Disney and Swan Lake?

[Sotiris]

I love Richard Rich's version of The Swan Princess and I think it deserves to be seen as a valid adaptation.

I love The Swan Princess too, but considering Disney was at its peak in the '90s both in terms of animation/production values as well as storytelling, I'm confident they would have been able to create another masterpiece. But the Disney of today? No way.

[Disney Duster]

Thanks for the owl info robster16 and Farerb.

If Disney did their own Swan Lake before Richard Rich's, it probably would have been superior, but would it beat the water magic sfx in Richard Rich's?

[DisneyFan09]

I love The Swan Princess too, but considering Disney was at its peak in the '90s both in terms of animation/production values as well as storytelling, I'm confident they would have been able to create another masterpiece. But the Disney of today? No way.

Agreed. It`s interesting to wonder how it could`ve been. Whether it would`ve been a po-faced drama (considering how Disney were trying to be a little po-faced after Beauty and the Beast`s nomination) or a more light-hearted romp like Hercules and Mulan.

[Mooky]

No doubt Disney's Swan Lake would have been better than The Swan Princess, but that also means we might not have gotten Aladdin and subsequent M&C movies -- at least not in the form they exist now. And I'll take Aladdin-that-we-got over Swan Lake-that-could-have-been any time.

FTR, I like TSP as it is, but I'm certain a more straightforward approach and Tchaikovsky's music would have elevated it to a bona-fide classic. But, to be fair to TSP, I'm not sure even Disney would have used that approach in their version, especially after the success of The Little Mermaid and its Broadway-style songs.

[Farerb]

I don't think M&C declining to make the film was the reason the project wasn't made, they also declined to do The Lion King and that eventually got made with different directors.

I think Disney just didn't do the project because they learned about Richard Rich doing his own version.

[Disney Duster]

Hm...yes, you may be right, Farerb. If only someday Disney would do Swan Lake.

[Sotiris]

I don't think M&C declining to make the film was the reason the project wasn't made, they also declined to do The Lion King and that eventually got made with different directors. I think Disney just didn't do the project because they learned about Richard Rich doing his own version.

After Musker & Clements turned down the project, it was still in development with Roger Allers directing. After he joined The Lion King, Mike Gabriel took over the reins. Brenda Chapman who was part of the story team when Gabriel was going to direct, confirmed in an interview that the project got cancelled because of Richard Rich's version.

[Disney's Divinity]

I love Richard Rich`s version of The Swan Princess and I think it deserves to be seen as a valid adaptation.

I agree. True, in theory I would've taken a Disney version of Swan Lake over Hunchback, Pocahontas, or Tarzan if given the option, but I think things turned out for the best. I love a lot of things about The Swan Princess even as it is that overcome the much weaker animation quality--Odette being the main thing (her signature white dress with the green around the collar is gorgeous and better than many Disney princesses, both the Walt era, '90s, and present, imo), Uberta being another, and the majority of the musical numbers. The opening number is easily my favorite part of the movie, it's a big opening number like most of the Disney's '90s films, but it never feels like a straight copycat of any of them either. The villain is on the weaker side (not as bad as Clayton though), but the Mim-esque henchman still makes me laugh.

Come to think of it, the title they went for ("The Swan Princess") may be part of why I always liked The Frog Princess for TP&TF.

[NeverLand]

Mike Gabriel:

Concept art I did for a Disney film that was never made. So fun to work in charcoal again. And messy as Hell. In a good way.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqeKmlpP7eM

Charcoal on paper. Concept for unmade feature.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqghdBRPm4Z

[blackcauldron85]

It was about ten years ago now.

When someone asked him if it was for Bluebeard, he said no, but when someone asked if it was for Swan Lake, he didn't say no, but:

Sorry, I shouldn't say the title. It was only a few years ago and I am not 100% positive it will never get made one day.

[Sotiris]

If Mike Gabriel's art was for a project in development 10 years ago, then it couldn't have been Swan Lake. Disney's Swan Lake was shelved in the '90s. I wonder what this project was that got cancelled around 2013?

[DisneyFan09]

I love Richard Rich`s version of The Swan Princess and I think it deserves to be seen as a valid adaptation.

I agree. True, in theory I would've taken a Disney version of Swan Lake over Hunchback, Pocahontas, or Tarzan if given the option, but I think things turned out for the best. I love a lot of things about The Swan Princess even as it is that overcome the much weaker animation quality--Odette being the main thing (her signature white dress with the green around the collar is gorgeous and better than many Disney princesses, both the Walt era, '90s, and present, imo), Uberta being another, and the majority of the musical numbers. The opening number is easily my favorite part of the movie, it's a big opening number like most of the Disney's '90s films, but it never feels like a straight copycat of any of them either. The villain is on the weaker side (not as bad as Clayton though), but the Mim-esque henchman still makes me laugh.

Come to think of it, the title they went for ("The Swan Princess") may be part of why I always liked The Frog Princess for TP&TF.

Thanks As for Rothbart, I don`t consider him to be a bad villain, but not a great one either. He`s a middle range villain, who`s easily a good and a fine one, but not a memorable one. But he`s still far from the leagues of lackluster villains.

[Disney's Divinity]

If WDAS is ever allowed to come back with a real princess musical down the line--and by that I mean a strong soundtrack, some kind of adaptation, romance, drama, etc.--it wouldn't be a bad idea to come with some story centered around swans and magic, there are many tales that do. There is a sort of glamour to fantasy stories that feature swans in a way that reminds me of the same vibe mermaids inspire.