End of Disney animated films?

[2099net]

CGI already passed the peek. At the end of 2006 we've had Madagascar, The Wild, Valiant, Chicken Little, Over the Hedge, Cars, A Day with Wilbur Robinson. Followed shortly by Happy Feet, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, The Barnyard, Foodfight, American Dog and Shrek 3.

But the technology is still improving. In theory, each of these movies can show the audience something new, something with an instant WOW factor. I'm not sure that they will, but just like Walt's early Mickey Mouse cartoons wowed people with sound and improving animation, CGI is evolving today.

I'll be interested to see how Madagascar does with the audience. Considering most CGI films have gone for a sort of pseudo-realism with their designs and especially with their environments, I'd love to see how the stylised Madagascar will perform. I expect it will "underperform" next to most of the other titles you mention.

And is Foodfight - the famous IBM production line created CGI movie (with thousands of auto-generated characters) still going ahead?

[PatrickvD]

I haven't heard wether it got cancelled or anything, but it has been awfully quiet around it. Really don't know. IMDB only lists Hillary Duff doing a voice.... uhm..... okay Is she gonna voice a banana, an apple or a cucumber?

Plot Outline: When the lights are turned off and the doors are locked, chaos reigns supreme for the products in this grocery store

And yeah, I'm real curious for Magascar. I've read some early reviews that pointed out the story falls apart when the animals get to the Island. Wich is a real shame if true, because I love the designs and I liked the trailers. My guess is it will do a little bit like Shark Tale, maybe better. But certainly not like Shrek.

[Disney-Fan]

Jesus Christ, I just realised something. Is there a feature on that list that isn't a comedy? I'm really getting sick of all the CG spoofs. When will real stories start appearing? Even Pixar hasn't touch other genres yet (the closest to another genre was The Incredibles).

I'm still waiting for a musical or a nice family type drama.

[JRawkSteady]

It is not the fault of Eisner. It is not the fault of Iger.

It is the fault of people who buy the movie tickets and DVDs.

This is crap. The people who buy movie tickets and DVDs want to see these animated features just as much as they want to see the CGI nonsense. The thing is, Eisner went on a power trip in 2003 and the animators rebelled against him and sided with Roy who Eisner forced to quit. So Eisner got pissed off and closed the animation studios, saying that they didn't need them now that they have computers. THAT'S what happened. If anyone wants to say otherwise, go ahead, but that's the truth. Iger is not going to be any better, because he never backed the people who wanted to do it for the art, he's another greedy bastard who just wants the money.

[Isidour]

Well, maybe all are comedies because as it happened with the hand draw at first, the stores than were atractive and it give more ideas where the ones who have comedy or were for chldrens.
Just remember the "final fantasy example", it was a serious movie, but I don´t think the people have the iea than the CGI characters can be more than for special efects making geat hordes or being just funny or for kids.

Let´s wait to the japanese make a great tv show or something, we al have saw that this people knows how to do catchy stories--remember neon genesis evangelion,blue seed,and many many more--

[ichabod]

I think that if people are expecting a big change with Iger then they are sadly going to be mistaken! A lot of people here seem to thing that Michael Eisner had full run of everything and did everything the way he wanted.

Even though ME as CEO is in a position of power, the other decision makers are the Disney Board. There are a lot of people calling the shots at the head of the Disney company (as with any company) and they are responsible also for a lot of the decisions. ME would not make a load of decisions that were against the advice and opinion of the Disney board, and others because he would simply make himself unpopular with them, and he would have had the support of the board almost all of the time. Some people seem to think it is Eisner solely making these decisions. Sure he has made a lot of the decisions over the years, but he would also have been supported by many!

Also shareholders and stockholders and marketing people nned to be taken into consideration. Disney need to keep these people happy and what makes a stockholder more happy than there investment growing in value, and even though they are not Shakespeare, the sequels shift tons of copies and therefore makes a lot of money!

Just because Eisner is gone, do not expect a huge change! There will be some overhauls no doubt, because Iger will have some perosnal likes and dislikes. If a change does happen it will take many years, but it will still be the same board and the same stockholders that need to be kept happy.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Even though ME as CEO was in a position of power, the real decision makers are the Disney Board. There are a lot of people calling the shots at the head of the Disney company (as with any company) and they are responsible also for a lot of the decisions. ME would not make a load of decisions that were against the advice and opinion of the Disney board, and others because he would simply make himself unpopular with them, and he would have had the support of the board almost all of the time.

Also shareholders and stockholders and marketing people nned to be taken into consideration. Disney need to keep these people happy and what makes a stockholder more happy than there investment growing in value, and even though they are not Shakespeare, the sequels shift tons of copies and therefore makes a lot of money!

Just because Eisner is gone, do not expect a huge change! There will be some overhauls no doubt, because Iger will have some perosnal likes and dislikes. If a change does happen it will take many years, but it will still be the same board and the same stockholders that need to be kept happy.

Tell that to Mickey in your avator!

[goofy108]

I am personally in favor of Disney beginning to make the CGI films. I dont know about anyone else, but when I saw the preview for 'Treasure Planet' or 'Brother Bear' or even 'Home on the Range' I thought to myself 'Wow. That looks good. Maybe I'll go see it.' And I never did. But when a new CGI film comes out, no matter who makes it or what its about, Im sucked into it and cant wait to see it. Plus the Pixar films that have been released have done a lot better than any Disney 2D film or at least it seems like it. The 'Walt Era' has passed. The 'The Great 90s Film Era' has passed. And I believe this is the next step in animation.

Who cares? As long as Disney starts making better movies, better stories, and better characters, what is the difference if its 2D or 3D?

[Lars Vermundsberget]

It seems that Disney animation in the traditional sense has come to an end. That's sort of sad, but all right if they were just going to make mediocre films anyway. I'm quite pleased with the 3D animation titles I've seen, but they are quite a different animal, IMO.

[JRawkSteady]

I'm sorry, did you just ask "Who cares?!" I bet the animator's care. You know, the ones who are now out of jobs because of the greed? But I guess that doesn't effect you does it?

But also I care. Disney fans care. The last Disney musical was Mulan in 1998. That wasn't that long ago and we can still bring it back. We need another Mulan. Another Lion King. Another Jungle Book.

What we don't need is another "Incredibles" or "Finding Nemo." They're great movies, but I can see movies with better storylines coming out of Japan!! Forget about the big budget crap Disney keeps putting out. Disney fans don't need big budget!! They want the old independant Disney that they know and loved. The one that brought us such timeless classics as Cinderella and Pinocchio. Walt may be gone, but his spirit lives on inside the company. And we can save it. Keep Disney/Pixar and save traditional Disney animation. (Plus then we'll have double the films!!) With two different companies working on films we'll have the best Disney company ever. But no one would ever listen to lil old me. Oh well.

[Wonderlicious]

I'm sorry, did you just ask "Who cares?!" I bet the animator's care. You know, the ones who are now out of jobs because of the greed? But I guess that doesn't effect you does it?

But also I care. Disney fans care. The last Disney musical was Mulan in 1998. That wasn't that long ago and we can still bring it back. We need another Mulan. Another Lion King. Another Jungle Book.

I'm so glad that people like you exist. Seriously, I bet if Disney made a 2D fairy tale musical, then 2D would be brought back to life after pieces of dreck like Treasure Planet. But I bet they'll decide to make Sleeping Beauty 2 instead.

[goofy108]

I'm sorry, did you just ask "Who cares?!" I bet the animator's care. You know, the ones who are now out of jobs because of the greed? But I guess that doesn't effect you does it?

But also I care. Disney fans care. The last Disney musical was Mulan in 1998. That wasn't that long ago and we can still bring it back. We need another Mulan. Another Lion King. Another Jungle Book.

What we don't need is another "Incredibles" or "Finding Nemo." They're great movies, but I can see movies with better storylines coming out of Japan!! Forget about the big budget crap Disney keeps putting out. Disney fans don't need big budget!! They want the old independant Disney that they know and loved. The one that brought us such timeless classics as Cinderella and Pinocchio. Walt may be gone, but his spirit lives on inside the company. And we can save it. Keep Disney/Pixar and save traditional Disney animation. (Plus then we'll have double the films!!) With two different companies working on films we'll have the best Disney company ever. But no one would ever listen to lil old me. Oh well.

I meant that as long as Disney is making good movies now thats all that matters.

I would love for Disney to make another 2D musical like Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin but they arent. Why? You got me. The 90s was a highpoint in Disney animation but recently, each 2D movie that comes out shows less and less effort. It all depends on Chicken Little. If it ends up being a strong film maybe Disney will continue to do these. Maybe CGI animation motivates the animators more. If not, then who knows?

But of course, I would love for them to have more musical films (we all want good animated movies). But if they wont do that and instead are making low effort films than I say move on to the next thing because this just aint working.

[2099net]

I'm sorry, did you just ask "Who cares?!" I bet the animator's care. You know, the ones who are now out of jobs because of the greed? But I guess that doesn't effect you does it?

I wonder if the hundreds of inkers and colourists cared when Rescuers Down Under was made on Disney's CAPS computer system and made them loose their jobs. I didn't see any huge outrage about the loss of their employment.

I'm not defending Disney's decision, but considering the amout of jobs Disney is outsourcing, the amount of products and goods Disney has being made abroad for minimal cost (some probably by child labour), just so people can get their $29.99 DVDs for $19.99 from Best Buy on the day of release, or cheap Disney beanies from Disneyland, the handful of lost animator's jobs seems the entirely wrong thing to get worked up about.

[Isidour]

it´s not just for the consumer but also for them

I´ll put it this way:
You have an ice cream bussines and you buy to some dudes the milks and all for making it
one day,you found another guy who sold the same but cheaper,and you change and buy to this guy.
now you can do 2 things:

1.-keep the normal price, what it means more money for you, until another ice-cream guy appear with lower prices,then you lose consumers

2.- make a "promotion" that allows you to sell cheaper your product but giving you the same amount of monetary incomes. This would make think the consumer,"it´s in promotion, take it and save money" what it means more buys and more incomes.

here, the company wins, the consumer win and the loser is the one who use to sell to the company.
one example of this is why does mny companies take theirs manufactures plants to china or india

[PatrickvD]

it doesn't require any animators to make ice cream, si so do not get your comparison

[Isidour]

I know, but the animators sell their works and service as a product.

And, I told Ice creams because here´s a hot like in hell

[chaychay102royal]

I'm sorry, did you just ask "Who cares?!" I bet the animator's care. You know, the ones who are now out of jobs because of the greed? But I guess that doesn't effect you does it?

But also I care. Disney fans care. The last Disney musical was Mulan in 1998. That wasn't that long ago and we can still bring it back. We need another Mulan. Another Lion King. Another Jungle Book.

I'm so glad that people like you exist. Seriously, I bet if Disney made a 2D fairy tale musical, then 2D would be brought back to life after pieces of dreck like Treasure Planet. But I bet they'll decide to make Sleeping Beauty 2 instead.

[goofy108]

I'm so glad that people like you exist. Seriously, I bet if Disney made a 2D fairy tale musical, then 2D would be brought back to life after pieces of dreck like Treasure Planet. But I bet they'll decide to make Sleeping Beauty 2 instead.

You guys are making me look like the bad guy!

[chaychay102royal]

Sorry. We just disagree with you.

[goofy108]

Sorry. We just disagree with you.

Actually, I think we just have different views on the same opinion. But maybe some of you all are too stuborn to realize it.