Wow, I was not expecting this. I’m glad this will be coming out in a Special Edition.
I haven’t been posting here lately because, in all honesty, I don’t feel like there is much to talk about. Between the never ending DVD Blu-Ray debate (and just so you know, I’ve gone Blu and I’ll never go back), the “Hannah Montana is crap” threads, and the “Pixar Rules” non sense I’ve just decided it was better to keep quiet.
This upcoming special Edition is a sign of Disney finally waking up and saying “sorry Lasseter”. For years the direct to video films have made tons of money for Disney. They were marketed to younger children, and gave kids the chance to have another adventure with their favorite characters. The direct to video films were a gold mine for Disney. Then come Mr. “I am Walt Disney/God” John Lasseter and his decree to cancel and no longer produce any direct to video films. All the fan boys went bonkers and cheered. Well unfortunately Disney said “stop”. Disney Consumer Products was not going to let him cancel all their planned direct to video films, based off of character franchises.
Do you honestly think Lasseter wanted the tinker bell films to continue? He had no choice but to re-work them, as opposed to cancel them. I think Disney met him half way. The Tinker bell films explore a new world, and introduce new characters. Disney Princess Enchanted Tales, takes classic characters and literally assaults them. There’s difference. I believe Lasseter was able to put Enchanted Tales on hold. There is no doubt in my mind that Disney has all of the Enchanted Tales series completed. As stated before these films were made cheap and fast, to return a greater profit. There’s also no doubt in my mind that Lasseter was not pleased with the series. There is a huge difference between creating an entire new brand and world out of one character, and artistically raping another group of characters who already have established worlds, personalities, and experiences.. What I’m trying to say is that such beautiful works of art (the Disney Princesses) deserve better than what we saw in Enchanted Tales.
Having said, it’s also important to remember that Disney is first and foremost a company!! They have a variety of different consumers to appeal to. The people that sit here and complain about things like Hannah Montana and High school musical make me laugh! Hannah Montana is something worth releasing!! It’s a billion dollar franchise adored by millions of families. Just because YOU don’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s un-worthy and it doesn’t mean it’s not Disney. But things like the Mickey Mouse club and Annette are perfectly fine, right? You guys don’t make ANY sense.
Here is something I posted in the Ariel’s Beginning thread. I think it has relevance to the point I’m trying to make:
Who really cares that Ariel’s Beginning doesn’t do the original justice. In all honesty it wasn’t created to. What about the true Disney fans you ask? Well believe it or not Disney actually does do things for us. They actually just went through the pain staking process of restoring some of our classic films to HD, digging in the vault for rare and exclusive footage, recording new interviews, and using a technology to its fullest so that the true fans get what they deserve. Disney is a huge corporation and they have a lot of different audiences to cater to. Like it or not Ariel’s Beginning (or Cinderella III for that matter) was not meant to cater to the true Disney fans. We can like the film, and we can also dislike the film- in the end its our decision. The upcoming Blu-Ray releases of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Beauty and the Beast do cater to us Disney fans. Do we have every right to be upset over Ariel’s Beginning? Yes we do, but please understand where the company is most likely coming from. I hope this made sense. Obviously I am NOT connected to The Walt Disney Company so I cannot speak for them, but I’m trying to put things into perspective.
The same logic applies to Disney Princes Enchanted tales- it’s a series meant to entertain preschool age girls, so that they can sing and play and immerse themselves with their favorite characters one more time. I don’t agree with Disney on some levels though. The Disney Princesses are not just for little girls. I’m 19, straight, and have a gf, and I’m OBSESSED with the Disney Princesses. Anyone can like them, and that’s where Disney and I disagree.
If Disney is trying to sell expensive Princess merchandise, then of course the princesses are for everyone. But if a fan complains about Aurora’s voice in Enchanted Tales, then Disney goes “well it’s for preschoolers”. I like enchanted Tales because I get to see and experience my favorite characters again and again in a setting and story different from that of the original films. Having said that, however, the amount of disrespect to the character of Aurora in both her new found personality and voice in the series DISGUISTS me to no end. I don’t have a problem with the animation or the not-so-great story lines. Enchanted Tales was produced cheap, and meant for young children.. I understand that and accept that. I will not accept the disrespect to the characters. Even Mary Costa, the original voice of Aurora,was appalled at her characters “update” in Enchanted Tales.
----End of Rant----
Having said all this (and I’m sorry it’s so long. Kudos if you read it!), I think Disney is re-releasing this because they are desperate to fill the void of money they’ve been loosing by not having the direct to video films. Why do you think Disney’s been releasing this like “Timeless Tales” and the “Animation Collection”? Because, they need to make up the money they’re no longer getting from the direct to video films.
This upcoming special edition release is most definitely a test. I think Disney wants to see how well it sells. If it makes a lot of money, there is no doubt in my mind that we will see upcoming volumes of Enchanted Tales. Walt Disney Home Entertainment is desperate, and it’s sad. Believe me, we have NOT seen the end of direct to video films and sequels. It was a stupid move on Lasseter’s part, and now the Home Entertainment Department is feeling the blow.
Disney is a company, and as such seeks to make money. Money talks, and it’s starting to say, I need my direct to video films”. Hopefully when Disney does decide to produce more direct to video sequels and films they will create them with respect and talent. I for one hope Lasseter has a huge part in the creation and development of upcoming direct to video films. I want to see a lot more Cinderella III’s, and a lot less Cinderella II’s.
) because those are things we don't know a lot from, blanks that I would like to see filled.
