Your advice for Disney

[pap64]

@Goliath: Yeah, I should have elaborated on that a bit more.

You see, in the mid to late 90s Disney used to have a Saturday Morning block called "One Saturday Morning" on ABC. The gimmick was that they used to celebrate the fact that it was Saturday and that school sucked.

Yet their lineup of shows consisted of Doug, Recess, Pepper Ann and other shows dealing with kids in school... Oh sure, they had some Mickey Mouseworks and later on House of Mouse, but a great deal of the lineup was like that: kids in school sitcoms (as you described it). The comedy, creativity and action the Disney Afternoon shows had were missing in these shows, and they were rather... bland.

Again, they weren't BAD, but after years of giving us some of the most inspired TV shows ever it felt weird seeing them tackle such pedestrian shows. I mentioned Proud Family since that was done in the same style as the One Saturday Morning shows.

Hell, even the Emperor's New Groove series TOOK PLACE IN SCHOOL!

I admit that Kim Possible, Phineas and Ferb and to an extend Jake Long were pretty good and creative, but I miss the free for all imagination older shows had.

[estefan]

I highly recommend giving Teacher's Pet a look. Yes, it's about children in school, but they twisted the idea a bit by having it be about a dog who disguises himself as a boy to go to school (and he's voiced by Nathan Lane, no less!). I also think it was a genius part of Disney's to hire Gary Baseman, the artist behind the Cranium board games to do it, to give a unique, very un-Disney-like look (wouldn't surprise me if Disney-Duster hated the show, for that very reason, if he ever saw it ).

But, yeah, of the One Saturday Morning shows (and boy, did I really like that line-up), that was probably my favourite on the block.

[Goliath]

@ pap64: Yes, I get what you're saying, and I don't disagree with that. Compared to most of the Disney Afternoon shows, the One Saturday Morning shows were not nearly half as good. But DA also had some stinker, in my opinion, like Mighty Ducks, and Quack Pack wasn't as good as I remembered it. (Nostalgia can work misleading that way.)

I think the reason I still like shows like Pepper Ann and Recess, is that they're done in a very own, unique style. Even if it's not the usual Disney style, it's still original. Whereas shows like Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, Dave the Barbarian and the like look like copies of Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon shows. I've seen Emperor's New School and almost cried in disapppointment. I mean, it's the same concept as Hercules, the series (sending the movie's main character to school), only poorly animated, poorly written and poorly executed.

It's interesting to see that the rise of Disney's tv shows in the late 1980's and first half of the 1990's paralleled the rise of their classic animated features. And, similarly, how the demise of their tv shows went almost parallel to the demise of their animated features. The only exception to that rule was Lilo & Stitch in 2002, the same year Kim Possible came out, the only exception in the tv department. Coïncidence?

[DisneyAnimation88]

I would agree with all of the points made so far, especially those of Escapay, but would add that I would like Disney to cut down on the number of films they release in a year, or as an alternative, be more selective of the ones they do release. In today's film industry, it's pointless saying that Disney should value the quality of a story over how much money it could make but spending millions this summer on "Prince of Persia" and "The Sorceror's Apprentice" was virtually pointless as neither will be the franchise Disney so desperately want. While the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series has been successful, Disney don't necessarily have to produce and spend stupid amounts of money marketing Jerry Bruckheimer's expensive flops.

[jediliz]

Dear Disney:

Disney Channel is supposed to be DISNEY movies....not Warner Brothers or Dimension Films or whatever else you air. Do not be afraid to premiere movies like National Treasure 1 & 2 and air ANIMATED MOVIES AGAIN! Don't air Mary Poppins only once.....make it a special yearly event, not a "one time ever" event.

Bring back Wonderful World of Disney and air it ON DISNEY CHANNEL!


Stop airing so many tween oriented series on Disney Channel. We've got Hannah Lametana, Gronas, and this new series premiering soon that's about "girls that become back up dancers" show.....Hannah is ending, so release a series set and THEN STOP AIRING IT!. Cancel GRONAS permanently, don't let it get a third season. Please bring back airing Kim Possible (and not at 12:30 AM!)....or at least release a nice Complete Series Set.


Air some of the older original movies during PRIME TIME. I had to set my dvd recorder's timer to record Stepsister from Planet Weird at 1:30 AM! Its an older DCOmovie that's NOT ON DVD, so I had no choice. It never airs in prime time.


Please release the Haley Mills movies by themselves (I'm thinking The Parent Trap). I'd love to see a Blu Ray release for the 50th anniversary. Please include all the features from the Vault Edition that I never got a chance to buy since its OUT OF PRINT.


Oh, and build a mini disney theme park in Kansas City....so its closer to me.

[Heil Donald Duck]

Air Education for Death 24/7 on Disney channel.

[DisneyFan09]

What advice do you guys have for Disney?

I just got the Beauty and the Beast blur ray and that is a HOT look!

But you know what Disney needs to do? They really need to go ahead and release Hercules and Tarzan on Blu Ray. In fact, they might as well go ahead and release a box set of the Renaissance collection. I'd wait outside Best Buy for that.

What suggestions do you all have for Disney?

My advice for Disney is: Invent a time machine and prevent "Hannah Montana The Movie" from being made. And start making good handdrawn movies again.

[pap64]

Dear Disney:

Disney Channel is supposed to be DISNEY movies....not Warner Brothers or Dimension Films or whatever else you air. Do not be afraid to premiere movies like National Treasure 1 & 2 and air ANIMATED MOVIES AGAIN! Don't air Mary Poppins only once.....make it a special yearly event, not a "one time ever" event.

Hate to burst your bubble, but the Disney Channel has ALWAYS shown movies from other companies besides their own. The Disney Channel was created to highlight Disney entertainment at its finest, INCLUDING Disney like content from other companies. Shows like Under the Umbrella Tree were created by other companies, and I remember watching movies like Raggedy Ann and Andy in a Musical Adventure, We're Back, Balto, Animalympics, I believe a couple of Ernest movies and many others along with Disney films and TV series.

What you should say is that Disney Channel today shouldn't be afraid of showing their wide variety of content instead of just dedicating itself to tween appropriate content, a suggestion many have said already.

No offense, BTW, just explaining that a bit.

[Escapay]

Hate to burst your bubble, but the Disney Channel has ALWAYS shown movies from other companies besides their own. The Disney Channel was created to highlight Disney entertainment at its finest, INCLUDING Disney like content from other companies.

And some not-very-Disney-like content too, Jolly (and yay, I'm using your nickname!). Unless you think the "Frost/Nixon" interviews or Spartacus are Disney-like family fun!

(disneyfella actually posted a thread about Disney Channel airing the "Frost/Nixon" interviews)

albert

[pap64]

Hate to burst your bubble, but the Disney Channel has ALWAYS shown movies from other companies besides their own. The Disney Channel was created to highlight Disney entertainment at its finest, INCLUDING Disney like content from other companies.

And some not-very-Disney-like content too, Jolly (and yay, I'm using your nickname!). Unless you think the "Frost/Nixon" interviews or Spartacus are Disney-like family fun!

(disneyfella actually posted a thread about Disney Channel airing the "Frost/Nixon" interviews)

albert

I don't know, were they very controversial? It could be seen as Disney's attempt to bring shows that actually educate on various levels, from kids to adults. I remember seeing movies about slavery, racism and other mature subjects.

I remember an old special created exclusively for the channel "People: A Musical Journey", sponsored by the United Nations, the special had an old man and his granddaughter visiting New York city as they explored several aspects of society, such as culture, individuality, traditions, food, and even religion and war. It was a very mature special that dealt with its topics very well, and it features different styles of animation and music. My favorite song is the ending theme "Fiesta Brazilera" in which all of the nations get together to have a party in New York city.

It was a really good special, and it stinks that I can't video of it anywhere.

[Escapay]

I don't know, were they very controversial?

Well, they certainly weren't about pirates, princesses, or Poppins!

"The Nixon Interviews" is basically David Frost interviewing Richard Nixon, in four parts. The most well-known part dealt with Watergate and was turned into a stage play and movie of the same name ("Frost/Nixon").

Spartacus is a 1960 Stanley Kubrick historical film about the slave Spartacus (played by Kirk Douglas).

It could be seen as Disney's attempt to bring shows that actually educate on various levels, from kids to adults. I remember seeing movies about slavery, racism and other mature subjects.

That's exactly what it was, and what I miss about Disney Channel. It used to be very multi-generational and multi-genre, programming wasn't limited to just tweencoms, cartoons, and movies of the past 5 years.

albert

[mdseverin]

This would probably never happen, but I would like to see all 49 animated films in a 2 disc Blu-Ray Special Edition (no DVD). Label all of them as a "Special Edition" (No Anniversary, Diamond, New Groove edition, etc.). They could release in multiple box sets, or one every month. I wouldn't mind if they even combined the early package films into one or two special editions.

[zackisthewalrus]

Dear Disney,
Get your head out of your ass. Seriously. Look around. What do you see? You SHOULD see many dedicated fans who love the work put out by Walt and by the animation studios after Walt's passing. What should you do? Please these fans who have been around for years and those who have jumped onto this bandwagon of fans. Walt Disney Treasures is an EXCELLENT way to please these fans. So are nice Blu-ray releases of classics, animated and live-action. Walt Disney Treasures would open up an array of options to please fans like adding Blu-ray sets and finally releasing "Song of the South".

Now turn your head. Who do you see now? You should see your EMPLOYEES. These people work for you. Be thankful and give them good pay and good benefits. Treat them as you would like to be treated.

Now turn your head again. Who is that? Why it's none other than Disney Channel. It's tired of all of the tween crap that's on the air today. It would like some classic animation rather than some random ass films from another company and late-night TV for adults again.

Do you get the point Disney? I sure hope you do. Now, hop to it. You don't want to piss people off, do you?

[Goliath]

Saving zackisthewalrus' post for next year's UD awards, to nominate it as Post of the Year.

[pap64]

That's exactly what it was, and what I miss about Disney Channel. It used to be very multi-generational and multi-genre, programming wasn't limited to just tweencoms, cartoons, and movies of the past 5 years.

albert

The sad thing is that Disney can STILL show tween centric programming and cater to everyone else on the market. In the morning they have Playhouse Disney for the kids. In the afternoon they could have the tween shows (think of it like the Disney afternoon but with Hannah Montana), in the evening a family movie (and I mean of ALL kinds, not just tween movies and the like), and after hours classic programming. I mean I seriously doubt that some random kids will be watching Suite Life at 4:00 AM (OK, neither does an adult but they are more prone to insomnia than kids so it makes sense).

[jediliz]

pap64: I know. I didn't get the disney channel regularly until I was 21 (only my maternal grandmother had it with her cable. It was either watch it when I visited her or watch it when we got a free preview, which was only a few times a year). My point is they seem to want to air 'Charlie and the Chocolate factory' more than they want to air.....Pollyanna or Swiss Family Robinson. When they air The Parent Trap, they air the remake with Lindsay Lohan instead of the original with Haley Mills. They'll air 'Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava girl' but they won't air The Rescuers. They will air Beethoven or its sequels, but they won't air the animated classic 101 Dalmatians.

That's what I was trying to say.


They aired Camp Rock 2 FIVE times during September (including all three days the weekend it premiered, it also aired on Labor Day (so technically 4 days) and it aired later in the month).

I'd love to see them air Babes in Toyland during Christmas season, but they won't.


I also agree with the person who said that the Fab Five have been demoted to being only for preschoolers.


Several years ago, I think they aired Mary Poppins, but it was a special ONE TIME ONLY event..........

Mickey isn't the ambassador of Disney Channel anymore....random Disney channel stars are.

[pap64]

pap64: I know. I didn't get the disney channel regularly until I was 21 (only my maternal grandmother had it with her cable. It was either watch it when I visited her or watch it when we got a free preview, which was only a few times a year). My point is they seem to want to air 'Charlie and the Chocolate factory' more than they want to air.....Pollyanna or Swiss Family Robinson. When they air The Parent Trap, they air the remake with Lindsay Lohan instead of the original with Haley Mills. They'll air 'Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava girl' but they won't air The Rescuers. They will air Beethoven or its sequels, but they won't air the animated classic 101 Dalmatians.

That's what I was trying to say.


They aired Camp Rock 2 FIVE times during September (including all three days the weekend it premiered, it also aired on Labor Day (so technically 4 days) and it aired later in the month).

I'd love to see them air Babes in Toyland during Christmas season, but they won't.


I also agree with the person who said that the Fab Five have been demoted to being only for preschoolers.


Several years ago, I think they aired Mary Poppins, but it was a special ONE TIME ONLY event..........

Mickey isn't the ambassador of Disney Channel anymore....random Disney channel stars are.

Ah, I see what you mean. I thought you meant that Disney should only air Disney stuff when the channel has been showing stuff from other companies since it first went on the air.

One thing I would add to your claim is that if they insist on showing other movies to try and be more varied, Seriously, they show the same movies over and over again!

[Goliath]

I also agree with the person who said that the Fab Five have been demoted to being only for preschoolers.

Mickey isn't the ambassador of Disney Channel anymore....random Disney channel stars are.

And THIS is why I get strange looks and condescending remarks when I mention I'm a fan of Disney... and why I have decided to shut up about it!

[pap64]

For the record I am the one that said that Disney was demoting the Fab Five to pre-school levels .

[Goliath]

For the record I am the one that said that Disney was demoting the Fab Five to pre-school levels .

I'm sorry, I just edited it. Thanks for letting me know my mistake; I'm big on quoting correctly.