Once Upon a Studio (WDAS Short)

[Farerb]

Prior to the opening film, the audience was also treated to the world premiere of Dan Abraham and Trent Correy’s new short Once Upon A Studio celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary.

The pair explained how they had initiated the project off the grid, working nights and weekends to figure out a way to pay tribute to the studio and its legacy.

The clever work, featuring a cameo by legendary 70-year animator Burny Mattinson, sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.

Abraham and Correy described the work as a “love letter” to the studio.

https://deadline.com/2023/06/annecy-ope ... 235413888/

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

Prior to the opening film, the audience was also treated to the world premiere of Dan Abraham and Trent Correy’s new short Once Upon A Studio celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary.

The pair explained how they had initiated the project off the grid, working nights and weekends to figure out a way to pay tribute to the studio and its legacy.

The clever work, featuring a cameo by legendary 70-year animator Burny Mattinson, sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.

Abraham and Correy described the work as a “love letter” to the studio.

https://deadline.com/2023/06/annecy-ope ... 235413888/

Hope one of those legendary Disney characters is Winnie the Pooh and that they bring him back with his signature hand-drawn animated look and Jim Cummings back to voice him.

[PatchofBlue]

Prior to the opening film, the audience was also treated to the world premiere of Dan Abraham and Trent Correy’s new short Once Upon A Studio celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary.

The pair explained how they had initiated the project off the grid, working nights and weekends to figure out a way to pay tribute to the studio and its legacy.

The clever work, featuring a cameo by legendary 70-year animator Burny Mattinson, sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.

Abraham and Correy described the work as a “love letter” to the studio.

That sounds like a dream! I really hope it's a cumulative body of characters and not just those from the last fifteen years.

[D82]

More info about the short:

Trent and Dan previously directed the Frozen short Once Upon a Snowman, and now they’re back with a similarly titled short, Once Upon a Studio. In their introduction, Trent and Dan shared that they took the initiative to brainstorm a way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Disney Animation, brainstorming for eight months to craft the narrative seen in this meta short.

It’s off from work they go as the talented artists close up Walt Disney Animation Studios for the day. Disney Legend Burny Mattinson escorts a new recruit out, who is in awe of the right history of the studio. But when everyone is gone for the day, it turns out the artwork on the walls comes to life! Characters from every Disney animated feature come out to play, plus a few familiar faces from classic shorts (and maybe a theme park project or two). And, as any platinum celebration should, the story is brought full circle with a nod to Walt Disney.

It’s Night at the Museum meets Walt Disney Animation Studios. Mixing live-action with animation, Disney history buffs will recall Walt Disney’s quote about using everything the studio ever learned to create Mary Poppins. That theme keeps moving forward here, with bits of reused animation (presumably a nod to Woolie Reitherman) seamlessly blended with newly animated moments. CG characters from the studio’s more recent hits brush up against toons made of ink & paint. And as often as possible, audio is reused from the animated films.

Source: https://www.laughingplace.com/w/article ... at-annecy/

A passion project, started on the fly in anticipation of the Mouse House’s centenary this year, the nine-minute short brings nearly one hundred characters back to life, throwing hand-drawn, CG and live action characters into a dizzy mix as they collectively buzz around the Roy E. Disney animation building on the Disney studio lot, causing gentle comic mayhem and leading towards a sentimental close set to the studio’s most emblematic song.

Of course, the short begins with an icon of a different sort, focusing on veteran animator Burny Mattinson (who passed away this February, just shy of his 70th anniversary with the studio – making his association longer than Walt Disney was alive, director Trent Correy pointed out onstage). “Boy, if these walls could talk,” says the legendary animator in his final screen role.

Soon enough, the walls very much do, as Mickey and Minnie spring loose from hanged photos, rousing Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Peter Pan and Wendy too, Moana, Maui, and Merlin, alongside Elsa and Goofy and Winnie the Pooh. Oh and about one hundred more – with “Zootopia” fan favorite Flash Slothmore drawing the screenings two biggest laughs.

The creative team brought back more than 40 original voice actors, matching them with commensurate behind the scenes talent. Disney stalwart Eric Goldberg – who acted as lead animator on the Genie in “Aladdin” and co-helmed “Pocahontas” – headed hand-drawn animation for the short, while “Raya and the Last Dragon” supervising animator Andrew Feliciano oversaw CG.

“This is a love letter to the medium, to Disney animation, and really a thank you to anyone in the audience that’s ever connected with a film over the last hundred years,” said director Dan Abraham.

Future plans are as of yet hazy for the centenary short, though one should safely assume some form of wider broadcast or distribution before the anniversary year is out. But in Annecy on Sunday night, those gathered in the amphitheater-turned-haven could count themselves among the happy few to see the short first-hand. And in a city still reeling, it was a happy night indeed.

Source: https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals ... 235640168/

[Prince Kido]

I attended the screening at Annecy tonight and it was like a dream comes true.
Sooooo many characters from ALL the Disney animated movies reunited in this love letter new short to celebrate 100 years of Disney Animation.
I was moved to be honest as it was like incredibly magical to see all my/our favorite characters, both 2D and CG, from Snow White to Wish.
Can't wait for the presentation of Wish next Friday !!

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

I attended the screening at Annecy tonight and it was like a dream comes true.
Sooooo many characters from ALL the Disney animated movies reunited in this love letter new short to celebrate 100 years of Disney Animation.
I was moved to be honest as it was like incredibly magical to see all my/our favorite characters, both 2D and CG, from Snow White to Wish.
Can't wait for the presentation of Wish next Friday !!

Two questions for you Prince Kido:

First, since it’s confirmed that Winnie the Pooh and his friends are in the short (https://twitter.com/laughing_place/stat ... 47584?s=46), does Jim Cummings voice Winnie the Pooh in it?

Two, since you’re at the Annecy Festival for all this week and are going to the festival’s final day panel for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish on Friday too, can you ask the film’s co-writer & WDAS head Jennifer Lee if the upcoming Disney Plus Tiana series will be hand-drawn animated? Please?

I need someone from Disney to say it officially so we can finally believe the insiders I’ve spoken to saying it will be or not have to wait for Eric Goldberg to be allowed to say it and continue to say “it’s still under wraps.”

[Sotiris]

The clever work, featuring a cameo by legendary 70-year animator Burny Mattinson, sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.

That sounds more cringe-worthy than Michael Eisner's original Pomp & Circumstance crossover idea. Disney has become such a creatively bankrupt, sell-out studio. Ralph Breaks the Internet, Chip & Dale, now this... They don't do anything that doesn't rely on cheap fanservice or nostalgia, anymore.

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

The clever work, featuring a cameo by legendary 70-year animator Burny Mattinson, sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.

That sounds more cringe-worthy than Michael Eisner's original Pomp & Circumstance crossover idea. Disney has become such a creatively bankrupt, sell-out studio. Ralph Breaks the Internet, Chip & Dale, now this... They don't do anything that doesn't rely on cheap fanservice or nostalgia, anymore.

Be quiet, Sotiris.

Your negativity is poison to these forums and why most people don't come to this forum, which people on Twitter have called you out for when you bashed the ending of Peter Pan and Wendy when the novel spoiled it, which really was a great addition. It's not so-called "cringeworthy" to have all of the animated Disney characters of 100 years together from both different animation styles in a special short to celebrate Disney's 100th Anniversary. And, also, it's not "creatively bankrupt" either, such an overused derogatory term. It's a great thing to do this. Who cares if it's "cheap fan service or nostalgia?" BTW, that's not what this is. This is a celebration of 100 Years of Walt Disney Animation and all its different styles through characters of hand-drawn animation and computer animation, something you lack the ability and brains to understand. And perhaps that will be your ultimate lesson when you see the execution of the short fare better on screen than on paper.

BTW, Chip n Dale clearly worked with what it did that it gave them their Outstanding TV Movie Emmy Award. So whatever you think about that also, it will never change people from agreeing with you since the majority of most people in the world don't share your opinion.

Be happy you're even starting to get hand-drawn animation again at Disney beginning with this short and the Tiana series (allegedly) soon. Or don't watch them at all and leave us alone. One or the other, can't pick both. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.

Capice?

Also, it's YOU who's the sell-out, not Disney. You claim to want them to do what you want yet hate them when they give you what you want but not in the way you expected. Instead of bashing, you should thank them. But you don't showing u are the one who's the sell-out, not them.

[PatchofBlue]

That sounds more cringe-worthy than Michael Eisner's original Pomp & Circumstance crossover idea. Disney has become such a creatively bankrupt, sell-out studio. Ralph Breaks the Internet, Chip & Dale, now this... They don't do anything that doesn't rely on cheap fanservice or nostalgia, anymore.

Quiet, Sotiris. Your negativity is poison to these forums and why most people don't come to this forum, which people on Twitter have called you out for when you bashed the ending of Peter Pan and Wendy when the novel spoiled it, which really was a great addition. It's not so-called "cringeworthy" to have all of the animated Disney characters of 100 years together from both different animation styles in a special short to celebrate Disney's 100th Anniversary. And, also, it's not "creatively bankrupt" either, such an overused derogatory term. It's a great thing to do this. Who cares if it's "cheap fan service or nostalgia?" BTW, that's not what this is. This is a celebration of 100 Years of Walt Disney Animation and all its different styles through characters of hand-drawn animation and computer animation, something you lack the ability and brains to understand. And perhaps that will be your ultimate lesson when you see the execution of the short fare better on screen than on paper.

BTW, Chip n Dale clearly worked with what it did that it gave them their Outstanding TV Movie Emmy Award. So whatever you think about that also, it will never change people from agreeing with you since the majority of most people in the world don't share your opinion.

Be happy you're even starting to get hand-drawn animation again at Disney beginning with this short and the Tiana series (allegedly) soon. Or don't watch them at all and leave us alone. One or the other, can't pick both. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.

Capice?

People are allowed to give their opinions about things. They're under no obligation to share only excitement or enthusiasm if that's not their honest reaction. That's not fair or accurate, and it's certainly not how you get interesting conversation.

I've viewed and participated in online forums where members were genuinely snide and vicious toward each other and the subjects they were critiquing, and this is far from that atmosphere.

And Sotiris is super well respected on this forum. You're not really in a position to make demands of his or anyone's behavior, certainly not over something like not being excited over a project we know very little about.

He's also not the only one who isn't impressed by the ecosystem out of which movies like "Chip & Dale" were made. I've personally never seen the movie, so I can't technically give my opinion, but I've deliberately stayed clear of it for many of the reasons that he shared, which should say a lot about how many people see the film and others like it.

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

Quiet, Sotiris. Your negativity is poison to these forums and why most people don't come to this forum, which people on Twitter have called you out for when you bashed the ending of Peter Pan and Wendy when the novel spoiled it, which really was a great addition. It's not so-called "cringeworthy" to have all of the animated Disney characters of 100 years together from both different animation styles in a special short to celebrate Disney's 100th Anniversary. And, also, it's not "creatively bankrupt" either, such an overused derogatory term. It's a great thing to do this. Who cares if it's "cheap fan service or nostalgia?" BTW, that's not what this is. This is a celebration of 100 Years of Walt Disney Animation and all its different styles through characters of hand-drawn animation and computer animation, something you lack the ability and brains to understand. And perhaps that will be your ultimate lesson when you see the execution of the short fare better on screen than on paper.

BTW, Chip n Dale clearly worked with what it did that it gave them their Outstanding TV Movie Emmy Award. So whatever you think about that also, it will never change people from agreeing with you since the majority of most people in the world don't share your opinion.

Be happy you're even starting to get hand-drawn animation again at Disney beginning with this short and the Tiana series (allegedly) soon. Or don't watch them at all and leave us alone. One or the other, can't pick both. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.

Capice?

People are allowed to give their opinions about things. They're under no obligation to share only excitement or enthusiasm if that's not their honest reaction. That's not fair or accurate, and it's certainly not how you get interesting conversation.

I've viewed and participated in online forums where members were genuinely snide and vicious toward each other and the subjects they were critiquing, and this is far from that atmosphere.

And Sotiris is super well respected on this forum. You're not really in a position to make demands of his or anyone's behavior, certainly not over something like not being excited over a project we know very little about.

He's also not the only one who isn't impressed by the ecosystem out of which movies like "Chip & Dale" were made. I've personally never seen the movie, so I can't technically give my opinion, but I've deliberately stayed clear of it for many of the reasons that he shared, which should say a lot about how many people see the film and others like it.

Pardon me if all I wanted to was call someone out for hypocrisy at its finest.

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

Got a first look at the short (either a shot or concept art from the short) from Josh Gad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtXrg65vzmk ... I2Ng%3D%3D.

We're gonna see Olaf interact with the Genie, through unused audio recordings from Robin Williams.

I wonder how that's gonna go and what audio recordings they used.

Oh well. November 22nd, we'll soon find out.

[Sotiris]

I'm not sure if that picture is a screenshot or concept art/publicity still, but the Genie looks too small and off-model there and his shade looks more purple than blue. By the way, do we know if the new animation for the 2D characters will be traditionally hand-drawn, CG-based, vector-based or software-assisted? Experiencing the legacy animated characters in potentially subpar animation and design, a shadow of their former selves, is not going to be easy for me. Not to mention, the possible out-of-character personalities, humor and interactions. I don't trust modern Disney to not screw them up, to be honest. Their track record with similar fan service-y projects is not inspiring me with confidence.

[Farerb]

I'm not sure if that picture is a screenshot or concept art/publicity still, but the Genie looks too small and off-model there and his shade looks more purple than blue.

He doesn't have hands.

[Farerb]

So this short is going to feature ALL the Disney characters? Even Chicken Little and that cow?!

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

I'm not sure if that picture is a screenshot or concept art/publicity still, but the Genie looks too small and off-model there and his shade looks more purple than blue.

He doesn't have hands.

THAT is because it is concept art that, when taken a pic of, wasn’t properly lit and color-graded.

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

So this short is going to feature ALL the Disney characters? Even Chicken Little and that cow?!

Most likely.

[Farerb]

I guess it means that they won't appear in Wish, I actually prefer it that way to be honest, but now how will Wish take Easter Eggs to the next level?

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

I guess it means that they won't appear in Wish, I actually prefer it that way to be honest, but now how will Wish take Easter Eggs to the next level?

We'll just have to find out.

[Sotiris]

He doesn't have hands.

His hands are meant to look that way in that specific pose. It's like that in the movie too.

https://i.imgur.com/Jp3CEwq.jpg

[Farerb]

He doesn't have hands.

His hands are meant to look that way in that specific pose. It's like that in the movie too.

https://i.imgur.com/Jp3CEwq.jpg

Never noticed that, thanks.