A chunk of this a.m. was spent on the three floors of the Hat Building with representatives from our Mother International ...
On the first floor, the c.g. crew is working on Rapunzel* while the traditional layout crew is hard at work on the Winnie the Pooh feature. We spent a lot of time looking at pencil lines on big sheets of paper (what a concept!), while the artists said:
"We're making the Hundred Acre Wood a lot more green and lush than the first time [the featurette from the 1960s]. There was research done at the actual place in Britain, and we're putting in more greenery, ferns, and bigger trees than before, making it look like Wood that exists in Britain ..."
Up on the second floor, the animators are "resigned" to the reality that Snow Queen, has been shelved. As one of them noted: "There's now maybe going to be a long gap between hand-drawn projects, but they're going to work to come up with another project to replace Queen, we'll see what happens."
Meanwhile on the third floor, the story and visual development artists have finished work on Rapunzel. As we stumbled around, story artists were gathering for an Andrew Millstein and Ed Catmull meeting where they were going to get updated about future feature development. (Mr. Catmull and Mr. Millstein were coming up the stairs as we were going down ...)
Then I went off to lunch, and my friends from the IA returned to their offices for meetings. (Exciting, no?)
* Which, for our purposes here, will be the designated title until the House of Mouse announces another.
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Read on another blog that Rapunzel's title is about to be changed, and that the leading contender is "Tangled."
Yikes.
I'm so disappointed. I was hoping for "Dude, Where's My Comb"
The "Tangled" title materialized in comments down below.
Hey, if "Up" works for Pixar, "Tangled" should suffice for Disney.
I'm rooting for "Follicle! The Musical"
"Hey, if "Up" works for Pixar, "Tangled" should suffice for Disney."
THANK YOU Steve! Everyone's FREAKING OUT about this change! Would it be better as "Rapunzel"? Yes. Is it a stupid marketing gimmick? Yes. Is it the end of the world if it is anything else? No. The story is the same thing. Close your eyes for the opening credits if it pains you so much!
If "Up" had been called, "Crazy Balloon Man and his Magical Flying House" would it have effected how much you enjoyed to movie itself? Don't think so.
Up = an analogy for "moving forward," "progress," "ambition," "success!"
Tangled = the opposite of all that stuff.
Tangled = Disney Feature Animation at the moment.
I really do not understand why they are shelving “Snow Queen” again. “Pinnochio” is one of the most wonderful animated films made,and it’s a fairy tale. Perhaps a dark and mysterious picture, original character designs, a very different look and mature story telling... not so rushed like TpatF was... could be the key to be appealing broadly...you must watch ten times “Frog” to appreciate the details and all the beautiful work. The original essence of “Snow Queen” is beloved and very unique. “At least” make it CGI (just like Rapunzel).
I sadly think “Pooh” is going to be a flop, are they killing the traditional animation at Disney in a involuntary and very unusual way?
Perhaps a dark and mysterious picture
Glen Keane's version was just that. Too bad no one will ever see it.
Someone will some day have to sneak Glen Keane version out some office and leak the damn thing! I want to see his vision, especially that first act that got so much praise and was called "one of the best first acts in animated movies ever" by Lasseter...
I heard Wes Archer was working over there now. I'm happy for him.
First of all: I was laughing my head off at some of the snark here aimed at that unfortunate new title and Disney Animation. Thanks, guys, I needed that.
Second: Oooohhhhhhh man I wanna see Glen Keane's work on Snow Queen! And I want that film to get made! Damn Disney for being so timid (and so wrong-headed). To hell with all their other animated projects - I wanna see the Queen! Screw Pooh!
You know what would be cool? If WDAS made a horror film and/or thriller that was hand drawn. that would make my day.
I hope your reading this, Mr. Lasseter! If its too dark and edgy, just market the film under the Touchstone brand.
So when is Disney going to finally make all this official? The movie comes out in less than a year and they haven't really done anything. It sounds like people are working hard on this film, and that it's good, but I don't understand why Disney isn't making anything official.
Also are they looking for something that will replace Snow Queen (not 2d I mean just a feature in general)? Because other than Pooh, there's nothing in the works, unless they have something already...
The "dark and mysterious picture" that Glen Keane was directing was the earlier version of Rapunzel, not "Snow Queen".
While I'll agree making feature films can never be called easy, what the hell is going on over there?
projects years in development, suddenly trashed. Nutty title changes and a bold, brave new "Pooh."
Hell, working for Walt was a breeze compared to what I'm seeing today.
Floyd: While I'm sure working for Walt could be a PITA, I'm sure you at least felt that all your work was going somewhere. These days it seems that no one knows what's going on.
To various anonymouses: I'd love to see Keane's first act, too. But I also want to see Kingdom of the Sun and Sweating Bullets, so what do I know (note: I really enjoyed New Groove, so that's not a slam on that).
Heck, Keane was working on Snow Queen before he was working on Rapunzel.
Now that Elves is vaporware, are they hoping that people forget that it was publicly announced?
And does anyone know what's happening with newt?
Well, at least under Walt you knew what you were doing. Projects didn't languish in development hell for years. And while it's true Marc and Ken labored on "Chantecler" for six months, Walt killed it in a day. Not if or maybe - it was dead. The boss made decisions, and like it or not, all respected those decisions.
Of course, we weren't run by marketing bozos demanding silly title changes. "Cinderella" was a beloved fairy tale - and guess what? Everybody knew the name.
I guess running a cartoon studio must be really, really hard. I'm so glad I don't have that job.
Oh, and "Newt" is dead.
Thanks, Floyd. I was getting that vibe on newt but hadn't heard for sure. I really hate that, too - I thought it sounded interesting.
(re: Chanticleer - I still think Walt misfired on that one. How do you make a chicken appealing? Have Marc Davis draw it, duh..)
Floyd, it isn't a "bold, brave new Pooh." It is the same endearing Pooh that Walt created years ago with Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. I'm sure you'll love it once you see it.
Michael - Actually, I agree with you. Many of us loved what Marc Davis had done with "Chanticleer." However, there was no changing Walt's mind once it was made up.
Anonymous - I know "Pooh" will be cool. I have many friends working on it. I was mainly ranting about dumb title changes.
Oh, and "Newt" is dead.
Whaa??
Hey Floyd, what happened? Does that mean Bear and the Bow moves to summer 2012? What's the next project Pixar is taking up? Is Rydstrom directing a new film?
I HATE Tangled title! It's very stupid to change a title for a beloved classic tale... but today people must to understand that Disney isn't Disney anymore, it's a sort of Dreamworks rip off with anything of great... I also don't understand why Disney has replaced Glen Keane from Rapunzel... Keane has a great idea for this beloved fairy tale, but at Disney people preferred to create another comedy and not a great movie and today they also change the title... I'm too disappointed... I really think that Disney is dead, I explain me: I think that GREAT Disney is dead...
The Bear and the Bow is still alive or is dead?
Naturally, our pals up north run a tight ship, so it's not polite to provide details at this time.
However, I have had the opportunity to speak with Brenda Chapman, and I'm looking forward to her film. As far as the release date, you'll have to wait for Disney to disclose that.
Thanks anyway. Hope you don't get in trouble for spilling what you have here already. That's the first we've heard about newt's demise, though I did find it odd that Bear and the Bow had bits of news coming out in the last year but none for newt - even though it was originally announced to be released earlier that Bear.
Disappointed to hear about that, it sounded like a good concept.
My guess is that Monsters 2 will step up to fill the gap. Shame, because newt sounded interesting.
I heard Bear and the Bow is a remake of Brother bear, but with a girl.
"Now that Elves is vaporware"
Thats just a rumor you know. Its never been confirmed or denied...
If theres one thing I know about the movie business, theres no such thing as "permanently" shelved.
Hey, if "Up" works for Pixar, "Tangled" should suffice for Disney.
Actually, I'm thinking "Tangled" sounds an awful darn lot like "Enchanted"--
Enchanted, of course, being the title where Disney wanted to pretend they were satirizing princesses, just in case audiences still didn't like them, you see.
But, turns out we all -liked- Amy Adams, so now they want to give the impression Rapunzel is "sort of like" the last princess we liked, so we won't hate her, either.
...I hate studio fear. :(
Newt?
Disney isn't the only ones dumping projects I see.
There's trouble in paradise.
And by that I mean Emeryville.
And by Emeryville, I don't mean Newt.
Take that hint anyway you like.
If not Newt, what Pixar film are you talking about?
To Anon:
I know there's no thing as "permanently" shelved. I guess I should always include the caveat "for now", as in "vaporware for now".
Believe me, I took no pleasure in the statement - I was very much excited about that particular project.
But the point about permanence is well taken. Good lord, how many times has Snow Queen been shelved and revived? You'd think they'd just make the damn thing because it's obvious that it's always going to come back up.
From my experience, all studios have projects that melt down. That doesn't necessarily mean the end of the world. Just another bump along the way.
If there are troubles, I'm sure not seeing them up here. Anyway, the weather is nice in San Francisco.
Cars 2 is what he's referring to.
Variety reports that Disney officially announced "Tangled" as the new title for "Rapunzel" today.
http://bit.ly/9mSQC7
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Anonymous (Wednesday, February 10, 2010 5:53:00 PM) said...
"I heard Bear and the Bow is a remake of Brother bear, but with a girl."
>>>>>>
Uh, no , that would be the direct-to-video "Brother Bear II" .
There is no relation of The Bear & the Bow to Brother Bear , other than the word "bear" in the titles.
Is Cars 2 in trouble? I've been hearing rumblings that it's production is so bad that they're actually thinking of pulling the plug on it?
I've heard that JL is devoting his full attention to directing Cars2 and has little left over for anything Disney related...is that good use of his time? directing a sequel to Cars?
Who is filling that void? Surely he can't be trying to direct a film up north and direct the going ons at Disney too?
The again it might keep him away from his continuing success at Disney...so maybe it's a good thing.
Yeah, cause we know it was doing splendid without him.
The last two movies may not have been box office hits, but they were miles above most of the films Disney has put out in the last decade. I think it'll just take time for the audience to realize they mean quality again. And the Tangled name sucks, but I hear the actual film doesn't so I'll be paying for a ticket.
As for Cars 2, you missed it this morning:
http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2010/02/cars-2-gets-toon-up.html
Tangled is an awful title, and Disney should be ashamed for botching up their "50th Animated Classic."
It sounds more like something from the studio that brought us "Hoodwinked."
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