Apparently DreamWorks Animation's earlier plans to release five animated features every two years might be revised a bit:
In 2010 DreamWorks Animation became the first studio to release three CG-animated films in a year, but on Thursday CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg was walking back his goal of doing likewise on a biennial basis.
For now, DWA has "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Puss in Boots" planned this year and "Madagascar 3," "The Croods" and "Rise of the Guardians" the year after that. But beyond 2012, Katzenberg said the studio will play it by ear ...
I've always wondered about DWA's pace of releases. You need to have a deep development slate in order to get five new features every 24 months. I mean, there are always story hiccups along the way, and if you don't have some other feature ready to drop into the suddenly empty slot, you're going to have yourself a problem.
But for Mr. Katzenberg, there are no problems, only opportunities. I particularly enjoyed this:
"Does Disney have more levers to pull?" Katzenberg asked ... before answering the question himself. "They do. But they also have an 80-year head start."
Just think how different the animation landscape would be today if Michael Eisner had let Jeffrey assume the late Frank Wells' post after the helicopter mishap: There would be no DreamWorks Animation, Pixar would be part of Fox or Time-Warner, and Walt Disney Animation Studios would have a bigger animation crew and more feature development.
Add On: Here is the L.A. Times' report on the analysts/Kataenberg conference call.
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6 comments:
If only Frank Welles had cancelled that damn ski trip.
If only Abe had skipped the play ... if only JFK had scratched Dallas from the schedule ...
If only ...
Having Dreamworks Animation around is a GOOD thing for the industry, and this coming from one of their competitors.
Competition = good. More money. More stability.
Anonymous 10:55 is absolutely correct. If only more people in this industry thought that way...
Actually, I think most people IN the industry feel that way. The negativity is usually from the students, fanboys and pixies that don't know any better.
In fairness, the five pictures in two years hasn't been completely accurate.
How To Train Your Dragon was slotted for a Fall 2009 release. For various reasons it was delayed until 2010. DWA already had two films for 2010; Dragons became a third film. However that left Monsters vs. Aliens as the studios only film for 2009. 2011 similarly has just two films scheduled.
I don't say this as a Pixie, or Dreamwonk, in fact I still hold shares in DWA. Better just to see the five pictures in two years announcement as a PR move to excite the investors.
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