Disneyphile
01-30-2004, 11:29 AM
This insight was sent to me by a friend at Burbank.
I haven't heard of any other "major" changes domestically. I can tell you that it looks a lot like FA is giving DisneyToon Studios a higher level of respect lately and they seem to be cultivating a closer relationship. That would indicate to me a strong possibility of two things: 1.) Even more sequels, 2.) Lesser-quality animation over-all.
On a positive note, a closer partnership between the business units could also result in better scripts for the sequels, even though the animation itself will continue to be of lesser quality.
Since Fla has been shut down and Pixar is gone, there is going to be much more pressure for FA to be profitable. Unfortunately in Eisner's Disney that means cutting costs by shortening production time, rather than creating better product. Cutting costs, as we all know, leads directly to crap on screen.
Pretty much anything that is even mildly successful in the box office will automatically generate a DTV sequel - but you can't really lay the blame on Eisner for that. After all, if people didn't buy the stuff we wouldn't keep making it. Also keep in mind that a feature is usually in production for 4-6 years, whereas a DTV sequel has two years to get out on the shelves, tops.
Since DTS is already conversant in these abbreviated timelines, FA is going to be relying more and more on the technical expertise and procedures we already have in place. (You know how crappy the animation in "Stitch!" was, compared to "Lilo and Stitch"? That's what you have to look forward to.)
Another current trend is that Disney is chasing cheaper and cheaper production costs around the world, ala Walmart. Japan became too expensive so they moved to Australia. Aus is getting expensive now, so China is heating up, etc. This is making it very difficult to control the look of the animation and keep it consistent. Ironically, this leads to increased production costs, in the form of retakes. Let's also not forget that the execs and their entourages have to travel around the world in their first-class jets to visit the sites and scout new ones. (I hope Mike can afford his travel expenditures now that the bills for his $1 million office renovation are coming due. Oh, wait! He doesn't have to pay for any of that stuff - nevermind.)
So, in a word, it looks pretty bleak for the future of Disney Features Animation. But don't feel too bad, remember, because of those lengthy production times I mentioned earlier, the results of these cost-cutting efforts won't hit the screen for years. In the meantime we've still got two Pixar productions and at least one Disney produced feature that looks pretty good - "Home on the Range." These pix should continue to fill up the pockets of our CEO, COO, board members and stockholders for several years - at least until the afore-mentioned crap hits the screen.
This sounds to me like Eisner is setting the company up for even worse failure once his contract is up. :(
I haven't heard of any other "major" changes domestically. I can tell you that it looks a lot like FA is giving DisneyToon Studios a higher level of respect lately and they seem to be cultivating a closer relationship. That would indicate to me a strong possibility of two things: 1.) Even more sequels, 2.) Lesser-quality animation over-all.
On a positive note, a closer partnership between the business units could also result in better scripts for the sequels, even though the animation itself will continue to be of lesser quality.
Since Fla has been shut down and Pixar is gone, there is going to be much more pressure for FA to be profitable. Unfortunately in Eisner's Disney that means cutting costs by shortening production time, rather than creating better product. Cutting costs, as we all know, leads directly to crap on screen.
Pretty much anything that is even mildly successful in the box office will automatically generate a DTV sequel - but you can't really lay the blame on Eisner for that. After all, if people didn't buy the stuff we wouldn't keep making it. Also keep in mind that a feature is usually in production for 4-6 years, whereas a DTV sequel has two years to get out on the shelves, tops.
Since DTS is already conversant in these abbreviated timelines, FA is going to be relying more and more on the technical expertise and procedures we already have in place. (You know how crappy the animation in "Stitch!" was, compared to "Lilo and Stitch"? That's what you have to look forward to.)
Another current trend is that Disney is chasing cheaper and cheaper production costs around the world, ala Walmart. Japan became too expensive so they moved to Australia. Aus is getting expensive now, so China is heating up, etc. This is making it very difficult to control the look of the animation and keep it consistent. Ironically, this leads to increased production costs, in the form of retakes. Let's also not forget that the execs and their entourages have to travel around the world in their first-class jets to visit the sites and scout new ones. (I hope Mike can afford his travel expenditures now that the bills for his $1 million office renovation are coming due. Oh, wait! He doesn't have to pay for any of that stuff - nevermind.)
So, in a word, it looks pretty bleak for the future of Disney Features Animation. But don't feel too bad, remember, because of those lengthy production times I mentioned earlier, the results of these cost-cutting efforts won't hit the screen for years. In the meantime we've still got two Pixar productions and at least one Disney produced feature that looks pretty good - "Home on the Range." These pix should continue to fill up the pockets of our CEO, COO, board members and stockholders for several years - at least until the afore-mentioned crap hits the screen.
This sounds to me like Eisner is setting the company up for even worse failure once his contract is up. :(