Thursday, June 02, 2011

Still Another Animated Feature

There are those who say that Rango was a money-loser for Paramount/Viacom. I really wouldn't know, one way or another. But it seems that P/V hasn't gotten the memo.

... [After Rango], Paramount is jumping into the medium again with New Kid.

The project is an adaptation of an online comic from Penny Arcade. The studio has picked up rights and tapped Book of Eli writer Gary Whitta to pen the script. Mary Parent and Cale Boyter are producing via their studio-based Disruption Entertainment. ...

I think the point here is that Paramount isn't sure where it's partnership with DreamWorks Animation is going. And it sees that animated features are a booming international commodity at the front end of the 21st century, and it wants to be in the game.

So, if the Paramount/DWA marriage is soon to go on the rocks, Paramount wants (needs?) a "Plan B" to stay in the animated feature business. So what we're looking at is Plan B, yes?

18 comments:

Floyd Norman said...

Animation has become Hollywood's surest deal. Look for more.

Anonymous said...

So have your obvious and bland comments.

Anonymous said...

The Book of Eli is one of the worst movies ever. The story and dialog are so bad that even a brilliant actor like Denzel Washington couldn't make that trash watchable. And this is who Paramount picks to write the script for an animated film?

If the film is made at a place like ILM, where there is no tradition of story artists taking a crap script and fixing it, then don't expect much.

Walter B. Gibson said...

I love Floyds comments. Well, all of those except when he gets political. Please, no more Dick Cheney references Floyd. But your comments about animation and Disney in general I love.

Keep 'em coming.

Anonymous said...

^ quoth the noob fanboy

Anonymous said...

^ quoth the Kool-Aide drinking comment police

Steve Hulett said...

I'll point out that Mr. Norman is one of the few here who posts by name. So all the Anonymous posters can attack him ... anonymously.

How very, very brave.

Anonymous said...

This Anonymous loves Floyd's comments. He's a veteran who worked with the Mousetro and who knows whereof he speaks. Keep talking, Floyd. You've seen the ups and downs of the animation business, the entry of new technology, and the sad conversion of the Disney company from a daring haven of creative arts to a corporate empire that's more into acquisition than innovation. Walt would weep. The animation industry needs more voices like Floyd's IMO.

Anonymous said...

>>I'll point out that Mr. Norman is one of the few here who posts by name. So all the Anonymous posters can attack him ... anonymously.

How very, very brave.<<

by your own design.

John Smith said...

Steve,mMaybe you should eliminate the Anonymous option from your post identity menu.

Aaron Hazouri said...

What's up with the Floyd hate? I mean, I'm sure he loses a ton of sleep over it......

stevenem said...

"P/V hasn't got the memo."

Every studio doesn't think like Disney. Whether or not Rango made money, or "enough" money, or for that matter, whether or not it measured up artistically to features made by the more established major toon studios is, essentially besides the point. What Rango demonstrated is that a "new" studio can deliver a viable product. It earned them another turn at bat. Now, they could a whole new team of creatives if they want to. The important thing is that they put their piece on the board.

stevenem said...

they could hire, I meant to say.

Joe Troll said...

I'm a fan of Anonymous posting, but I also think there should be a requirement that you register with a union email, so Joe Troll off the street can't post.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I congratulate the Penny Arcade team for making it mainstream. And I don't even read their comics.

Anonymous said...

Is "New Kid" also going to be animated at ILM?

Steve Hulett said...

>>I'll point out that Mr. Norman is one of the few here who posts by name. So all the Anonymous posters can attack him ... anonymously.

How very, very brave.<<

by your own design.


Nope. We've got options around here. People choose their options.

We don't take ownership of other people's choices. (And the reason it's designed the way it is? Because blogger formats it that way and we don't care very much if people don't like it. Works for us.)

Anonymous said...

Oh come on Steve, you know that there are options to turn off the anonymous postings. The fact is you know that hardly anyone would post comments on this blog if you required verification.

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