NEW Mystery Hand-drawn Animated Disney Film

[SWillie!]

I buzzed through the hat building in the A.M., and the CGI crew is working six-day weeks on Tangled but happy to have jobs (and overtime). "We're employed, and that's good" ...

Meantime, Winnie the Pooh is in the last couple of months of animation, after which:

"A new hand-drawn project called [X] has been greenlit for development. It's the only thing on the traditional side right now, so hopefully it will stay on track ..."

Hopefully.

A story person informed me that Richard Ross, the production honcho across Riverside Drive on the Main Lot, is looking at animated projects in early development as they progress and has said: "If I don't like something at its first stages, I usually don't start liking it more after more development ..."

(Now. How true the Ross quote is, or how accurate, I cannot say. But I know it sure as hell sounds like a studio head's words. But you can judge for yourself.)

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... place.html

Discuss.

[SWillie!]

A couple commenters from the TAG Blog seem to have more good news!!

From what I hear from my friends over there - it sounds like some pretty amazing projects are in the works. They're most excited about the cg projects in the pipeline - No fairytale or princess material but all original takes! Quite the change for Disney?

"If I don't like something at its first stages, I usually don't start liking it more after more development ..."

well then he must have liked a trio of projects that are currently in development and progressing forward.

[Neal]

I considered posting this but then decided not to because A) we know NOTHING about the film and B) just like the hand-drawn Snow Queen, it could be canceled within a few months.

However, whatever it is, I hope it does not get canceled and we learn more soon. Oh, and that it's good, of course!

Hand drawn animation needs to stay alive long enough for me to get my script pitched to Disney. I know everyone thinks they have a "good idea" - but I know my good ideas from bad, and I really believe I have something unique up my sleeve with my hand drawn Disney animated film idea!

[Escapay]

I know everyone thinks they have a "good idea" - but I know my good ideas from bad, and I really believe I have something unique up my sleeve with my hand drawn Disney animated film idea!

Neal, if your idea is:

1. A strong story with strong characters.

2. Marketable to both little girls AND teenage boys without being completely gender-biased.

3. Appealing enough to adults who won't see it as just a kid's movie.

4. Not going to cost over $100 million to produce.

5. Something that isn't an obvious or conscious retread of the past 50 animated films.

Then it's sheer genius.

I look forward to seeing it.



albert

[SWillie!]

You're right that it could get canceled... but was Snow Queen ever actually green lit? If not, then that may be the difference between the possibility in being canceled.

And I'd be really interested in hearing about your story idea, if you have a mind to share at all! If not, I totally understand, but PM me if you don't mind sharing!

[Neal]

Escapay: I hope you're being genuinely supportive and not mocking me, being as I do know how many people go "ZOMG! I have the greatest idea for a new Disney film everrr!!!!11" - or think they have genius ideas for video games or other movies. I, myself, have had some pretty dumb ideas in the past - and looking back now on my ideas from when I was 12 and so sure of myself, it's painful.

However, I am working on something that is not just another one of those sort of "ZOMG DISNEY SHOULD MAKE THIS" ideas. I am being very conscious of core Disney and doing my best to marry the familiar with something fresh.

Not to pigeon-hole my script, but consider it a character-based exploration movie, ala Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz - where the uniqueness of characters met by the protagonist(s) is what makes the film charming and engaging.

SWillie: TAG said greenlit for 'development'. Does that mean production? Would Steve H. use those terms inter-changeably? See, development might simply mean story work - which is the only phase I believe Snow Queen entered. This new film may not make the passage into production after that, just like SQ didn't.

[Escapay]

I hope you're being genuinely supportive and not mocking me, being as I do know how many people go "ZOMG! I have the greatest idea for a new Disney film everrr!!!!11" - or think they have genius ideas for video games or other movies. I, myself, have had some pretty dumb ideas in the past - and looking back now on my ideas from when I was 12 and so sure of myself, it's painful.

Don't worry, I am genuinely supportive. Hence the

Based on your posts on UD and analysis of animated films and character that you've exhibited in the past, I genuinely feel that whatever idea you have is a good one.

albert

[Neal]

Well, thank you very much then! I'm truly flattered.

I will never get my hopes too high, I know how tough it is to get a Disney animated film made. My idea may be a bit too old-fashioned to be greenlit at modern Disney. I wrote a theme song that is like the new "Second Star to the Right" or "Alice in Wonderland" - I could post that much as a teaser to the kind of throwback this film really is.

I have the passion for Disney animation and the energy to see it through.

I'll keep working on character development and whatnot, and if it never comes to fruition - at least I gave it my all.

[SWillie!]

SWillie: TAG said greenlit for 'development'. Does that mean production? Would Steve H. use those terms inter-changeably? See, development might simply mean story work - which is the only phase I believe Snow Queen entered. This new film may not make the passage into production after that, just like SQ didn't.

Hmm. You're right. But he's talked about "a few ideas being thrown around" so much... and this one seems more solid than that. I really hope this stays on track.

And you're idea sounds wonderful. Are you studying art/animation/filmmaking? I'm majoring in traditional animation. Maybe I'll have the honor of animating your characters one day!!

[Neal]

[post removed]

[SWillie!]

I like it a lot! I especially like the repetition of "Otherland is every..."

The only constructive criticism I would give is that the third verse doesn't quite as strong as the other three. The idea behind it isn't the problem; I think it's mostly just word choice. I don't have anything better to suggest, but that's the only thing that stuck out to me a little.

But to answer your question, it's certainly not crap. Keep it up.

[Neal]

Thank you. I know I write songs more like poems, which can be an issue.

I am an advertising major, minoring in creative writing. I cannot draw for the life of me - which is one of my biggest disappointments in life - because I would have surely gone to animation school.

With the advertising degree, I feel as though I could work for Disney Consumer Products or Marketing and prove my love for the characters and understanding of audience desires.

From there, I could get my foot in the door at WDAS.

I talked to a storyboarder on TPatF and she said that's how other WDAS storywriters do it.

As for what you said about this newly "revealed" hand drawn film - it does sound more on track and solid than SQ. Let's hope for swift updates!

[jpanimation]

Neal, are you only interested in writing (i.e. giving them the idea or outline)?

[robster16]

I'm kind of hoping this will be either "Ramayana" or a rebirth of "Fraidy Cat", cause those projects sounded and looked REALLY promising. But maybe it's an entirely new project.... Hopefully we'll get more updates soon. Maybe a quick blurb at comic con!

[UmbrellaFish]

I'm kind of hoping this will be either "Ramayana" or a rebirth of "Fraidy Cat", cause those projects sounded and looked REALLY promising. But maybe it's an entirely new project.... Hopefully we'll get more updates soon. Maybe a quick blurb at comic con!

Yes! Immediately when I read the title of this thread "mystery" I hoped it meant literally. I really want to see "Fraidy Cat" produced.

[estefan]

Well, they have said that Ron and John have pitched a number of projects to Lasseter, so hopefully, Fraidy Cat is one of them, considering how well-received it supposedly was with WDAS.

[Neal]

jpanimation - well, since I'm not very good at drawing, there's not much else I can do besides be a story advisor and perhaps help explain my vision for character design to animators.

I know my inability to animate makes my chance of succeeding even slimmer. I guess it's either completely wow them with my idea or forget about it.

[SWillie!]

jpanimation - well, since I'm not very good at drawing, there's not much else I can do besides be a story advisor and perhaps help explain my vision for character design to animators.

I know my inability to animate makes my chance of succeeding even slimmer. I guess it's either completely wow them with my idea or forget about it.

You know, computer animation doesn't require the best drawing skills. You need to be able to kind of thumbnail out your ideas, but since no one else sees those drawings, they don't have to be any good. People can get hired as animators without being able to draw very well. It's more about an understanding of how things move.

[DisneyJedi]

I considered posting this but then decided not to because A) we know NOTHING about the film and B) just like the hand-drawn Snow Queen, it could be canceled within a few months.

However, whatever it is, I hope it does not get canceled and we learn more soon. Oh, and that it's good, of course!

Hand drawn animation needs to stay alive long enough for me to get my script pitched to Disney. I know everyone thinks they have a "good idea" - but I know my good ideas from bad, and I really believe I have something unique up my sleeve with my hand drawn Disney animated film idea!

Yeah. I got a pretty neat Disney crossover movie in mind, which is live action/animated like Enchanted, except it's more animated than live action.

As for this mystery project, I sure hope it's amazing and can- like The Princess and the Frog- keep hand-drawn animation around. We need more of those badly.

[jpanimation]

I'm kind of hoping this will be either "Ramayana" or a rebirth of "Fraidy Cat", cause those projects sounded and looked REALLY promising. But maybe it's an entirely new project.... Hopefully we'll get more updates soon. Maybe a quick blurb at comic con!

Yes, both of those projects have me REALLY excited, especially Fraidy Cat (I'm a HUGE Hitch fan). I wouldn't feel bad if it were entirely new either but I really want to see Fraidy Cat (especially since, as estefan mentioned, the early production reels were well-received).

jpanimation - well, since I'm not very good at drawing, there's not much else I can do besides be a story advisor and perhaps help explain my vision for character design to animators.

I know my inability to animate makes my chance of succeeding even slimmer. I guess it's either completely wow them with my idea or forget about it.

As SWillie! said, computer animation doesn't require drawing skills but from the sounds of it, you're not interested in acting and physics but the story side of things. You're best chance is be to become a story artist yourself, which you really don't have to be the best artist or draftsman (although, it helps). Take a class on anatomy, maybe a drawing class, and then learn the art of filmmaking inside and out. With a story artist, it's not about drawing the characters on-model as much as it is about getting the director's ideas across clearly (their [story artist's] story decisions, acting choices, camera setups, and early layout/framing of the scenes really determines how the movie "feels"). Story artists are just one step away from being directors, as they're the storytellers (much of what they do is contributing to the story and shaping the movie), and can move on to writing screenplays (or whatever). Story artists are usually the ones that have good chances of pitching original ideas for movies or TV shows and knowing how to get their idea across through experience (they pitch their scenes to directors all the time). Look at Joe Ranft, he wasn't the best artist, but Disney recognized his knack for storytelling (which he accomplished through very simple drawings in his storyboards).

Anyways, continue doing what you love and avoid posting your ideas online.