Tuesday, December 25, 2012

So Why Theatrical?

The Brew, Reporter and others have noted that Disney Toon Studios will be releasing the (up to now) direct-to-video Planes on large silver screens across the U.S. and Canada.

... Planes originally was planned for a direct-to-home entertainment release when it was announced several years ago. The movie does for the world of airplanes what Cars did for the world of automobiles and even takes cues from the designs ...

So why would the Mouse be releasing a feature produced largely in India (story, design, and some animation is being done at the DT studio in Glendale, California) into theaters? ...

There's speculation that Diz Co. wants to throw an animated something against DreamWorks Animation's Turbo and there is some resonance to that. (This is the feature that's ready for release against the second DWA film of the year so ... why not?)

But I think the three biggest reasons are:

1) Merchandise
2) Merchandise
3) Merchandise

Cars toys has made gazillions for the Burbank conglomerate, and Planes has Winged Action Figure! pasted all over it. So what if it's an Indian-based production? Walt's company isn't some high-toned Florentine art studio.

This is about the MO-neeey.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of talented people at DisneyToon. It's a shame they can't work on something more original and different.

Does DisneyToon Studios even have any projects in development that are NOT about fairies or talking vehicles?

Steve Hulett said...

Not to my knowledge. But there might be something cooking.

Anonymous said...

I'm leaning towards the latter idea, they pushed Monster Inc. 3D up a month to compete with Guardians and now they push a direct-to-video to compete with Turbo. I think the Diz Co. is going for the kill.

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