Disney/Pixar vs. DreamWorks/PDI - It Ends 11.5.04

[2099net]

Well, personally I don't care, and I find all this "who's best?" all a bit childish. And as for Disney deliberatley opening a film at the same time as a Dreamworks film? I just wash my hands of the whole affair.

No matter what happens (and yes, Pixar's The Incredibles will do doubt "win") doing so if harmful to the industry as a whole, harmful to animation in particular, and harmful to Disney as well (they're bound to loose some ticket sales, even if only a fraction of a percentage).

I prefer Disney and Pixar, but who knows what Sharkslayer is going to be like? Does anyone here actually know how good it will be? And as we all know, the most popular film doesn't mean it's the best - lots of films have never attained the acclaim they deserve.

I think Disney has made the wrong decision, just to allow them a few empty hollow boasts which the public will forget about in a few days anyway.

I therefore declare Disney the loosers on principle! The contest is over!

[Matty-Mouse]

Why do all the big films have to open on Thanksgiving, Christmas or Summer "week" now-a-days? Look at the movies that are on in the UK and US cinema this week. There is NOTHING! (bar "Finding Nemo" of course, which has come out just at the right time in the US IMO) One of them should move their movie to September or October IMO.

As it goes I don't think Sharkslayer looks all that good anyway. I much perfer Dreamworks 2D films. I loved "Prince Of Egypt" and "Road To Elderado" and I think that "Sinbad" looks great also.

Also have you noticed that WDFA's big movies have been put in really tough postion's in the times they open? "Brother Bear" is opening quite close to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" and "Home On The Range" is supposed to be coming out near "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkerban". Do Disney want their films to fail?

[Disneykid]

It's Azkaban. Sorry, as a diehard HP fan I couldn't resist.

There really isn't anything for me to say on this whole Disney/Pixar vs. Dreamworks debacle that hasn't already been said.

[Matty-Mouse]

I'm a die hard Potter fan as well, I cant believe I spelt that wrong (I was VERY tired this morning). I'll have to start a potter chat over at the off topic board. See you there.

[Choco Bear]

Also have you noticed that WDFA's big movies have been put in really tough postion's in the times they open? "Brother Bear" is opening quite close to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"

not only that it opens the same day as the next matrix movie which i think isnt smart but ya never know rite

[MickeyMouseboy]

dont you just love the dreamworks website doesnt have a e-mail to mail them some hate mail!

[Jack]

Also have you noticed that WDFA's big movies have been put in really tough postion's in the times they open? "Brother Bear" is opening quite close to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"

not only that it opens the same day as the next matrix movie which i think isnt smart but ya never know rite

I actually think that's a good idea. Couterprograming has worked many, many times in the past, and since Brother Bear focuses on an entirely different audience then Matrix, I can see BB holding its own against the final Matrix movie to the tune of 25+ million opening weekend.

[Starion]

It's Official: No More 2D for DreamWorks...

From Animated-movies.net:

Sinbad's failure may exemplify a market that has changed faster than even animation pros like Jeffrey Katzenberg could have anticipated, writes the New York Times. As a traditional-style hand-drawn animated feature, the movie took four years to make--a period in which audiences have come to prefer computer-animated comedies like Shrek to serious animated action adventures. "We are extremely disappointed," said Ann Daly, the head of animation for DreamWorks, noting that Sinbad would be the studio's last traditionally drawn film. From now on, DreamWorks will use computers to animate its movies. Even Jeffrey Katzenberg concedes that the art form on which he made his reputation may be obsolete. "I think the idea of a traditional story being told using traditional animation is likely a thing of the past," he admitted. Among other factors, Katzenberg said, fast-evolving technology is making it easier to create images that a few years ago could only be drawn by hand. DreamWorks executives declined to say how much Sinbad cost. Some industry people have conservatively estimated that DreamWorks spent $70 million (not including marketing expenses), although the comparable Treasure Planet cost Disney about $140 million, according to animation industry executives. Ann Daly said that whatever the losses on "Sinbad," they would not be financially devastating. The problem with Sinbad, like Treasure Planet, may lie more in the evidently flawed strategy that many large studios embarked on several years ago to produce animated action-oriented adventure movies to attract boys, said Jerry Beck, an animation historian. "Almost all these movies have failed." DreamWorks' Ann Daly also pointed out that the only animated movies (whether hand-drawn or computer-generated) that have done well recently are comedies, including Finding Nemo and last summer's hand-drawn Lilo & Stitch from Disney. And so DreamWorks executives are looking forward to next year's jokey Shrek 2 and Sharkslayer. Certainly the marketing onslaught has begun.

[indianajdp]

ummm...have they ever considered the fact that it doesn't take a star-studded voice cast to produce these films? And possibly a more exciting, engaging storyline might help a bit, too.

Man is Brother Bear under pressure to deliver now more than ever.

[2099net]

I weep once more as another nail is hammered into the coffin of "Traditional" 2D animation.

[Sulley]

Could this mean the end of the "animated classics" as we know it? Maybe we'll have to start a list of non-Pixar CGI classics ( ), beginning with Dinosaur, and so on. I shudder to think.

[2099net]

Well, you'd all better get used to liking the Cheapquels (God I hate that word), because that's the only 2D animation Disney will be producing in a few years...

You know, considering they Studios always cite "Traditional" animation as expensive, how can Disney explain the 'chepquels'?

[Uncle Remus]

Most likely The Incredibles will beat Sharkslayer because A Bug's Life did way much better with its funny voice cast, and hilarious outtakes and gags, and better computer graphics. But Antz didnt have a chance at all because of its poor voice cast and horrible computer graphics. Now Monsters Inc and Shrek were both equal expect in one thing. In Monsters Inc, PIXAR got together a bunch of people that adults would know from TV shows and adult movies. But if you mix Austin Powers, The Nutty Professor, and one of Charlie's Angels all together, you get a movie which both kids and Adults would know. So Shrek beated Monsters Inc there. Now the Incredibles has a very good chance of beating Sharkslayer next year so now we wait until next year.

[Carlo]

The Incredibles is supposed to be very good as there is the world's greatest spy backing it: 007.
At least in the teaser there is the title melody of "In Her Majesty's Secret Service" to be heard (the George Lazenby film of 1969).

So Pixar + Disney + James Bond: What can possibly go wrong?

[Starion]

Could this mean the end of the "animated classics" as we know it? Maybe we'll have to start a list of non-Pixar CGI classics ( ), beginning with Dinosaur, and so on. I shudder to think.

We might need to start a list of 2D films made by DreamWorks too.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
The Prince of Egypt
The Road to El Dorado

One of the local Washington D.C. Arts and Entertainment reporters said that Sinbad had cheesy animation.

None of the above films made a lot of money. I guess most families are more interested in 3D CGI films. That's a sign of the times.

I'm starting to like 2D sequels already. I'm going to buy The Lion King 1 1/2 and Simba's Pride: SE. lol

I really like traditional 2D animation. I hope I can see Brother Bear in theaters and Sleeping Beauty on DVD.

[Prince Adam]

[quote="Carlo"]
So Pixar + Disney + James Bond: What can possibly go wrong? [/quote]

Not to sound cynical and negative, but the answer to that question IMO is LOTS!

[Sethp]

The Incredibles is supposed to be very good as there is the world's greatest spy backing it: 007.
At least in the teaser there is the title melody of "In Her Majesty's Secret Service" to be heard (the George Lazenby film of 1969).

So Pixar + Disney + James Bond: What can possibly go wrong?

Most likley that's just temp music.

Hopefully Randy Newman might sing something like "you're a fat super hero but you're ok!" when the movie comes out

[Starion]

007 + Disney + Pixar. That's an interesting combination.

[Prince Phillip]

maybe we should start up our own 2D trditional animation company, eventually aquire disney, and bring the magic back, and never let it die!!!! Who's with me!?!?!?! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Prince Phillip]

I was notr kidding... does anyone have the financial resources to back me?