Strange Magic

[Disneyphile]

Disney will release Lucasfilm’s animated feature “Strange Magic” on Jan. 23, 2015.

The toon, based on a story by George Lucas, was in production when Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion. It will be released through the Touchstone Pictures banner, used by Disney to distribute DreamWorks Pictures’ films.

Directed by Gary Rydstrom (“Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation,”), “Strange Magic” is described as a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with popular songs from the past six decades used to help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/disne ... 201353522/

[jazzflower92]

For some reason its giving off some Dark Crystal vibes. Not to mention the fact that this isn't George Lucas' first time delving into fantasy because he did work on the Labyrinth with Jim Henson back in the 80's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film)

[Maerj]

For some reason its giving off some Dark Crystal vibes. Not to mention the fact that this isn't George Lucas' first time delving into fantasy because he did work on the Labyrinth with Jim Henson back in the 80's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film)

It is and I like it! That's a striking image, I can't wait for the trailer.

[unprincess]

Ive always thought Midsummers Night's Dream would make for a great animated film, but this is gives me more of an Epic vibe. Somehow I have a feeling it will be inspired by MSND the way Frozen was inspired by Snow Queen... it will borrow some elements but be a completely different thing...

[Mach Full Force]

Personally, I'm very much looking forward to this film. It has the potential to be something quite inventive and fun. Not to mention it always pleases me to see Lucasfilms working on something other than Star Wars.

[disneyprincess11]

Would this count as a Disney movie?

[Sotiris]

The Trailer for 'Strange Magic,' George Lucas's Next Big Movie
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/strange-ma ... 41212.html

[blackcauldron85]

Would this count as a Disney movie?

It's Touchstone, just like TNBC was; so maybe in the future it could turn into a "Disney" film, but also it's a LucasFilm, so maybe it won't be rebranded...

[disneyprincess11]

Wow....this looks....terrible.....

[Maerj]

The characters look very detailed, more than most cg animated films I've seen. Looks like it's going to sort of be a musical but it could be interesting.

[Tristy]

Looks like somebody ate the model designs of Delgo along with the animation of Epic and vomited it all back out into this mess.

[taei]

That trailer was terrible and the movie looks horrendous.

A lot of people are talking about the animation, but I don't see how this is stand out.
Sure, it might be better then Legends of Oz, but it's no where near the level of how good the animation of Dragon 2 and Big Hero 2 (just the background, not character).

I was worried that Disney might distribute this as it could only hurt them.

But yeah... Every time we take a step forward in animation, something like this happens.

Oh and based on the trailer, here's what's going to happen:

The villain will turn out to be NOT a villain and he will fall in love with the main brown haired girl. Her blonde sister is suffering from stockholm syndrome.
The main guy is I guess going to end up with bug?

[estefan]

I think this is an example of a trailer being so obviously put together by a marketing department. I imagine even Gary Rydstrom is looking at this trailer and thinking "what the f...?" I think Disney fans of all people are the last who should trust a trailer and expect it to be a proper representation of the final film. Tangled, anyone? Or remember the first full Frozen trailer that made it look like a wacky romantic comedy?

It's an awful trailer, but I wouldn't be surprised if the final film is more majestic and less jokey.

[Lady Cluck]

This looks like an absolute DISGRACE.

[unprincess]

sigh...now see,normally I love fairies/creatures in magical forest myth type stories but I have no idea if this will be good or not b/c they smother everything with stupid typical Dreamworksy comedy...I suppose I should get used to the fact by now that every big studio released film will be infused with this tye of comedy, but I cant. If this had taken itself more seriously this would have been a watch in theaters film for me but the comedy downgrades it to a Netflix rental. So many examples of animated films that I like the premise for, but the needless "entertain the kids who feel theyre too hip to watch a cartoon" humor ruins my desire to see it...

its like the same comedy writers are writing every animated film(and the same type of comedy) from every animated studio. Im so tired of it....

[Candy-Bonita95]

This... Looks like another version of Gnomeo and Juliet only that some of the jokes from Gnomeo and Juliet were able to get a few laughs and acknowledged that everything was dried up, overdone material. This had the chance to be mystical, something that a lot of current films are lacking. (The Hobbit may be of fantasy genre, but it is approaching the serious part of the trilogy.) The pop songs do NOT suit the narrative. If there is going to be contemporary music or genre's in animated films, can we get something cool not a rip-off of Shrek? Can it just be awesome house music or Fleet Foxes? Wait! Can there actually be an animated movie that uses the Fleet Foxes? Btw, for anyone who does not know who the Fleet Foxes are. They are a band signed with SubPop and make music inspired by folk and fantasy. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsIoNvsc5Tc[/youtube]

Back to my point. It is not like contemporary music should not be allowed in animated movies, but it just needs to contribute to the setting and immerse the audience into the fictional world. Strange Magic's use of pop songs just make it like the characters are randomly karoke singing in the movie. Yep, Strange Magic sounds like a movie consisting of only big-lipped alligator moments.

[DancingCrab]

If I had more thumbs, they'd be down too. One of the worst looking trailers I have had the displeasure of seeing. Ugh

[Atlantica]

Oh, goodness …. not exactly inspiring was it ? Not my cup of tea I don't think.

[blackcauldron85]

The trailer actually made me excited... I think it looks like something I'll like... (And I do like Gnomeo and Juliet too...).

[Hogi Bear]

For anyone that doesn't want to visit another page, here is the official trailer embeded:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wv7Li2V7S8[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wv7Li2V7S8

I probably would like to see a trailer with a diiferent take, before making judgement on whether I'd go and see it.