DVDizzy Forum

How do you think about Disney Animation potentially producing TV series?

Q: Could you elaborate on your thoughts, when it comes to Disney+? What opportunities do you see in the streaming service?

Jennifer Lee: [...] We have a Short Circuit program: Anyone can submit blind submissions, and then get to do a two-minute short. We have shorts that we have given opportunities for people to do; we’re looking at series. So, for us, the real issue is going to be a balance of time and resources, to make sure that everyone is well paced in all they want to do.

Source: https://deadline.com/2019/12/frozen-2-d ... 202812962/

That's the only way a Frozen TV series could happen. They're too protective of it to allow anyone else to create stories for the property.

Bad idea IMO. It's going to change the brand and not in a good way. If Disney want animated TV shows on D+ they should give it to Blue Sky. First WDAS do sequels, then TV shows? They might as well call it Disneytoons now and be done with it.

I'm not in favor of them doing TV shows either. I mean, isn't that what DTVA is for?

If the studio can produce animated series which live up to the quality associated with the WDAS name, I don’t see why not. Generally speaking, I am much more interested in what television is doing than what ends up on the silver screen. Imagine a prestige title from WDAS, not merely a episodic continuation of a popular IP, where the artists at WDAS can explore long form storytelling. I’m quite excited at this proposition.

Honest question, is this very different from the period when the animation studio was producing many cartoon shorts and animated films simultaneously?

I wonder if this will all be Disney+ exclusive content or if it'll be available on the Disney Channel.

I find it a bit strange that WDAS would start making TV series. Maybe Jennifer Lee was just referring to series based on their movies but made by DTVA like Tangled: the Series or to series of 3-4 minute shorts like Forky Asks a Question from Pixar.

Jeff Draheim, one of the editors at WDAS, revealed that a lot of projects are being produced for Disney+.

Draheim noted that production on his next feature was pushed to early 2021 due to the pandemic, but he’s keeping busy in the interim with animated content for Disney+. “I’m working on half a dozen projects that will go right to the streaming service,” he reported. "There's so much that they want to finish for streaming."

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behin ... -from-home

Sotiris wrote:How do you think about Disney Animation potentially producing TV series?

Q: Could you elaborate on your thoughts, when it comes to Disney+? What opportunities do you see in the streaming service?

Jennifer Lee: [...] We have a Short Circuit program: Anyone can submit blind submissions, and then get to do a two-minute short. We have shorts that we have given opportunities for people to do; we’re looking at series. So, for us, the real issue is going to be a balance of time and resources, to make sure that everyone is well paced in all they want to do.

Source: https://deadline.com/2019/12/frozen-2-d ... 202812962/

To me, it sounds like she is talking about doing short series. Have the same cast of characters in multiple shorts

I do wonder if one of the shows are the Wreck-It Ralph Princesses as discussed in another forum. That'd explain why there hasn't been an announcement yet.

Which shows do you think Disney AS will make? Zootopia? Treasure Planet?

I think Zootopia would work really well as a series. It could explain why they haven't announced a sequel yet. Moana would be difficult b/c getting Dwayne Johnson for a series could be too costly. It would have to be set before she met him but I dont know if that would work well story wise.

I think we'll get something tied to Frozen but it will probably be Olaf related which really doesn't interest me all that much(I still haven't managed to find the time to watch all those shorts.)

unprincess wrote:I think Zootopia would work really well as a series. It could explain why they haven't announced a sequel yet. Moana would be difficult b/c getting Dwayne Johnson for a series could be too costly. It would have to be set before she met him but I dont know if that would work well story wise.

I think we'll get something tied to Frozen but it will probably be Olaf related which really doesn't interest me all that much(I still haven't managed to find the time to watch all those shorts.)

They can also get another actor to play Maui.

I'm fine with the other films getting a TV show or a sequel, but I do hope they won't do anything new with Moana.

DisneyBluLife wrote:

unprincess wrote:I think Zootopia would work really well as a series. It could explain why they haven't announced a sequel yet. Moana would be difficult b/c getting Dwayne Johnson for a series could be too costly. It would have to be set before she met him but I dont know if that would work well story wise.

I think we'll get something tied to Frozen but it will probably be Olaf related which really doesn't interest me all that much(I still haven't managed to find the time to watch all those shorts.)

They can also get another actor to play Maui.

I guess, they'd have to look for another actor of pacific islander descent.

I don't usually watch Grace Randolph, I don't really like her and she's wrong most of the time, but I did watch her latest video about the Raya teaser and she hinted at something there that I didn't like and I just had to look on twitter and found these tweets from a month ago:

OH MY GOD

I just got some tea that I'm DYING to share but have to wait...

I can just tell you #Disney Animation is going to be doing #DisneyPlus series - MULTIPLE ONES

AND THE CHARACTERS THEY ARE DOING ARE A DREAM COME TRUE!

I'll share as soon as my source say I can...

https://twitter.com/GraceRandolph/statu ... 15395?s=19

Most of them will be about 6 episodes, 15 minutes each

they're reviving several popular #Disney characters / brands (recent)
and one show will be an ALL NEW original

Lots of great representation is the only other clue I can give right now...

https://twitter.com/GraceRandolph/statu ... 97122?s=19

Again, this is Grace Randolph so we can't know for sure, but since this news were hinted before her tweets there might be something coming and I HATE THIS. I HATE THE IDEA OF THIS.

AND THE CHARACTERS THEY ARE DOING ARE A DREAM COME TRUE!

This is so exciting! I hope this means that the Comfy Princess shorts from Ralph Breaks the Internet are coming soon!!!


Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel) was on the studio yesterday for a secret project...


Need confimration right now!

disneyprincess11 wrote:I do wonder if one of the shows are the Wreck-It Ralph Princesses as discussed in another forum. That'd explain why there hasn't been an announcement yet.

Which shows do you think Disney AS will make? Zootopia? Treasure Planet?

I've heard something about a possible Kingdom Hearts Disney+ series. I'm not sure if I believe that, but between it and the Wrecked Princesses concept, perhaps they could want series that incorporate multiple popular Disney characters / IPs at once in order to draw as much interest as possible?

As for others, I could maybe see something for Frozen, Zootopia, and Moana (eventually Raya, if it performs well).

I'm still not sold. I would rather WDAS sticked with films and Disney created a TV version of it. Like, a glorified Disney Television Animation where all the main people could transit (a bit like WDAS and Pixar) between them but still be their own things.

farerb wrote:Again, this is Grace Randolph so we can't know for sure, but since this news were hinted before her tweets there might be something coming and I HATE THIS. I HATE THE IDEA OF THIS.

She also claimed that an animated series based on The Enchanted Tiki Room was in the works a while ago. As you said, she's not always reliable, but it does line up with previous reports of WDAS creating new content for Disney+. I fully agree with you on this one. I think it's a horrible idea. It will not only cheapen classic characters even further, just when they started recovering from their DTV disgrace, but it will also tarnish WDAS' reputation as a studio. If they absolutely have to do this, they should stick to just doing shorts based on their CG films. I'd hate for 2D characters to be redesigned and CG-fied and inserted into new projects that's canon to the features.

bruno_wbt wrote:Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel) was on the studio yesterday for a secret project.

How do you know that? Did she mention it on social media?

Sotiris wrote: How do you know that? Did she mention it on social media?

Yes! Yesterday on her Instagram (Stories)

Jodi Benson wrote:
I feel like a kid again. I had so much fun working on a special secret project today.
I felt like I did the first time I stood behind a mic recording for animation 33 years ago. I felt free, uninhibited & I just let go.... my heart is full and I'm so thankful.