Gigantic

[Sotiris]

Could it have something to do with Gigantic being made a tax write off?

Could be given that Henry Selick was also able to get the rights back to The Shadow King, another cancelled movie that took a write off.

[D82]

I don't support this practice. You never know if a previously shelved project gets revived or if songs from that project get released some other way like on a singer's personal album. Disney won't be able to ever release at least one of the songs since it now belongs to Netflix. Besides, a talented songwriter doesn't need to resort to that. They can come up with new material for new projects. Isn't it more authentic to write something specific for the project at hand than repurpose something you previously wrote? Anyway, I'm glad Menken doesn't do that.

Perhaps the reason they do it it's not lack of talent or inspiration, but simply that they like some of these songs they wrote very much and want them to see the light of day. After all, I imagine many cut songs are never released to the public, and they may want to make sure those special ones do. And if it's just to save time or that they do lack inspiration to write something new sometimes, I understand it too. I see your point, though; you have good reasons too for not liking that practice. It is a shame we won't be able to listen to the original versions in some cases due to this, for example.

In musical theatre, the practice of songwriters saving cut songs and repurposing them into other shows is common enough that there is a name for it: “the trunk song.” As a fan I can’t say I have an issue with hearing cut material in any form or fashion. I’m more shocked that Disney’s contract with the Lopezes allows them to use their trunk songs! I would assume Disney would be as grubby with any IP produced at their studios as possible. Could it have something to do with Gigantic being made a tax write off?

I hadn't heard that name before. That's interesting to know. I was surprised too they could use the songs for other projects, especially non-Disney ones like that Netflix special. Yeah, maybe the reason if a tax write off.

By the way, aren't those two repurposed songs too modern for a film like Gigantic? Or is it just because they've been adapted to the new projects?

Here are the songs if you guys want to listen to them:

We've Got Something Cooking (from "Wanda Vision")
These Are Your Rights (from the Netflix Series "We The People")

[Disney's Divinity]

I personally don't mind the practice either, although I get why someone wouldn't like it if they're hoping the original project might some day be revived. But if that did happen, they could always write another song for the same moment; in the meantime, I'd rather hear what was written in the case the original project never revives at all.

[Sotiris]

By the way, aren't those two repurposed songs too modern for a film like Gigantic? Or is it just because they've been adapted to the new projects?

Well, I imagine that besides the lyrics, they also changed the arrangement and maybe even the key, but retained the melody. In any case, neither song is anything to write home about. I wonder if the one song from Gigantic we know about "Little Man" was one of the two songs that got repurposed.

[Disney's Divinity]

I like the first one more than the second. The first reminds me of "Togetherness" from Galavant. I assume it was a buddy song between Jack and the girl giant character. I know the second may not have been intended to be a "story" song as it ended up used for in that Netflix film, but I could imagine it being a story song of the giants telling their history (including their history with mankind), for example. It made me think of Trolls for some reason. Which then made me think that perhaps Trolls might've began as Dreamworks' ripoff of Gigantic with the whole small creatures v. large creatures dynamic--wouldn't Gigantic have come out around the time Trolls did if it hadn't been troubled?

[Sotiris]

Which then made me think that perhaps Trolls might've began as Dreamworks' ripoff of Gigantic with the whole small creatures v. large creatures dynamic--wouldn't Gigantic have come out around the time Trolls did if it hadn't been troubled?

Both projects started development in 2013* and were initially set to be released in 2016. Gigantic later got pushed to 2018 and then to 2020 before getting canceled.

*A feature adaptation of Jack & the Beanstalk was in development at Disney in 2003 under the title You Don't Know Jack About the Beanstalk and another one in 2010 that was to be directed by Chris Buck.

[D82]

Well, I imagine that besides the lyrics, they also changed the arrangement and maybe even the key, but retained the melody. In any case, neither song is anything to write home about. I wonder if the one song from Gigantic we know about "Little Man" was one of the two songs that got repurposed.

I guess you're right it's the arrangements and all the other changes what makes them sound modern. I think they're decent. I don't think they were the most important songs in the movie. "Little Man" was performed at the D23 Expo, right? Maybe someone who attended the event and heard it could confirm if one of those two songs has the same melody or not. That's if they still remember what it sounded like.

I like the first one more than the second.

Me too. It would be interesting to know if they kept some of the lyrics or themes too or just the music.

[Sotiris]

The Lopezes revealed that the song "These Are You Rights" is the repurposed "Head in the Clouds" song they wrote for Gigantic. They said it's the song Jack was going to be singing while climbing the beanstalk.

[D82]

Thanks for the info! Now I'm curious to know how the original song was. I know you said Disney can't release it anymore since Netlix now has the rights to its music, but could the Lopezes do it if they wanted or are they not allowed either?

[Sotiris]

The song now belongs to Netflix, so I think the Lopezes couldn't release it even if they wanted to.

[D82]

I guess it makes sense. It's a shame. Well, at least we've gotten to listen to the melody and now know some more details about it like its title, who was going to sing it and some info about its place in the movie.

[The Disneynerd]

Hello dear forum members
I've been looking at this site for 5 years now and you guys have always been my source for Disney news and more! I have always thought to sign up here and finally it worked! I am so happy and I hope we get along well
Anyway, I don't think this has been posted yet
Concept art for Gigantic, possibly an earlier version by Scott Watanbe:

Art of Scott Watanabe (2).jpg (160.38 KiB) Viewed 4669 times

I dont know how to submit more pictures but there is more on his website:
https://www.scottwatanabeart.com/unpublished-work

[Woodrow Pride]

Welcome to the forum, Disneynerd! (Though I feel a little under-qualified to say that because I’m pretty new here too ) I was coming here for 5 years too, before I joined a few months ago! (I'd jump on every now and then after I became aware of Toy Story 4, back in 2018). It's always nice to have some new perspectives. Glad you're here!

That cow really reminds me of Home on the Range. Or maybe that’s just because all animated cows look like that?

[Disney's Divinity]

That's probably the first image associated with Gigantic that I've like. Jack there looks a bit like Hans.

[D82]

Welcome to the forum, The Disneynerd! I'm glad you were finally able to join. That's a cool username, by the way, and I love your avatar. Timothy Mouse is a great character. Thanks for posting that concept art! I love the classic Disney style it has. Some of the other pictures on Scott Watanabe's website seem to have Asian inspiration. I wonder if the movie was going to be set in another region initially and the location wasn't always Spain.

I also felt that way at the beginning, Woodrow Pride, and to be honest still a bit now, but you're as much a member here as anyone else, so you're perfectly qualified to welcome others.

[Sotiris]

I don't know how to submit more pictures but there is more on his website:
https://www.scottwatanabeart.com/unpublished-work

Welcome to our little community! We're happy to have you! Thanks for posting the link with the concept art! In that iteration of the story which seems to me was done post-2015, the setting was going to be a fictional multiracial/multiethnic one instead of Spain. The character of the gatekeeper which is assume is the person who guards the entrance between the human and giant realm was going to be either Asian or Black. The people inhabiting this world look very Atlantean based on their clothing and face tattoos. We also now know that the name of Jack's cow was Gertie.

By the way, you seem to have great taste in music. I also love the three songs you mention in your signature.

[Disney's Divinity]

Yes, welcome.

Gertie's face (either the way it's drawn or the expression) reminds me of Scrooge McDuck. I wish that version of the film had ended up happening.

[D82]

In that iteration of the story which seems to me was done post-2015, the setting was going to be a fictional multiracial/multiethnic one instead of Spain. The character of the gatekeeper which is assume is the person who guards the entrance between the human and giant realm was going to be either Asian or Black. The people inhabiting this world look very Atlantean based on their clothing and face tattoos. We also now know that the name of Jack's cow was Gertie.

Oh, I didn't know all that. I'm always more curious about the new movies than the cancelled ones, as we'll never get to see them anyway, but it's interesting to learn details like these. I wonder if they combined both setting ideas and recycled them in a way for Wish, since it has a Spanish setting (sort of) and its population is comprised of people of different ethnicities. Well, the Kingdom of Rosas is not as diverse as Gigantic was going to be, but still.

I wonder if the cow's name was changed when they decided to set the film in Spain, as Gertie is not a Spanish name. Although, Jack isn't either, so who knows.

By the way, you seem to have great taste in music. I also love the three songs you mention in your signature.

I didn't notice the signature. As everybody here knows, I love Alan Menken, so of course, I agree.

[UmbrellaFish]

The cow does look very Home on the Range-y. Perhaps a bad omen? Thanks for sharing and welcome to the board!

[The Disneynerd]

Thank you everyone for your kind words, youre very nice

The character of the gatekeeper which is assume is the person who guards the entrance between the human and giant realm was going to be either Asian or Black.

So he would probably be the one who sells Jack the magic beans, the design would kind of match the description of someone who was in D23 2015 (except that the character was changed into a woman)

I wish that version of the film had ended up happening.

Me too, it would be a much more classic take on the story instead of making Jack's friendship with a giant the heart of the plot, so I'm partly glad the D23 Expo version was cancelled. They could have created a much more traditional and emotional take by making Jack's goal to make his mother proud or something, like in the ACTUAL fairy tale, think about Howard Ashman's Aladdin but with Jack and the beanstalk, I think that would be perfect!

I also love the three songs you mention in your signature.

Haha thank you Sotiris, as D82 mentioned, its easy to fall in love with Menkens work