Hand-Drawn Animation Dead at Disney

[estefan]

Kathleen Kennedy has served as an executive producer on the past couple of Studio Ghibli titles. Not the act of somebody not supportive of hand-drawn animation.

Also, Kennedy's credentials has shown to be the perfect person to run a movie studio. In my opinion, in order to run a major motion picture studio, you need to be somebody who has both business sense and supportive of creative freedom. Iger is a businessman and one who seems to make incredibly safe decisions at that. In addition to having experience running both Amblin and Lucasfilm in addition to her own studio, she has shown to be have great respect for filmmakers. There's a reason she has had such a fantastic professional relationship with Steven Spielberg, going all of the way back to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That's why I think Kennedy will be a much better CEO and much more willing to make adventurous decisions than Bob Iger. Comparing Kathleen Kennedy's IMDb page with Bob Iger's tells you all you need to know to see who has better credentials to run The Walt Disney Company.

[DisneyAnimation88]

Kathleen Kennedy has served as an executive producer on the past couple of Studio Ghibli titles. Not the act of somebody not supportive of hand-drawn animation.

I'm not suggesting that she wouldn't be supportive of it, just that its a bit premature at this point to pin the hopes of hand-drawn animation at Disney on her being appointed Iger's successor. She might be supportive of it, she might not be, she might not be the person chosen to succeed Iger anyway, it could be someone else entirely who might be supportive of hand-drawn animation.

My money is on Tom Staggs being the chosen one for what its worth, Iger will have a pretty big say in the selection process and Staggs has been one of his proteges.

[DisneyJedi]

It wouldn't be Jay, given how he nearly ruined the Disney parks. The only good thing that came of his reign there was the updated Star Tours, unless I'm wrong.

[TsWade2]

Kathleen Kennedy has served as an executive producer on the past couple of Studio Ghibli titles. Not the act of somebody not supportive of hand-drawn animation.

I'm not suggesting that she wouldn't be supportive of it, just that its a bit premature at this point to pin the hopes of hand-drawn animation at Disney on her being appointed Iger's successor. She might be supportive of it, she might not be, she might not be the person chosen to succeed Iger anyway, it could be someone else entirely who might be supportive of hand-drawn animation.

My money is on Tom Staggs being the chosen one for what its worth, Iger will have a pretty big say in the selection process and Staggs has been one of his proteges.

Well, I hope Tom Staggs is very supportive for hand drawn animation.

[Super Aurora]

I meant something along the lines of "hypocrite."

Speaking of hypocrite....

I defended you and told him he shouldn't do that!

Thanks. Super Aurora is a jerk.

I love how this didn't get a mod edit disclaimer in the bottom of that post of his despite that also being a "personal attack". Bias much, eh mod?(we know which mod I'm referring to here)

Why? I'm not saying you ARE stupid, TsWade2, but seriously, it may be a joke. TsWade2, you need to take a joke. I take jokes too. And Disney Duster, same goes to you, like Dolan comics for instance, you couldn't take jokes. They are dark comedies.

Dolan comic use to be funny but has long since gotten bland and stale. So Duster isn't wrong in saying they're stupid. I've told in person bigger dark comedic jokes at my place than that, so don't excuse him of "not being able to take a dark comedy joke". I've told him worse that he laugh at.

[UmbrellaFish]

Thanks. Super Aurora is a jerk.

I love how this didn't get a mod edit disclaimer in the bottom of that post of his despite that also being a "personal attack". Bias much, eh mod?(we know which mod I'm referring to here)

Did you report it? The mods can't possibly catch everything, and I would have been surprised if they hadn't fixed the problem after you reported it.

[Kyle]

Did you report it? The mods can't possibly catch everything, and I would have been surprised if they hadn't fixed the problem after you reported it.

I doubt Super Aurora was offended enough to bother. It was a burn, not a cry for help. TsWade can't take even a nudge but has no problem dishing it out. In almost every post. While championing a woman based on maybe a couple of sentences.

[Disney's Divinity]

Since we’re commenting on the situation, I’m not surprised he’d call SA a jerk in response to SA calling him stupid. I’m not sure why you expect to attack someone without being attacked back. Besides, if anybody reported the “stupid” comment, it was probably me by writing about it in my post earlier, although TsWade would have every reason to do so without being criticized for it, whether or not you like them. I don’t think the mods have any bias; report something if you’re having such an issue.

[GreatGreg]

What difference does it make who runs Disney? If hand-drawn animation is a losing business venture, it would be a foolish and sentimental act to ressurect hand-drawn just for its own sake.

[TsWade2]

What difference does it make who runs Disney? If hand-drawn animation is a losing business venture, it would be a foolish and sentimental act to ressurect hand-drawn just for its own sake.

I still want Disney do another hand drawn movie.

[Super Aurora]

Since we’re commenting on the situation, I’m not surprised he’d call SA a jerk in response to SA calling him stupid. I’m not sure why you expect to attack someone without being attacked back.

Although TsWade would have every reason to do so without being criticized for it, whether or not you like them.

There's a different between calling someone "stupid" and saying someone "is being emotionally stupid". Just like there is a difference between "calling someone a jerk" and "saying someone is acting like a jerk". one is a direct attack and the other is noting a statement.

Besides, if anybody reported the “stupid” comment, it was probably me by writing about it in my post earlier,

Coming from you, that wouldn't surprise me either.

I don’t think the mods have any bias; report something if you’re having such an issue.

I don't need to report it. I does not offend me. I'm just pointing the hypocrisy in this thread.

[thelittleursula]

Since we’re commenting on the situation, I’m not surprised he’d call SA a jerk in response to SA calling him stupid. I’m not sure why you expect to attack someone without being attacked back. I don’t think the mods have any bias; report something if you’re having such an issue.

This ^

I still want Disney do another hand drawn movie.

Most of us do sadly it looks like 2D is not on Disney's cards.

[estefan]

What difference does it make who runs Disney? If hand-drawn animation is a losing business venture, it would be a foolish and sentimental act to ressurect hand-drawn just for its own sake.

If movie studios were continually run with that frame of mind, we would not have gotten the likes of Star Wars, Titanic, Batman, Chicago, Bonnie and Clyde, The Lord of the Rings and many other notable game-changing movies. Hell, while Snow White was being made, everybody else in Hollywood thought it was a surefire flop that would bankrupt Disney. Mainly because it was felt that nobody would want to sit through a full-length animated feature. You can't run a film studio making only safe choices. Sometimes you take a gamble and you get The Lone Ranger, sure. However, other times, you get Star Wars.

[thedisneyspirit]

It's not really the medium, but what type of movies the companies are willing to make.

There are lots of duds in hand-drawn, as there are lots of duds in CGI. The balance is something appealing to the eye and that the crowd can like.

I'm still waiting for that hand-drawn Mickey Mouse film...

Otoh, I've never found the Dolan comics funny myself.

[TheValentineBros]

Why? I'm not saying you ARE stupid, TsWade2, but seriously, it may be a joke. TsWade2, you need to take a joke. I take jokes too. And Disney Duster, same goes to you, like Dolan comics for instance, you couldn't take jokes. They are dark comedies.

Dolan comic use to be funny but has long since gotten bland and stale. So Duster isn't wrong in saying they're stupid. I've told in person bigger dark comedic jokes at my place than that, so don't excuse him of "not being able to take a dark comedy joke". I've told him worse that he laugh at.

Well, looking at Dolan now, yeah, it's kinda lame. But hey, what the hell do I know.

[GreatGreg]

If movie studios were continually run with that frame of mind, we would not have gotten the likes of Star Wars, Titanic, Batman, Chicago, Bonnie and Clyde, The Lord of the Rings and many other notable game-changing movies. Hell, while Snow White was being made, everybody else in Hollywood thought it was a surefire flop that would bankrupt Disney. Mainly because it was felt that nobody would want to sit through a full-length animated feature. You can't run a film studio making only safe choices. Sometimes you take a gamble and you get The Lone Ranger, sure. However, other times, you get Star Wars.

Those are poor examples of movie gambles. BATMAN and THE LORD OF THE RINGS have built-in audiences that studios know would go see the movie no matter what. TITANIC was a gamble, but was handled by a well-known proven director.

There are such things as calculated risks. The issue is that no one, except maybe specific members of this forum, goes out and looks for 2D hand-drawn movies. That is about as foolish as saying that you are only ever going to watch movies filmed in 3D.

A good story is a good story whether it is animated in 2D, CGI, Claymation, or big budget action.

If it costs more to make a 2D hand-drawn animated movie, as I'm sure it does, it would be foolish for any business to invest money into something which doesn't see any increase in return.

That is, unless you are a poor artist who is doing so "for the art", in which case you are probably penniless in the streets.

[unprincess]

what i dont understand is, why cant they just make a 2d film every say, 6 or 7 years? theyd hire 2d artists specifically for that film, then let them go, so they arent employing 2d aritists to sit at the studio with nothing to do in bw 2d films. It would be a special event that cherishes their legacy. It would keep the purists happy. We're not asking for a 2d movie every year. Just one once in a while so the art isnt lost. No it probaby wont make the same money that a typical cgi film does (though it probably will make up its budget back in dvd/bluray & merch anyway) but so what? would it really destroy them financially? No. Especially not these days when theyve got Star Wars & Marvel & their cgi flms lining their pockets. Wouldnt this be a better idea then wasting money on sure fire bombs like John Carter or Lone Ranger?

[estefan]

Those are poor examples of movie gambles. BATMAN and THE LORD OF THE RINGS have built-in audiences that studios know would go see the movie no matter what. TITANIC was a gamble, but was handled by a well-known proven director.

If it costs more to make a 2D hand-drawn animated movie, as I'm sure it does, it would be foolish for any business to invest money into something which doesn't see any increase in return.

Actually, they're not bad examples at all. Most people knew Batman at the time as a silly superhero, as popularised by the Adam West show of the 1960s with only comic book fans being really aware of the darker Frank Miller version the film took inspiration from. Superhero movies (including the once lucrative Superman series) were also doing poorly around the time Batman was put into production. Add in the fact that Tim Burton was an unproven director for an action film and even comic book fans were outraged at hiring mainly a comedic actor for the role of Bruce Wayne.

And The Lord of the Rings was also a gamble, what with being three films shot together with an unproven director and fantasy films were not considered a popular genre at the time. It was felt that only D&D-playing nerds would have an interest in Lord of the Rings and that's not a large enough audience to guarantee a big success (as shown by the failure of Dungeons & Dragons a year earlier, another fantasy film based on a well-known source material).

And Titanic? The attitude up to its release was it going to be a colossal failure. A three hour romance, where we know the ship sinks in the end? Yeah, like that is going to make money. It was also the most expensive film made at the time with a total of $200 million, which was an insane amount in 1997. When Fox and Paramount had to join forces just to fund the film, it was certainly a gamble. People thought James Cameron had basically shot his wad. I even heard the same things about Avatar, how that was going to lose a lot of money, too.

Also, I have no idea where the idea has come from that hand-drawn animated films cost more than computer-animated films, when statistics and figures clearly reveal that to not be true. All of Disney's CG films, starting with Chicken Little, have cost about or above $150 million. The Princess and the Frog is reported to have cost $150 million and Winnie the Pooh only cost $30 million. So, sure, keep telling yourself hand-drawn films are more expensive than computer-animated films.

[Sotiris]

The Princess and the Frog is reported to have cost $105 million and Winnie the Pooh only cost $30 million.

Actually, the production cost for Pooh was only 24 million and if this person is to be believed, The Princess and the Frog cost only 65 million.

[GreatGreg]

Let's look at the last ten animated films from Disney:

TREASURE PLANET (2002), budget: $140 M, box office: $109 M
BROTHER BEAR (2003) budget: ?, box office: $250 M
HOME ON THE RANGE (2004) budget: $110 M, box office: $104 M
CHICKEN LITTLE (2005) budget: $150 M, box office: $315 M
MEET THE ROBINSONS (2007) budget: ?, box office: $169 M
BOLT (2008) budget: $150 M, box office: $309 M
PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009) budget: $105 M, box office: $267 M
TANGLED (2010) budget: $260 M, box office: $590 M
WINNIE THE POOH (2011) budget: $30 M, box office: $33 M
WRECK-IT-RALPH (2012) budget: $165 box office: $471

The highest grossing 2D feature is PRINCESS AND THE FROG at $267, but it is still lower than pretty much every CG feature produced except for MEET THE ROBINSONS. This is not counting any Pixar films, BTW.

Keep in mind also that PATF was hailed as a throwback to the 80s and 90s features and big name people were called in to produce what should have been a creative dream team. Even Lasseter himself was involved in the revival of 2D which had at that point been decidedly squashed after HOME ON THE RANGE.