[Leonia]

I'd like to see Disney do a take on Swan Lake even if there's already an anime version and one by Columbia Pictures (known as The Swan Princess).

If Disney made "Swan Lake" the same way like "Sleeping Beauty", utilizing Tchaikovsky's music, that would be cool.

(I'm not counting Barbie of Swan Lake, since I see it more as a marketing ploy for girls to buy Barbie.)

[toonaspie]

You know that's really funny, but I actually saw all 3 animated "Swan Lake" movies. The anime one just happened to be on local TV one day. I rented Swan Princess as a kid. And I just wait to watch the Barbie movies once they are on TV (it's usually a few weeks after the video is released)

[Leonia]

You know that's really funny, but I actually saw all 3 animated "Swan Lake" movies. The anime one just happened to be on local TV one day. I rented Swan Princess as a kid. And I just wait to watch the Barbie movies once they are on TV (it's usually a few weeks after the video is released)

I've seen the anime version (I wish I knew where I could find that movie), and I'd like to see "The Swan Princess" someday. I never saw it as a kid, but I vaguely remember getting a "Swan Princess" poster as a gift from my former first grade teacher.

[DreamerQ18]

I'd like to see Disney do a take on Swan Lake even if there's already an anime version and one by Columbia Pictures (known as The Swan Princess).

If Disney made "Swan Lake" the same way like "Sleeping Beauty", utilizing Tchaikovsky's music, that would be cool.

(I'm not counting Barbie of Swan Lake, since I see it more as a marketing ploy for girls to buy Barbie.)

Oh my gosh that would be such a great movie I totaly love the idea. But I would want to see it hand drawn not CGI form. Its a very magical idea and that seems to be the stories that sell. Also the Frog Prince another Great idea its not the most known fairy tlae but it was one of my favorites when I was younger.

Other than that I dont really know about many Fariytales like Aaron my knowledge comes from Disney but I aghree with Prince Eric. They should really expan thier horizons and look for fairytell stories from all over the world bring tons of diversity and allowing the story writers to be as creative as they can.

[AwallaceUNC]

It's also quite possible to create new fairy tales, as well. Just because they have mostly been covered doesn't mean that must turn away from fairy tales. It really only takes a healthy dose of magic and fantasy.

-Aaron

[Prince Eric]

Great Ideas Everybody! I would personally love to see The Frog Prince on the big screen! However, there's tons and tons of fairy tales out there besides the main ones. I mean, Hans Christian Anderson has some 170 published fairy tales. //

Speaking of Swan Lake, has anyone seen the newly released "Special Edition at Target? It's absolutely hilarious! They are actually using the slip cover that opens like a book for their animated movies now. It even has a gold Special Edition banner across the top. Kids, and parents wouldn't know the different really between this and other Disney efforst.

[tricarenee]

the frog prince is an excellent idea, as is the wizard of oz. other than that i think disney covered most of them. they could always do hansel and gretel, although it may be too short. rumpelstilskin might be good too, i bet they could animate him really well.

[Prince Eric]

Actually, I think Rumplestilskin is on the slate as a satiric comedy in the vain of Shrek. The name is "Uncle Stilskin," where he returns from wherever he was banished and tries to turn over a new leaf by being uncle to kid he was going to steasl or something along those lines. THe actual finished movie would have little or nothing to do with the classic tale, including the golden-spun thread. Plus, it's in CGI. I don't think I'm interested. The Rumplestilskin tale has always give me the creeps.

[AwallaceUNC]

tricarenee, welcome aboard!

While I don't really support the complete cross-over to blatant comedy, I do love the story of Rumplestilskin (always been one of my favorites) and "Uncle Stilskin" sounds funny as a title. Not too sure about that plot, though.

Ok, maybe someone can help me out. I remember a movie where the characters went through a lot of the fairy tales in a dark wood. It was live-action (no, it wasn't the 10th Kingdom). I probably saw it in the early 90s. I can't remember anything else about it, so I know that's not much to go on, but hopefully someone else here will be on the same wavelength.

-Aaron

[Prince Adam]

In response Disneykid's OZ idea, I don't think that a really dark OZ movie could be made: I'm reading the original series right now, and they aren't as dark and creepy as everyone made them out to be. They're actually really lighthearted and simple.

As for fairy tales, I'd love to see a good, 2-D musical version of Rapunzel. Enough with the Unbraided thing.

Other than that, I'd love to see Enchanted finally go through. It looks really good: a 2-D, fairy tale princess is banished into the real world, and falls in love. Then, she must choose between a fairy tale life, or a real one with real love.

[DreamerQ18]

Great Ideas Everybody! I would personally love to see The Frog Prince on the big screen! However, there's tons and tons of fairy tales out there besides the main ones. I mean, Hans Christian Anderson has some 170 published fairy tales. //

Speaking of Swan Lake, has anyone seen the newly released "Special Edition at Target? It's absolutely hilarious! They are actually using the slip cover that opens like a book for their animated movies now. It even has a gold Special Edition banner across the top. Kids, and parents wouldn't know the different really between this and other Disney efforst.

I didnt know Christan Anderson wrote that many stories do you know where I might be able to find a lit of all the of them?

*On a side not I was watching the three Musketeers. and thier is a preview for it for Mickey's Once upan another Christmas the first CGI film. And i have to be honest I am not totaly impressed. It kind of worries me I mean the fairy tale ideas sound great but I now know I wouldnt want to see them in CGI. And I am crossing my fingers for 2-D to make a really good combat. but thats just me.

[Christian]

Hansel and Gretel

Rip van Winkle

[Disneykid]

In response Disneykid's OZ idea, I don't think that a really dark OZ movie could be made: I'm reading the original series right now, and they aren't as dark and creepy as everyone made them out to be. They're actually really lighthearted and simple.

True, but you gotta admit they're still much darker than the (excellent) MGM musical. I mean, the movie leaves off such ferocious beasts as the Kalidahs and Hammerheads, and the book is a bit more violent than the film. Even darkness aside, the book is just plain out twisted compared to the movie.

[AwallaceUNC]

Yeah, I'm with DK. Compared to the MGM musical, the books are holocaust diaries. Well, that's an exaggeration, but you get the point. I loved Return to Oz because it brought darkness to the story.

Don't misconstrue that as negativity directed towards the 1939 musical, though, as I love it and wouldn't change a thing about it.

-Aaron

[sCArs]

I think it's good that they're researching more fairytales, but in CGI? They should stick with hand drawn animation, and leave Pixar to CGI, I mean, that's what they do best. I like the idea about Oz, the book is more darker than the movie, I like it We have The Swan Princess video, it's a good movie, but I think Disney could make an even better one

[Disney Guru]

Yes I think that is a great idea for Disney. And as my phrase that I live by says. "Complaint Is Poverty, Gratitude is Riches" I think that Disney, needs to use the resources that they already have, and stop going out to seek more. In the Disney Vaults, their are tons of thing that could help Disney Out of this hole they are in. Like the Gallagher Series from the 60's. That Desperately needs a DVD Release. But Animated Films, would be good I guess. Like maby, an Animated Wizard Of Oz Series, Swan Lake, Dancing Princesses,and maby a version of the famous play. The Boy who left home to find out about shivers. I don't know about you but I think that Disney could do better. When Walt was alive, they made the best Animated Films. Who can Forget, Cinderella, Snow White, Jungle Book, BAMBI and all the rest of those old rare classics. Disney needs, to start doing great films once more. And Eisner, can do it. He just needs to work at it. I mean, even though Walt is dead. It doesn't mean we can't do fine animation anymore. Those people at Disney, have a lot of talent. And they need to use it!