Disney Puts Direct-To-DVD Sequels to Bed
DisneyToon President, Sharon Morrill, Resigns
In recent years, Disney has released direct-to-dvd sequels to classic animated films such as "Bambi," "Cinderella" and "Lady and the Tramp." Though the films had become a profit machine for the Disney corporation, fans and Disney purists have rallied against the Disney sequel machine which many feel has cheapened the corporation's theatrical animated features.
The move is no surprise to those who have been following the company's progress since the merger of Pixar and Disney. Steve Jobs, Disney's largest share holder and the man behind Apple, remarked that he found the sequels "embarrassing" in 2003. John Lasseter, Disney's Chief Creative Officer, has not been shy either when it comes to his thoughts on sequels such as "Cinderella III: A Twist on Time." This latest move serves only to cast in stone what Jobs and Lasseter think of Disney's recent direct-to-dvd past.
According to Jim Hill of jimhillmedia.com, Lasseter brought the corporation to a stand-still after a screening of DisneyToon's "The Tinkerbelle Movie." The direct-to-dvd feature was said to be declared "unwatchable" by Lasseter.
What followed was the resignation of Sharon Morrill, president of DisneyToons and the driving force behind Disney's lucrative direct-to-dvd business. Though DisneyToons had net the corporation quite a bit of profit with its sequel assembly line, Lasseter, along with Disney CEO Bob Iger, made a move that in recent years seemed uncharacteristic for Disney: they placed quality above profits.
As for what will happen with those sequels currently in production, "The Little Mermaid III" will finish production and will be the last sequel to be released directly to DVD by Disney.
However, animated theatrical release sequels are still fair game and Disney will release "Toy Story 3" in 2010, a production which is helmed by John Lasseter himself. Lasseter also wrote and directed the previous "Toy Story" installments.
Disney/Pixar's latest release, "Ratatouille," has yet to open theatrically, but the film is already garnering rave reviews from critics. As of this writing, the film has a score of 100% with the collective film review site, rottentomatoes.com.
In 2009, Disney will release its much awaited revival of traditional animation for the corporation, "The Princess and The Frog." The film will also debut Disney's first black princess, voiced by "Dreamgirls" star, Anika Noni Rose.
SOURCE: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4913518.html
SOURCE: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/06/21/say-so-long-to-direct-to-video-sequels-disneytoon-studios-tunes-out-sharon-morrill.aspx
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17 Comments
Post a CommentWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment recently announced that beginning in March 15, 2012, the announcement will go on as unlimited Special Edition re-issues of over 40 of Walt Disney Animation Studios' feature-length films were being released between 2012 and 2016, with eight of them being released each year.
They're finally entering limited moratorium of over 12 of Disney's greatest animated features, as they were being put to the Disney Vault each for a limited-time period of either 3 or 6 months before being released again as unlimited issues, with four of them each year for three years, beginning in March 15, 2012. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment's "Disney Vault" term is being discontinued in March 15, 2015.
The Walt Disney Company recently announced that they're producing the rest of Disney's direct-to-video sequels that are scheduled for release on DVD & Blu-Ray Disc, beginning in March 13, 2012; in fact, just after the Tinker Bell series is ending and Walt Disney Television Animation is splitting up to two seperate companies: "Walt Disney Television" and "Walt Disney Animation Studios" at the same time. Also, Disney will most likely produce seven animated spin-offs of theatrical films from the official "Walt Disney Animated Classics" canon each year for five years, requiring their mark for a total of over thirty-five spin-offs of Disney's animated feature films being released theatrically between 2012 and 2016.
I really like Disney sequels! For me, they don't distroy the original, they make it better for giving more in site on it! I want MORE DISNEY SEQUELS!!!
i'm starting to think alyssa is right
i think some of the disney sequels are realy good but the movie sherk the third was kinda stupid i like seaquls to all classics like lady and the tramp and balto are realy good i like most of them are realy good disney should make some more ecspeasily to lady and tramp the story shouldnt end after angle and scamp just hooked up they should have puppys or somthing well i still the y should make some more seaquls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did I miss this one? Great article. Although I personally don't see "The Princess and the Frog" breaking any new ground -- apart from the ethnic lead character. It seems like a rehash of typical Disney fare. Check out Animation World Network for another great source of info and ideas!
I always like books better than movies. I had such hope after seeing the illustration of the talent fairies in the Random House books that a movie would be made. Rani, Prilla, and Fira make for great stories on their own. They do not need to be a sequel to Peter Pan.
I am an avid Disney fan, but I must say that none of the sequels have lived up to the originals. I did like the prequel to The Lion King; it was very cute. Great job :-)
WOw I am very excited to hear they are going to be making traditional animation movies again! This is great news!
I always love the classic animation more than the computer generated characters...
But I do want to check out Rattituy that movie looks funny.
Great. I hate those sequels that hardly make sense.