The Reporter reports on DreamWorks Animation's springtime release:
The first Kung Fu Panda, released in China in June 2008 in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, became the first animated film to gross more than 100 million yuan ($15 million) at the local box office. ...
The first film kicked off a heated round of debate and shined a harsh light on the state of China’s animation industry, which has never successfully made a big-budget feature. ... [T]he cultural synergy the first film tapped appears to be continuing in the buzz about the sequel. “This [newer] film has an even higher level of authenticity than the first one,” says Eugene Yang, Greater China chief representative for distributor Paramount, who will work closely with the China Film Group on the nationwide Imax 3D release. ...
Panda 2, I think, will perform solidly not just in China but in every other global marketplace. It is, after all, filled with well-loved furred characters, stuffed with action set-pieces, and arrives as the second installment of a highly popular first feature. (So how can it miss?)
Puss in Boots, the DreamWorks offering for the Fall season, has gotten positive early reaction, is a close cousin to DWA's biggest tent-pole, and also comes populated with adorable animals in (mythical) foreign settings. (A second 2011 bullseye?)
It appears DreamWorks is learning that human characters in American environments don't fare nearly as well as the hairy, four-legged creatures that caper in settings outside the United States. Since both Puss and Panda fall into the "Not U.S. of A., not human" categories, I'll climb out on the fragile limb of box office prognostication and declare that both movies pull down lots of bucks by the time 2012 rolls around.
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9 comments:
Good for Dreamworks. As a previous "hater" on some of Dreamworks' earlier stuff, I'm happy to say that as of late they've turned my opinion around 180 degrees. It had a lot to do with the first Panda, so here's hoping that the second continues that streak.
I agree with Anonymous. What a remarkable turnaround for Jeffrey and his crew. DreamWorks is now the studio to beat. Not only because of it’s impressive development slate, but because of the positive vibe that resonates throughout the place.
I agree, but I wish they would rely less on franchises. As much as I liked the first Kung Fu Panda, Im not as excited about KFP2 as I would be if they had poured their creative energies into something different, and potentially better.
Its simply because I know exactly what KFP2 will be. I wont be surprised in the least bit.
^Yeah, the fat panda will have to prove himself again, AGAINST AN EVIL *GASP* PEACOCK!
Panda vs. an albino Big Bird! Who will win???? (Kinda obvious, even though the Bird DOES have Gary Oldman's voice).
Me, I'm passing if Tai Lung doesn't return in some form. He was by far the best character in KFP1.
"“This [newer] film has an even higher level of authenticity than the first one."
What, will the heros represent a communist dictatorship that "re-educates" or "disappears" dissenters? One that censors free speech?
In 2006, if you told me that five years from now, Jeffrey Katzenberg would be the great leader all animators will flock to and that John Lasseter would be a pariah in the animation community, I would have laughed in your face and put my life savings on the line for that bet... And now I'd be homeless.
Great leader? I wouldnt go THAT far
yeah -
Jeffrey Katzenberg would be the great leader all animators will flock
that is a BOLD statement.
More than a billion people in the country and $15 million is a big gross in China?
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