DVDizzy Forum

As known, Disney is first and foremost known as a family friendly company, which has made mostly family friendly animated features. However, they’ve still included some serious themes into their movies. For example a child watching his father get murdered (“The Lion King”), a heroine which has to sacrifice to be with her sweetheart for the good of her own people (“Pocahontas”). And not to mention the themes in “Hunchback”, which is with no doubt Disney’s most daring film to date and which conveyed themes that you usually don’t expect to see in an animated feature. So my question is; Would you like to see Disney expanding themselves and including more serious, mature themes in their animated features? And if so, which themes?

Although I love Disney films for what they are, I wouldn’t mind to see Disney expanding them selves. As long as it is for the good, though

I think timing is everything. When The Lion King and Pocahontas were beginning development, Beauty and the Beast had just been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and won at the Golden Globes. In fact, Pocahontas was being created with winning the Oscar in mind.

With Up and Toy Story 3, I think the time for a more serious animated film like the ones you've mentioned is finally starting to come around again. The only problem is that Disney itself doesn't seem confident in itself to attempt it. Maybe if Reboot Ralph does as well as Tangled we'll see Mort take a very serious tone.

I thought that was what Touchstone was for. Back when they did it with Roger Rabbit and Nightmare Before Christmas.

It would definitely be worth a try if placed in the right hands.

I'd really like to see much darker versions of Black Hole and The Black Cauldron.

I'd like to see Disney incorporate darker themes into its movies as well. I think it would help them appeal to all age groups and rid itself of the "Disney is for kids" mentality that seems to be omnipresent in society.

The darker films Beauty to Hunchback, were what I consider Disney's goldens age. Hercules was the most insulting thing I've ever seen to follow up something so groundbreaking as Hunchback. I'd love to see them go back to this style.

The darker films Beauty to Hunchback, were what I consider Disney's goldens age. Hercules was the most insulting thing I've ever seen to follow up something so groundbreaking as Hunchback. I'd love to see them go back to this style.

That's exactly what I felt when I saw "Hercules" back in 1997. Although I learned to like it over the years.

"Aladdin" wasn't a dark picture either (although it was a fun one, for sure).

It would have to come from another "imprint" like Touchstone. If Disney (or Pixar) released a dark mature pg-13 animated film, there would be vast hordes of parents that took their 5-6 year olds to the latest Disney flick, and then they'd be mad because it "scarred" their kid or something.

well, 'Mort' as already a dark theme so, well, let's see how it turns out.

littlefuzzy wrote:It would have to come from another "imprint" like Touchstone. If Disney (or Pixar) released a dark mature pg-13 animated film, there would be vast hordes of parents that took their 5-6 year olds to the latest Disney flick, and then they'd be mad because it "scarred" their kid or something.

That'd be their own faults for ignoring A) the movie ratings and B) any other warning that the film is not for babies.

When Disney has gone the darker route in the past, (Black Cauldron, Hunchback, Atlantis) the movies haven't really been embraced by the public at large. Each movie may have fervent fans, but generally they're not accepted as classics in most people's minds. For that reason, it will probably be a while before they enter that territory in animation again.

littlefuzzy wrote:It would have to come from another "imprint" like Touchstone. If Disney (or Pixar) released a dark mature pg-13 animated film, there would be vast hordes of parents that took their 5-6 year olds to the latest Disney flick, and then they'd be mad because it "scarred" their kid or something.

Yeah which make Parents look like complete dumbasses for not reading the rating label.

Disneyphile wrote:When Disney has gone the darker route in the past, (Black Cauldron, Hunchback, Atlantis) the movies haven't really been embraced by the public at large. Each movie may have fervent fans, but generally they're not accepted as classics in most people's minds. For that reason, it will probably be a while before they enter that territory in animation again.

At least Hunchback made back its money, plus a little more. Black Cauldron and Atlantis fell flat on their asses due to gaining back half their budgets, labeling them as financial failures.

I wouldn't want Disney to change a thing. For the most part all of the Disney Animated and Live Action Films have something for every age group to enjoy. Seeing the Disney Animated Classics is what family is all about.

Why would anyone want to foist another debacle like "South Park" or "The Simpson's" on the unsuspecting public. They didn't work before, and they sure as heck won't work again.

They tried adult humor years ago in "Nine Lives of Felix The Cat" and "Heavy Metal", and found that the American public wasn't buying into adult themed animation.

Even some of the wonderful Ghibli films have fallen by the wayside because of the fickle American movie goer who doesn't want to see anything that wanders over into the adult realm of things.

DARTH KNITE wrote:The darker films Beauty to Hunchback, were what I consider Disney's goldens age. Hercules was the most insulting thing I've ever seen to follow up something so groundbreaking as Hunchback. I'd love to see them go back to this style.

These films are being developed simultaneously, otherwise Disney wouldn't be able to put one out every year. All films have different styles. Or do you think 101 Dalmatians was 'insulting' to follow up Sleeping Beauty? It's okay to not like the movie, but your reasoning doesn't ring true.

dvdjunkie wrote:Why would anyone want to foist another debacle like "South Park" or "The Simpson's" on the unsuspecting public. They didn't work before, and they sure as heck won't work again..

At two things:

a) You assume "mature"=South Park-ish humour
b) You cite both Simpsons and South Park as failures despite the first being the longest running comedy/animated TV show ever with a feature grossing $527 million worldwide and the second airing its 15th season this year.

They both worked becuase they were made for a different audience, which wouldn't work for Disney, but even bringing those up is questionable given the fact the OP never suggested such style of adult humour, but instead serious themes.

As for the OP's actual question, yes I would, but not sugarcoated with animal sidekicks and forced comic relief. Neither of which I'd expect Disney to do.

However I'm fine with Disney movies as they are so long as they are still good like Tangled.

Hunchback was originally going to be a very mature film. Many of the animators hate the final version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame because they know what it was originally going to be (Nik Ranieri is the most outspoken on this). The mature take was green lit and in production, then at the last minute, the execs got cold feet and demanded they lighten it up and shove in some Happy Meal characters. Many animators describe the original version as Hell Fire, but the whole movie. Gaëtan Brizzi (who along with his brother directed the fantastic opening sequence, Hell Fire sequence, The Court of Miracles sequence, and part of the ending execution sequence) said that the Hell Fire sequence is actually a toned down version of what they originally story boarded. I wish the executives would've allowed the creative team to make the movie they originally wanted to make.

I've never viewed Disney as immature personally. Unlike say, Alvin & Co.

Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, these movies have a quality of sophistication.

As for mature themes, I don't really like the idea of cranking out a movie for the sake of a theme, so as long as it isn't forced upon a story, I wouldn't mind. I'd love to see a movie about parents perhaps? A war periodical where two people are separated and desperately seek each other with tough decisions to be made.

An animated feature based on a true story could also be interesting. With an artistic license of course.

Victurtle wrote:An animated feature based on a true story could also be interesting. With an artistic license of course.

As long as it turns out better than Pocahontas...

I would love to see a more mature hand-drawn animated feature from WDAS even if it's not released under the Disney label.