After a several decade-long career, famous director and animator John Musker is slowly preparing to retire. The 70-year old director is responsible for revitalizing Disney in the late 80s and 90s, so he is definitely one of the most important animators in history. His classic works include The Great Mouse Detective (1986), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), Hercules (1997), and Treasure Planet (2002), but he has also worked on The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Moana (2016); although he won’t be returning for the sequel, Musker definitely left his mark on that movie as well.
The director recently attended the Animayo International Summit in Gran Canaria, where he promoted his new short film, I’m Hip!, but he also talked to El País about his beginnings at Disney, as well as about his opinions on the current state of things at the House of the Mouse.
At the time when Musker came to Disney,...
The director recently attended the Animayo International Summit in Gran Canaria, where he promoted his new short film, I’m Hip!, but he also talked to El País about his beginnings at Disney, as well as about his opinions on the current state of things at the House of the Mouse.
At the time when Musker came to Disney,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
While John Musker's name won't necessarily be instantly familiar to a lot of you, he's written and directed iconic Disney movies such as The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog, and Moana.
However, despite his lengthy working relationship with the House of Mouse, the filmmaker has now lashed out at the studio's recent offerings. Like many fans, Musker believes Disney needs to dial back the political messaging in its movies, something even Disney CEO Bob Iger has strongly hinted will take a backseat moving forward.
"I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters," he told Spanish outlet El País (via Toonado.com). "The classic Disney films didn’t start out trying to have a message."
"They wanted you to get involved in...
However, despite his lengthy working relationship with the House of Mouse, the filmmaker has now lashed out at the studio's recent offerings. Like many fans, Musker believes Disney needs to dial back the political messaging in its movies, something even Disney CEO Bob Iger has strongly hinted will take a backseat moving forward.
"I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters," he told Spanish outlet El País (via Toonado.com). "The classic Disney films didn’t start out trying to have a message."
"They wanted you to get involved in...
- 5/27/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Animated filmmaker John Musker — who directed such Disney films as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” and “Hercules” — called out the Walt Disney Company for prioritizing political messaging over story in its recent films.
“I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters,” Musker told Spanish outlet El País at this year’s Animayo International Summit in Gran Canaria, Spain.
“The classic Disney films didn’t start out trying to have a message. They wanted you to get involved in the characters and the story and the world, and I think that’s still the heart of it,” Musker added. “You don’t have to exclude agendas, but you have to first create characters who you sympathize with and who are compelling.”
Musker has collaborated with fellow director Ron Clements on several Disney animated features,...
“I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters,” Musker told Spanish outlet El País at this year’s Animayo International Summit in Gran Canaria, Spain.
“The classic Disney films didn’t start out trying to have a message. They wanted you to get involved in the characters and the story and the world, and I think that’s still the heart of it,” Musker added. “You don’t have to exclude agendas, but you have to first create characters who you sympathize with and who are compelling.”
Musker has collaborated with fellow director Ron Clements on several Disney animated features,...
- 5/26/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Summertime is the best time to transport yourself into a nostalgic world, as Freeform celebrates 30 Days of Disney with legendary Disney films starting June 1. Viewers can relive their childhood with films from the full Disney catalog, including Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out, National Treasure, Avatar, Spider-Man (2002), and many more.
The programming event will also feature the world television premiere of Disney-Pixar’s animated film Lightyear. Other Freeform premieres include Disney-Pixar’s Soul and Disney Animation’s Fantasia (1940 and 2000).
Throughout each week in June, fans can reminisce with special summer marathons that will stir up fond memories and reconnect them with the films they cherish.
During the first weekend of June, you can check out your Disney “faves” with classic films like Disney Animation’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid (1989). During the second weekend, check out your Pixar faves with movies like Inside Out, Coco, and Cars.
Celebrate...
The programming event will also feature the world television premiere of Disney-Pixar’s animated film Lightyear. Other Freeform premieres include Disney-Pixar’s Soul and Disney Animation’s Fantasia (1940 and 2000).
Throughout each week in June, fans can reminisce with special summer marathons that will stir up fond memories and reconnect them with the films they cherish.
During the first weekend of June, you can check out your Disney “faves” with classic films like Disney Animation’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid (1989). During the second weekend, check out your Pixar faves with movies like Inside Out, Coco, and Cars.
Celebrate...
- 5/1/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Chef Gusteau will be turning in his grave – the restaurant which inspired Disney’s Ratatouille can’t seem to find some of its wine. It’s very expensive wine, too.
Here at Film Stories, we can’t get enough of two things: wine, and crime stories featuring anthropomorphic rodents.
Oh, and films, I suppose. They’re very much the third of the three, though.
You can imagine our excitement, then, when our Sauvignon Blanc -infused rewatch of The Great Mouse Detective was interrupted by a chilling bit of true crime trivia. La Tour d’Argent, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris and inspiration for 2007’s Ratatouille, has lost rather a lot of wine. It has, they suspect, Been Stolen!
According to the BBC, the missing vintages were spotted last week during a routine inventory of the venue’s wine cellar, thought to be “the largest cellar in Paris”, and...
Here at Film Stories, we can’t get enough of two things: wine, and crime stories featuring anthropomorphic rodents.
Oh, and films, I suppose. They’re very much the third of the three, though.
You can imagine our excitement, then, when our Sauvignon Blanc -infused rewatch of The Great Mouse Detective was interrupted by a chilling bit of true crime trivia. La Tour d’Argent, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris and inspiration for 2007’s Ratatouille, has lost rather a lot of wine. It has, they suspect, Been Stolen!
According to the BBC, the missing vintages were spotted last week during a routine inventory of the venue’s wine cellar, thought to be “the largest cellar in Paris”, and...
- 1/30/2024
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
With this year being the 100 year anniversary of The Walt Disney Company and the release of their latest animated title, Wish, we wanted to know what animated Disney film has been your favorite over the years? We stuck to films specifically released by Disney, so no Pixar titles are included. What struck me while compiling the list is the progression of their films. From the innocence of their early work to what many consider their heyday in the early 90’s to the emergence of the CGI era. For many of us, Disney films defined our youth, but which is the one that has remained with you all these years? As always, if you don’t see your favorite listed, please click “Other” and let us know what it is in the comments section as well as any fond memories you have of these timeless classics.
What is your favorite Disney Animated Film?...
What is your favorite Disney Animated Film?...
- 11/26/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
As Disney has been enthusiastically reminding us all year, 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by Walt and Roy Disney. Walt was an animator whose previous company, Laugh-o-Gram Studio, which he founded with Ub Iwerks, had just gone bankrupt. Meanwhile Roy was still suffering from tuberculosis. Yet the studio they founded would come to be ranked number 53 on the Fortune 500 list of the biggest companies in the United States in 2022. More impressive still, the company has achieved the ever elusive mystique of being a brand adored and respected around the world.
The Walt Disney Company (as it has been known since 1986) has expanded into all sorts of areas over the years, from theme parks to superhero movies to streaming documentaries, but the heart and soul of the endeavour is still, at the end of things, Walt Disney Animation Studios, which was put into...
The Walt Disney Company (as it has been known since 1986) has expanded into all sorts of areas over the years, from theme parks to superhero movies to streaming documentaries, but the heart and soul of the endeavour is still, at the end of things, Walt Disney Animation Studios, which was put into...
- 11/23/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
Disney fans and physical media collectors, rejoice! This November will see the release of a gargantuan 100-film Blu-ray collection called the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection. The catch? It’ll cost you $1,499.96.
The boxed set officially releases on Nov. 14, but preorders are currently available exclusively at Walmart’s website.
Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection $1,499.96 Buy Now
The collection is packaged as a three-volume set, featuring animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. But unlike other behemoth boxed sets, this one isn’t filled with lame direct-to video snoozers but beloved titles that includes classics and recent favorites. For example, the long-running list includes all the “Toy Story” movies, both of “The Incredibles,” “The Black Cauldron,” “Frankenweenie” and “Robin Hood.” It even includes films as recent as this...
Disney fans and physical media collectors, rejoice! This November will see the release of a gargantuan 100-film Blu-ray collection called the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection. The catch? It’ll cost you $1,499.96.
The boxed set officially releases on Nov. 14, but preorders are currently available exclusively at Walmart’s website.
Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection $1,499.96 Buy Now
The collection is packaged as a three-volume set, featuring animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. But unlike other behemoth boxed sets, this one isn’t filled with lame direct-to video snoozers but beloved titles that includes classics and recent favorites. For example, the long-running list includes all the “Toy Story” movies, both of “The Incredibles,” “The Black Cauldron,” “Frankenweenie” and “Robin Hood.” It even includes films as recent as this...
- 9/21/2023
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
If you’re a Disney fan who wants each and every animated movie they’ve ever made in one place, then you’re in luck. The Walt Disney Company announced the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which features 100 animated movies from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Pixar on Blu-ray. Everything from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Elemental is included, encompassing nearly one hundred years of storytelling.
Related Disney and Pixar’s Elemental comes to Disney+ on September 13th
The Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection is a self-standing, three-volume set that will be available for pre-order on September 19th, but only on Walmart.com. There will be a limited amount of sets available, so each will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. The set will also feature digital codes for each title, along with a collectible lithograph from Disney Animation’s all-new musical comedy Wish, and a collectible...
Related Disney and Pixar’s Elemental comes to Disney+ on September 13th
The Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection is a self-standing, three-volume set that will be available for pre-order on September 19th, but only on Walmart.com. There will be a limited amount of sets available, so each will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. The set will also feature digital codes for each title, along with a collectible lithograph from Disney Animation’s all-new musical comedy Wish, and a collectible...
- 9/11/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a hefty new Blu-ray box set containing 100 of its best animated films.
Officially titled the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, the box set comes with three volumes that open up to feature the original theatrical artwork for each film. Additionally, the package offers digital codes to all 100 movies, a certificate of authenticity, a lithograph from the upcoming feature Wish, and a collectible set of crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with “Disney 100.”
Drawing films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and the now-closed DisneyToon Studios, the collection offers a pretty comprehensive timeline of the company, founded in 1923. The box set features early classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, 1990s renaissance films like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story, and more modern offerings — many of which got the direct-to-Disney+ treatment thanks to Covid — including Soul,...
Officially titled the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, the box set comes with three volumes that open up to feature the original theatrical artwork for each film. Additionally, the package offers digital codes to all 100 movies, a certificate of authenticity, a lithograph from the upcoming feature Wish, and a collectible set of crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with “Disney 100.”
Drawing films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and the now-closed DisneyToon Studios, the collection offers a pretty comprehensive timeline of the company, founded in 1923. The box set features early classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, 1990s renaissance films like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story, and more modern offerings — many of which got the direct-to-Disney+ treatment thanks to Covid — including Soul,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Film News
Since the Writers Guild of American and Screen Actors Guild are both still on strike, this year's Destination D23 convention down in Orlando, Florida didn't really have much of anything to showcase. Sure, the studio showed some footage from Disney's upcoming animated movie "Wish," and they announced that "Haunted Mansion" would be hitting Disney+ in October. But there was one other announcement that might be intriguing for anyone who is both a Disney fan and a physical media collector.
This fall, the House of Mouse will be releasing the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which collects 100 animated films from both Disney and Pixar, reaching as far back as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and up through this summer's "Elemental" from Pixar. All of the movies come in a big three-volume set that unfolds in collectible storybooks. The Disney100 Blu-ray box set also includes the original theatrical poster art for every movie within the storybook,...
This fall, the House of Mouse will be releasing the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which collects 100 animated films from both Disney and Pixar, reaching as far back as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and up through this summer's "Elemental" from Pixar. All of the movies come in a big three-volume set that unfolds in collectible storybooks. The Disney100 Blu-ray box set also includes the original theatrical poster art for every movie within the storybook,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Disney just announced the release of the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, featuring 100 animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. It’s packaged together as a three-volume set that unfolds into your own storybook.
The set is festooned with original poster designs and comes with digital codes for every movie, alongside a lithograph from Disney’s upcoming feature “Wish,” a certificate of authenticity and crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with the “Disney 100” logo. The limited-edition collection will be available on Nov. 14, with pre-orders beginning on Walmart.com on Sept. 18. It has a retail price of $1,500.
What’s fascinating about the set is that it includes a wide array of classic Walt Disney Animation Studios features, along with beloved Pixar favorites and a smattering of films (many of them direct-to-video sequels to earlier masterworks) created by the since-shuttered DisneyToon Studios. That includes “Tinker Bell,” “Return to Neverland,” “The...
The set is festooned with original poster designs and comes with digital codes for every movie, alongside a lithograph from Disney’s upcoming feature “Wish,” a certificate of authenticity and crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with the “Disney 100” logo. The limited-edition collection will be available on Nov. 14, with pre-orders beginning on Walmart.com on Sept. 18. It has a retail price of $1,500.
What’s fascinating about the set is that it includes a wide array of classic Walt Disney Animation Studios features, along with beloved Pixar favorites and a smattering of films (many of them direct-to-video sequels to earlier masterworks) created by the since-shuttered DisneyToon Studios. That includes “Tinker Bell,” “Return to Neverland,” “The...
- 9/10/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Disney Animation is responsible for some of the most delicious villains to ever grace the silver screen. Who doesn't adore the back-stabbing, fratricidal Scar from "The Lion King" or the cackling Queen from "Snow White"? Classic Disney baddies aren't just fun to hate -- they're just fun. There's so much joy to be had, watching the regal Shere Khan suddenly go feral on Mowgli in "The Jungle Book" or Vincent Price's Professor Ratigan sing about his nefarious plans with unbridled glee in "The Great Mouse Detective" (arguably the film that was truly responsible for the Disney Renaissance).
By this point, you've undoubtedly gotten wind of us online grumps bemoaning the lack of dyed-in-the-wool, unsympathetic villains in Disney movies of late, be they animated features or live-action remakes. It's not automatically a defect, mind you. "Encanto," for example, doesn't need a Big Bad to explore themes about generational trauma or...
By this point, you've undoubtedly gotten wind of us online grumps bemoaning the lack of dyed-in-the-wool, unsympathetic villains in Disney movies of late, be they animated features or live-action remakes. It's not automatically a defect, mind you. "Encanto," for example, doesn't need a Big Bad to explore themes about generational trauma or...
- 5/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
When people think of moments from Disney movies, they often focus on the sweeter examples. From Snow White dancing with Dopey to Jasmine and Aladdin discovering a whole new world, there's no shortage of adorable Disney scenes to choose from. Yet, as many Disney fans know, there's always been a darker side to the Mouse House's films. This comes through clearest in the studio's most frightening sequences, especially those that focus on the not-so-magical topic of death.
To some, the death of Bambi's mother remains a traumatic memory. For others, Mufasa's tragic demise in "The Lion King" left an inescapable mark on their youth. Whether they feature a dreadful antagonist's end or an adorable sidekick's demise, these moments deserve our admiration for giving us goosebumps well into our adult years. While we won't be focusing on any Pixar moments (since they deserve a spotlight of their own), there are...
To some, the death of Bambi's mother remains a traumatic memory. For others, Mufasa's tragic demise in "The Lion King" left an inescapable mark on their youth. Whether they feature a dreadful antagonist's end or an adorable sidekick's demise, these moments deserve our admiration for giving us goosebumps well into our adult years. While we won't be focusing on any Pixar moments (since they deserve a spotlight of their own), there are...
- 4/9/2023
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
The animation industry has lost a pioneer. Burny Mattinson, who has worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios on several esteemed projects over the years, has passed away at the age of 87. According to The Walt Disney Company in an official statement, he had passed after a short and undisclosed illness. Working across several departments in the animation company, he worked at The Walt Disney Company for almost 70 years and was due to receive a one-of-a-kind award on June 4, 2023. He is survived by his wife, as well as the families of his son and daughter.
"Burny's artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better," wrote Walt Disney Animation chief creative director Jennifer Lee. "All of us who have had the honor to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on.
"Burny's artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better," wrote Walt Disney Animation chief creative director Jennifer Lee. "All of us who have had the honor to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on.
- 2/27/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
Burny Mattinson, who worked as an animator, director, producer and story artist during a 70-year career as the longest-serving “castmember” in the history of The Walt Disney Co., has died. He was 87.
Mattinson died after a short illness on Monday at a Canoga Park assisted living facility in Los Angeles, the studio announced. He was due to receive his 70th anniversary service award — the studio’s first ever — on June 4.
Mattinson was working full time at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a story consultant and mentor at the time of his death.
“Burny’s artistry, generosity and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better — better artists, better technologists and better collaborators,” Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement. “All of us who have had the honor to know him...
Mattinson died after a short illness on Monday at a Canoga Park assisted living facility in Los Angeles, the studio announced. He was due to receive his 70th anniversary service award — the studio’s first ever — on June 4.
Mattinson was working full time at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a story consultant and mentor at the time of his death.
“Burny’s artistry, generosity and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better — better artists, better technologists and better collaborators,” Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement. “All of us who have had the honor to know him...
- 2/27/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Burny Mattinson, a Disney animator, director, producer and story artist, died on Monday, Feb. 27, in Canoga Park, Calif., following a short illness. He was 87.
Mattinson’s death was confirmed by The Walt Disney Company, his longtime employer. Mattinson was the longest-serving Disney employee and was set to receive the first ever 70th-anniversary service award this June.
Born in San Francisco on May 13, 1935, Mattinson was first inspired to pursue a career in animation after seeing “Pinocchio” at age 6. He began drawing in hopes to recreate the Disney animation style. By the time he finished high school, Mattinson joined The Walt Disney Company and in just six months moved from the mailroom to an animation in-betweener on “Lady and the Tramp.”
Academy Award-winning Disney director Don Hall said, “For almost 30 years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ to ‘Big Hero 6’ to, most recently,...
Mattinson’s death was confirmed by The Walt Disney Company, his longtime employer. Mattinson was the longest-serving Disney employee and was set to receive the first ever 70th-anniversary service award this June.
Born in San Francisco on May 13, 1935, Mattinson was first inspired to pursue a career in animation after seeing “Pinocchio” at age 6. He began drawing in hopes to recreate the Disney animation style. By the time he finished high school, Mattinson joined The Walt Disney Company and in just six months moved from the mailroom to an animation in-betweener on “Lady and the Tramp.”
Academy Award-winning Disney director Don Hall said, “For almost 30 years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ to ‘Big Hero 6’ to, most recently,...
- 2/27/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Burny Mattinson, a Disney Legend who served as an animator, producer, director and story artist in his nearly 70-year career with the studio, died Monday at the age of 87 following a short illness. Disney announced his death on their official website.
The story goes that Mattinson, who was born in San Francisco in 1935, was transformed when his mother took him to see Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” at the age of 6. He knew what he wanted to do. As Don Hahn, who produced some of Disney’s most beloved movies during the Disney Renaissance, said of Mattinson’s life: “His life could be a Disney movie: teenaged kid shows up at the Disney gate with his portfolio under his arm and stays for 70 years. He was our story sensei, a brilliant draftsman who showed us what it was like to grind on a story until it was right.”
Mattinson’s first...
The story goes that Mattinson, who was born in San Francisco in 1935, was transformed when his mother took him to see Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” at the age of 6. He knew what he wanted to do. As Don Hahn, who produced some of Disney’s most beloved movies during the Disney Renaissance, said of Mattinson’s life: “His life could be a Disney movie: teenaged kid shows up at the Disney gate with his portfolio under his arm and stays for 70 years. He was our story sensei, a brilliant draftsman who showed us what it was like to grind on a story until it was right.”
Mattinson’s first...
- 2/27/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Disney has a long and illustrious history, spanning 99 years and inspiring people all over the globe with its classic tales, innovative animation, and catchy tunes. Since Walt Disney, talented animators have been creating moving and thought-provoking stories for audiences of all ages, from the big screen to the living room TV.
Unfortunately, the studio abandoned some of these excellent concepts after they were just sketched. Fraidy Cat, a lost Disney Hitchcock-style mystery, was deemed too niche for kids.
What was the inspiration and the plot for ‘Fraidy Cat’?
Details on Disney Animation's Unproduced Alfred Hitchcock-Inspired Film Fraidy Cat
Link: https://t.co/lAabFjryv0 pic.twitter.com/8JlGu6hU2t
— GeekTyrant (@GeekTyrant) December 30, 2022
As animation has evolved, it has branched out into many various types of media. Disney has made everything from a laugh-out-loud comedy (The Emperor’s New Groove) to a Western (Home on the Range) to a superhero...
Unfortunately, the studio abandoned some of these excellent concepts after they were just sketched. Fraidy Cat, a lost Disney Hitchcock-style mystery, was deemed too niche for kids.
What was the inspiration and the plot for ‘Fraidy Cat’?
Details on Disney Animation's Unproduced Alfred Hitchcock-Inspired Film Fraidy Cat
Link: https://t.co/lAabFjryv0 pic.twitter.com/8JlGu6hU2t
— GeekTyrant (@GeekTyrant) December 30, 2022
As animation has evolved, it has branched out into many various types of media. Disney has made everything from a laugh-out-loud comedy (The Emperor’s New Groove) to a Western (Home on the Range) to a superhero...
- 2/27/2023
- by Produced by Digital Editors
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After more than 15 years, America’s most iconic cat is finally returning to the big screen.
In 2024, we’re looking forward to the release of “Garfield,” the long-awaited film starring Jim Davis’ iconic comic strip character. The movie will, incredibly, be the first fully-animated theatrical project starring the lasagna-eating grouch, who first appeared in newspaper comic sections in 1978. Although the franchise has remained enormously popular in the decades since its launch, Garfield’s only theatrical films were two live action/CGI projects starring Bill Murray as the character. After the second film, “A Tale of Two Kitties,” bowed in 2006, the franchise remained off the bigscreen for years, in favor of direct-to-dvd films and television shows.
News of Garfield’s animated return first broke in 2016, when Alcon Entertainment secured the exclusive rights to developing animated features based on the character. Although the project remained dormant for several years, 2021 saw an uptick in news about the film,...
In 2024, we’re looking forward to the release of “Garfield,” the long-awaited film starring Jim Davis’ iconic comic strip character. The movie will, incredibly, be the first fully-animated theatrical project starring the lasagna-eating grouch, who first appeared in newspaper comic sections in 1978. Although the franchise has remained enormously popular in the decades since its launch, Garfield’s only theatrical films were two live action/CGI projects starring Bill Murray as the character. After the second film, “A Tale of Two Kitties,” bowed in 2006, the franchise remained off the bigscreen for years, in favor of direct-to-dvd films and television shows.
News of Garfield’s animated return first broke in 2016, when Alcon Entertainment secured the exclusive rights to developing animated features based on the character. Although the project remained dormant for several years, 2021 saw an uptick in news about the film,...
- 8/17/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Japanese actor Akira Takarada, the star of the original 1954 Godzilla film, has died at the age of 87. No cause or date of death was given by Toho Studios, which produced that film and announced his death.
Takarada starred as Hideto Ogata in Godzilla, a sailor. His character was the liaison with the Japanese Coast Guard after the first ship that Godzilla sank sent out an Sos. He was also there at the film’s end to watch Godzilla die from the Oxygen Destroyer.
Toho wrote of his death on the official Twitter account for the film. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many Godzilla fans.”
Takarada appeared in the 1956 American re-edit, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, with Raymond Burr. He was part of the ongoing Godzilla series, appearing in Mothra vs. Godzilla in 1964. Takarada returned to...
Takarada starred as Hideto Ogata in Godzilla, a sailor. His character was the liaison with the Japanese Coast Guard after the first ship that Godzilla sank sent out an Sos. He was also there at the film’s end to watch Godzilla die from the Oxygen Destroyer.
Toho wrote of his death on the official Twitter account for the film. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many Godzilla fans.”
Takarada appeared in the 1956 American re-edit, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, with Raymond Burr. He was part of the ongoing Godzilla series, appearing in Mothra vs. Godzilla in 1964. Takarada returned to...
- 3/18/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
An underrated Disney classic, "The Great Mouse Detective" was released in 1986. Though it was a modest commercial success, the film was soon overshadowed by another mouse-centric movie. Former Mouse House animator and Disney's main competition at the time, Don Bluth (along with Steven Spielberg), released "An American Tail" shortly thereafter. Although "The Great Mouse Detective" has largely faded into obscurity, it's definitely a major highlight of Disney's so-called "Dark Age."
The film is based on the series of children's books, "Basil of Baker Street" by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone, which are themselves a riff on the Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle....
The post How The Great Mouse Detective Was a CGI First For Disney appeared first on /Film.
The film is based on the series of children's books, "Basil of Baker Street" by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone, which are themselves a riff on the Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle....
The post How The Great Mouse Detective Was a CGI First For Disney appeared first on /Film.
- 2/18/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
Great animators are also actors, comedians, and scientists. They study the way animals move, the flow of long grass, the grace of scudding clouds, the expressions humans make when they are frustrated, hungry, happy, or in love. And Glen Keane is one of its masters.
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
- 11/30/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Great animators are also actors, comedians, and scientists. They study the way animals move, the flow of long grass, the grace of scudding clouds, the expressions humans make when they are frustrated, hungry, happy, or in love. And Glen Keane is one of its masters.
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
In the Disney 2D era he was known for drawing fierce creatures like the the terrifying Bear in “The Fox and the Hound,” Willie the Giant in “Mickey’s Christmas,” and Snidely Whiplash villain Rattigan in “The Great Mouse Detective” — and, the fiercely memorable Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“I was supposed to do Ursula,” he said on the phone. “I loved animating power and strength and weight. I was watching Jodi Benson record with Howard Ashman coaching her, trying to get her to sing from a personal, intimate desire of wanting the impossible, to believe the impossible is possible. As I watched that, I felt,...
- 11/30/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
I generally have mixed feelings about literature, or beloved characters from books, that, once it enters the public domain, get repurposed and changed from the what they once were, in order to serve a contemporary public. I might be ready to make an exception for Enola Holmes. While the misanthropic but brilliant detective's name has been places on various films that have little to do with the original character, it's usually done out of love (who doesn't love The Great Mouse Detective?). And I'm certainly always ready for a film that puts girls in the spotlight as smart, engaged, ready and able to fight, and generally ignoring authoritative male voices that seek to put them 'in their place'. While this is certainly capitalizing on the...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/25/2020
- Screen Anarchy
(Welcome to Out of the Disney Vault, where we explore the unsung gems and forgotten disasters currently streaming on Disney+.) With recent global events, plenty of people are resorting to nostalgia and comfort when it comes to their movie watching. Whether it’s that comedy you love or a family-friendly movie you loved as a kid, few […]
The post Revisiting ‘The Great Mouse Detective’, the Unsung Kickstarter of the Disney Renaissance (And One of Disney’s Creepiest Movies) appeared first on /Film.
The post Revisiting ‘The Great Mouse Detective’, the Unsung Kickstarter of the Disney Renaissance (And One of Disney’s Creepiest Movies) appeared first on /Film.
- 4/2/2020
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
“The Little Mermaid” wasn’t just an animated classic. It was a life raft of sorts for struggling Walt Disney Studios.
It’s hard to believe given how dominant Disney is today in the family entertainment space, but when the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who just wanted to be part of Prince Eric’s world, hit theaters, the studio was in a rut. Recent animated offerings such as “The Great Mouse Detective,” “Oliver & Company” and “The Black Cauldron” had flopped or disappointed at the box office and executives were even thinking about overhauling the struggling division. But salvation arrived in the form of “The Little Mermaid,” a film that was able to recapture the magic of an earlier era of movie-making, ranking alongside classic Disney films such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella” with its ability to make familiar fairy tales the stuff of big screen enchantment.
More important for the struggling studio,...
It’s hard to believe given how dominant Disney is today in the family entertainment space, but when the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who just wanted to be part of Prince Eric’s world, hit theaters, the studio was in a rut. Recent animated offerings such as “The Great Mouse Detective,” “Oliver & Company” and “The Black Cauldron” had flopped or disappointed at the box office and executives were even thinking about overhauling the struggling division. But salvation arrived in the form of “The Little Mermaid,” a film that was able to recapture the magic of an earlier era of movie-making, ranking alongside classic Disney films such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella” with its ability to make familiar fairy tales the stuff of big screen enchantment.
More important for the struggling studio,...
- 11/13/2019
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
Disney has shared a new trailer for their upcoming Disney+ streaming service and it’s over 3-hours long! I don’t know if you want to spend over three hours seeing what Disney+ has to offer when it launches, but you have the option!
Disney+ also posted all of the films and TV shows coming to the streaming service on a super long Twitter thread, which I included below the trailer. As you’ll see there’s a ton of stuff that will be available that will make Disney fans happy. Gargoyles and several other classic 90s animated series are among them along with a lot of old weird films that have been pulled out of the Disney vault.
If you don’t want to watch the trailer or scroll through the Twitter feed, I shared the full list of titles for you. Check everything out below and let us...
Disney+ also posted all of the films and TV shows coming to the streaming service on a super long Twitter thread, which I included below the trailer. As you’ll see there’s a ton of stuff that will be available that will make Disney fans happy. Gargoyles and several other classic 90s animated series are among them along with a lot of old weird films that have been pulled out of the Disney vault.
If you don’t want to watch the trailer or scroll through the Twitter feed, I shared the full list of titles for you. Check everything out below and let us...
- 10/14/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The live action remakes just keep on coming! Following the massive financial success of Disney’s most recent reboots, the studio is planning on cranking out plenty more over the coming years. According to our sources – the same ones who told us that Black Mask will be gay in Birds of Prey, and that Robert Pattinson will be playing Batman, both of which were later confirmed – one of these projects will reportedly be The Great Mouse Detective. The mice will still be animated, apparently, while everything else will be live action, much like The Lion King and the upcoming planned Chip ‘n’ Dale feature.
For those unfamiliar, this popular cartoon mystery film was released in 1986 to widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Based on the children’s book series Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, the feature closely emulates Sherlock Holmes and other detective fiction. The main character...
For those unfamiliar, this popular cartoon mystery film was released in 1986 to widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Based on the children’s book series Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, the feature closely emulates Sherlock Holmes and other detective fiction. The main character...
- 8/5/2019
- by Evan Lewis
- We Got This Covered
Fans of Disney Villainous were recently treated to a tease of what to expect from the next expansion. There were a couple of guesses and debates as to who the new three new villains would be, however, the most common guesses were Scar from The Lion King, Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove, and Ratigan from The Great Mouse Detective. I’m happy to announce that these guesses are all correct.
This August, fans will be able to pick up these three new characters in Disney Villainous: Evil Comes Prepared, but that’s not all. In addition to the latest expansion, Ravensburger will be releasing six 1000-piece puzzles featuring artwork from the game. There will be six puzzles at the start with a puzzle for each of the villains from the core game: Captain Hook, Jafar, Maleficent, Prince John, Queen of Hearts, and Ursula. As an added bonus to cool artwork in puzzle form,...
This August, fans will be able to pick up these three new characters in Disney Villainous: Evil Comes Prepared, but that’s not all. In addition to the latest expansion, Ravensburger will be releasing six 1000-piece puzzles featuring artwork from the game. There will be six puzzles at the start with a puzzle for each of the villains from the core game: Captain Hook, Jafar, Maleficent, Prince John, Queen of Hearts, and Ursula. As an added bonus to cool artwork in puzzle form,...
- 7/21/2019
- by Tommy Williams
- GeekTyrant
(Revisiting the Renaissance is a bi-weekly series in which Josh Spiegel looks back at the history and making of the 13 films of the Disney Renaissance, released between 1986 and 1999. Today’s column both serves as an introduction to the series, and tackles the first film of the Renaissance, 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective.) The […]
The post How ‘The Great Mouse Detective’ Helped Save Disney Animation During Its Darkest Hour appeared first on /Film.
The post How ‘The Great Mouse Detective’ Helped Save Disney Animation During Its Darkest Hour appeared first on /Film.
- 5/7/2019
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
Dave Michener, a veteran Disney animator, story artist, and director from 1956 up until his retirement from The Walt Disney Studios in 1987, has died at 85. He passed away on February 15 at his home in Los Angeles from complications due to a virus, according to his wife.
Over the course of his 31-year career with Disney, Michener contributed his artistic talents to such Disney classics as Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, and finally The Great Mouse Detective (for which he received a co-directing credit alongside John Musker and Ron Clements).
Michener was born in Los Angeles on November 5, 1932. His father was a famous architect who helped design many of the iconic buildings in the Miracle Mile district of the city. His uncle was the best-selling author James Michener.
Over the course of his 31-year career with Disney, Michener contributed his artistic talents to such Disney classics as Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, and finally The Great Mouse Detective (for which he received a co-directing credit alongside John Musker and Ron Clements).
Michener was born in Los Angeles on November 5, 1932. His father was a famous architect who helped design many of the iconic buildings in the Miracle Mile district of the city. His uncle was the best-selling author James Michener.
- 5/3/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Dave Michener, an animator and story artist who worked at Walt Disney Studios for more than 30 years, died on Feb. 15. He was 85. His wife Donna said he died at his Los Angeles home from complications due to a virus.
He co-directed “The Great Mouse Detective” alongside John Musker and Ron Clements.
Michener worked at Disney starting in 1956 until his retirement in 1987, contributing to classics like “Sleeping Beauty,” “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day,” “The Aristocats,” “Robin Hood,” “The Rescuers” and “The Fox and the Hound.”
The animator started his career at Disney right out of college when he was hired by Walt Disney himself, who had seen one of his art exhibits at the Chouinard Art Institute. Michener went on to produce and direct character animation for the Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. in the 1980s, followed by similar...
He co-directed “The Great Mouse Detective” alongside John Musker and Ron Clements.
Michener worked at Disney starting in 1956 until his retirement in 1987, contributing to classics like “Sleeping Beauty,” “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day,” “The Aristocats,” “Robin Hood,” “The Rescuers” and “The Fox and the Hound.”
The animator started his career at Disney right out of college when he was hired by Walt Disney himself, who had seen one of his art exhibits at the Chouinard Art Institute. Michener went on to produce and direct character animation for the Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. in the 1980s, followed by similar...
- 5/3/2018
- by Kirsten Chuba
- Variety Film + TV
One of the Disney Renaissance’s key figures is stepping down. John Musker, who’s responsible for such classics as “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid,” has announced his retirement after a 41-year tenure. Musker joined the company in 1977 and, alongside creative partner, also co-wrote and -directed “The Great Mouse Detective,” “Hercules,” “Treasure Planet,” “The Princess and the Frog,” and “Moana.”
A retirement party was held for him yesterday, according to the Cartoon Brew; that he’s far from a household name despite several of his creations attaining that status speaks to the unique plight of animation directors. Musker received two Academy Award nominations in the Best Animated Feature category, though neither “Moana” nor “The Princess and the Frog” won the prize. Had the award (which was introduced in 2001) existed earlier, it’s difficult to imagine “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” not winning it.
A retirement party was held for him yesterday, according to the Cartoon Brew; that he’s far from a household name despite several of his creations attaining that status speaks to the unique plight of animation directors. Musker received two Academy Award nominations in the Best Animated Feature category, though neither “Moana” nor “The Princess and the Frog” won the prize. Had the award (which was introduced in 2001) existed earlier, it’s difficult to imagine “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” not winning it.
- 3/19/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The Art Directors Guild said today that Oscar-nominated writer-directors Ron Clements and John Musker will receive its 2018 William Cameron Menzies Award. The award recognizes the filmmaking partners’ innovative artistic work on numerous Disney animated movies of the past 30 years including Moana, The Princess and the Frog, Treasure Island, Hercules, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and The Great Mouse Detective. They will accept their hardware January 27 during the 22nd…...
- 12/19/2017
- Deadline
Author: Andy Furlong
Ron Clements, the mind behind such classics as Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, recently spoke to HeyUGuys about his Oscar-nominated animation sensation Moana. In a wide-ranging interview he also shares his thoughts on the future of hand-drawn animation, how he feels about Guy Ritchie’s remake of Aladdin (let’s hope Jason Statham will be cast as the Genie) and his relationship with frequent collaborator and co-director John Musker.
Moana marks your first computer-animated movie; I think it still clearly retains that traditional Disney ethos, which I appreciated, but what do you think you were able to achieve creating Moana using CGI that you couldn’t with traditional animation, and do you think traditional animation still has advantages over CGI in other ways?
Well, I love traditional animation; John (Musker) and I both love traditional animation and we hope traditional animation has a bright future. With Moana...
Ron Clements, the mind behind such classics as Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, recently spoke to HeyUGuys about his Oscar-nominated animation sensation Moana. In a wide-ranging interview he also shares his thoughts on the future of hand-drawn animation, how he feels about Guy Ritchie’s remake of Aladdin (let’s hope Jason Statham will be cast as the Genie) and his relationship with frequent collaborator and co-director John Musker.
Moana marks your first computer-animated movie; I think it still clearly retains that traditional Disney ethos, which I appreciated, but what do you think you were able to achieve creating Moana using CGI that you couldn’t with traditional animation, and do you think traditional animation still has advantages over CGI in other ways?
Well, I love traditional animation; John (Musker) and I both love traditional animation and we hope traditional animation has a bright future. With Moana...
- 3/31/2017
- by Andy Furlong
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Sean Wilson Jan 16, 2017
From the BBC's Sherlock, through Disney, Hans Zimmer and Young Sherlock Holmes: we salute the music of Mr Holmes...
Few characters have enjoyed as much reinvention as Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth Sherlock Holmes, an enduring icon who is as much bound up with the history of cinema (and indeed stage, TV and radio) as he is with literature. Indeed, adaptations of Holmes stories stretch right the way back to the earliest days of film at the start of the 20th century. Fittingly enough given Holmes' penchant for a violin serenade, the musical scores to his adventures are as richly varied as the outcomes to his mysteries are unexpected. Here are Holmes' musical highlights, from Buster Keaton through to Benedict Cumberbatch.
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Not, strictly speaking, a Sherlock movie but as the title implies, the legacy of the character casts a long shadow over Buster Keaton's silent classic.
From the BBC's Sherlock, through Disney, Hans Zimmer and Young Sherlock Holmes: we salute the music of Mr Holmes...
Few characters have enjoyed as much reinvention as Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth Sherlock Holmes, an enduring icon who is as much bound up with the history of cinema (and indeed stage, TV and radio) as he is with literature. Indeed, adaptations of Holmes stories stretch right the way back to the earliest days of film at the start of the 20th century. Fittingly enough given Holmes' penchant for a violin serenade, the musical scores to his adventures are as richly varied as the outcomes to his mysteries are unexpected. Here are Holmes' musical highlights, from Buster Keaton through to Benedict Cumberbatch.
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Not, strictly speaking, a Sherlock movie but as the title implies, the legacy of the character casts a long shadow over Buster Keaton's silent classic.
- 1/15/2017
- Den of Geek
Den Of Geek Dec 1, 2016
Legendary Disney directors Ron Clements and John Musker on Moana, Hercules, Disney and Dwayne Johnson.
Ron Clements and John Musker are movie stars to me. Since I first saw Basil The Great Mouse Detective in my early years, I’ve been a huge fan of their movies. But then their collective CV as directors covers the likes of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Treasure Planet and The Princess And The Frog as well. Even in the movies of theirs I warm to less, there’s something I latch on to.
It’s been seven years since the lovely The Princess And The Frog, and the pair finally have a new movie. It’s called Moana, and I got to pretend to be professional, and chat to them about it.
I just about held it together for the full interview too. You’re proud of me, right?
What a human film Moana is.
Legendary Disney directors Ron Clements and John Musker on Moana, Hercules, Disney and Dwayne Johnson.
Ron Clements and John Musker are movie stars to me. Since I first saw Basil The Great Mouse Detective in my early years, I’ve been a huge fan of their movies. But then their collective CV as directors covers the likes of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Treasure Planet and The Princess And The Frog as well. Even in the movies of theirs I warm to less, there’s something I latch on to.
It’s been seven years since the lovely The Princess And The Frog, and the pair finally have a new movie. It’s called Moana, and I got to pretend to be professional, and chat to them about it.
I just about held it together for the full interview too. You’re proud of me, right?
What a human film Moana is.
- 11/30/2016
- Den of Geek
Directors John Musker and Ron Clements are the directors behind Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, The Great Mouse Detective, Treasure Planet, and Disney’s last hand-drawn animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog. Over the past 20 years or so they’ve helped create some of the studio’s most iconic scenes. Their latest is Moana, a large-scale musical they first started thinking about […]
The post Interview: ‘Moana’ Directors John Musker and Ron Clements on Making Their First CG Movie appeared first on /Film.
The post Interview: ‘Moana’ Directors John Musker and Ron Clements on Making Their First CG Movie appeared first on /Film.
- 11/23/2016
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Simon Brew Nov 23, 2016
Jack Nicholson was originally in line for Disney’s Hercules – but 1989’s Batman movie scuppered it…
If you believe the rhetoric, then between The Lion King and the current resurgence for Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney didn’t release an animated movie of any merit. I’ve long been one of those calling bobbins on this. Between The Lion King and, say, Tangled, we had The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis, Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Meet The Robinsons and The Princess & The Frog, for example. I’d argue there’s a mix of underappreciated and flat-out excellent movies in that lot.
And we also had Hercules.
1997’s Hercules wasn’t a raging box office success, and it was the first Walt Disney Animation Studios project to fall shy of $100m at the American box office since The Rescuers Down Under in 1990. Granted,...
Jack Nicholson was originally in line for Disney’s Hercules – but 1989’s Batman movie scuppered it…
If you believe the rhetoric, then between The Lion King and the current resurgence for Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney didn’t release an animated movie of any merit. I’ve long been one of those calling bobbins on this. Between The Lion King and, say, Tangled, we had The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis, Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Meet The Robinsons and The Princess & The Frog, for example. I’d argue there’s a mix of underappreciated and flat-out excellent movies in that lot.
And we also had Hercules.
1997’s Hercules wasn’t a raging box office success, and it was the first Walt Disney Animation Studios project to fall shy of $100m at the American box office since The Rescuers Down Under in 1990. Granted,...
- 11/22/2016
- Den of Geek
Though Walt Disney Animation Studios has existed in some form for almost 90 years, there is no more important period in its history than the Disney Renaissance, which lasted for the final 15 years of the 20th century. This is the era when more than a handful of Disney’s recent financial, if not full-throated creative, triumphs were released, from the more modestly successful The Great Mouse Detective to The Little Mermaid to The Lion King to Fantasia 2000. (The term “Disney Renaissance” was coined by fans, not in-house, so the definition of when the period extends from can, and should, be stretched to include both the 1986 Sherlock Holmes-esque adaptation that convinced Disney executives to keep funding animated projects and the 1999 “sequel” to Fantasia, which is a fitting tribute to the 1940 classic.) The Disney Renaissance, despite encompassing so many different films, is best identified by a series ...
- 11/16/2016
- by Josh Spiegel
- avclub.com
Over the Summer, I got the great opportunity to talk with filmmakers Ron Clements and John Musker about their upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios film Moana. Ron & Jon are animation legends, having worked on many great Disney animated movies over the years, including The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet […]
The post ‘Moana’ Directors Talk ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Influences and Taika Waititi’s Screenplay appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Moana’ Directors Talk ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Influences and Taika Waititi’s Screenplay appeared first on /Film.
- 11/2/2016
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
As we draw closer to the release of Moana, we're getting a better idea of what to expect when the next animated adventure from Disney hits theaters. The company has been on a creative roll lately, especially since Wreck-It Ralph emerged to big success in 2012. Since then, we've seen Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia all score with critics and audiences alike. Moana marks the first feature in seven years by directors Ron Clements and John Musker, who've enjoyed a long and storied career at Disney. Their early efforts included The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin. Their last movie was The Princess and the Frog in 2009. Clements and Musker began developing Moana in 2011, based on their own original idea. The movie's creative team traveled...
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- 9/8/2016
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Prince, iconic singer-songwriter and seven-time Grammy winner, has died at the age of 57. In 1986, to celebrate the release of his movie Under the Cherry Moon, Prince agreed to go on a blind date with a radio contest winner. People caught up with the lucky fan to discuss her night out with the music icon. Read the cover story below:First you win a contest, and then you win friends. That's how it happened for Lisa Barber, 20, a Sheridan, Wyo. motel chambermaid who last month dialed an MTV contest number and, by being the 10,000th caller, won a date with Prince and...
- 4/21/2016
- PEOPLE.com
Synopsis: Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin), the very first bunny on Zootopia’s police force, jumps at the opportunity to crack her first case—even if it means partnering with fast-talking, scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman) to solve the mystery.
Is Disney's 55th animated feature film the gem we all hope for when entering the theater? Does it hold up next to vaulted masterpieces like The Lion King and Aladdin? Without having a princess, or some of the more frequently used formulae, the answer is "Yes." This is a great example of Disney taking a chance, and hitting a home run.
Beginning with a great lesson for children, Zootopia screams at its audience to chase your dreams. Even in the face of family telling Hopps her dream of being a cop was unrealistic, she marches on. It is uplifting to see a film marketed toward...
Is Disney's 55th animated feature film the gem we all hope for when entering the theater? Does it hold up next to vaulted masterpieces like The Lion King and Aladdin? Without having a princess, or some of the more frequently used formulae, the answer is "Yes." This is a great example of Disney taking a chance, and hitting a home run.
Beginning with a great lesson for children, Zootopia screams at its audience to chase your dreams. Even in the face of family telling Hopps her dream of being a cop was unrealistic, she marches on. It is uplifting to see a film marketed toward...
- 3/1/2016
- by Tyler Richardson
- LRMonline.com
With the news that Emma Stone is in talks to play Cruella de Vil in a movie exploring the character's origins - a movie pitch that presumably followed in the wake of Maleficent's success - we started thinking about some of our other favorite Disney villains whose origins we'd like to see explored in feature-length form. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid Obviously, it's just going to be called Ursula, and Colton Haynes already did the costume about as well as anyone could, so let's just give it to him. Apparently, the film's original script called for Bea Arthur to voice the character,...
- 1/7/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
With the news that Emma Stone is in talks to play Cruella de Vil in a movie exploring the character's origins - a movie pitch that presumably followed in the wake of Maleficent's success - we started thinking about some of our other favorite Disney villains whose origins we'd like to see explored in feature-length form. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid Obviously, it's just going to be called Ursula, and Colton Haynes already did the costume about as well as anyone could, so let's just give it to him. Apparently, the film's original script called for Bea Arthur to voice the character,...
- 1/7/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
The new year is upon us, and it’s time to clean up Netflix once again. Don’t fear too much though, as much as we hate to see some of our favorites leave Netflix, they do a pretty good job at adding some great new content. We lose Almost Famous, A Clockwork Orange, American Psycho, The Graduate, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and all the Rocky movies – and we get Intolerable Cruelty, Training Day, The Rundown and a new Netflix Original for Degrassi: The Next Class.
All Title Dates are Subject to Change
Netflix U.S. Release Dates Only
Available 1/1/16
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Along Came Polly (2004)
American Girl: Grace Stirs up Success (2015)
Angry Birds Toons: Season 1
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009)
Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007)
Catwoman (2004)
The Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills: Season 1
Constantine (2005)
Forensic Files: Collection 2
Friday Night Tykes: Season 1-2
The Good Road...
All Title Dates are Subject to Change
Netflix U.S. Release Dates Only
Available 1/1/16
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Along Came Polly (2004)
American Girl: Grace Stirs up Success (2015)
Angry Birds Toons: Season 1
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009)
Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007)
Catwoman (2004)
The Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills: Season 1
Constantine (2005)
Forensic Files: Collection 2
Friday Night Tykes: Season 1-2
The Good Road...
- 12/30/2015
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Your holidays are probably already packed, but if you want to rewatch "Gladiator," the original "Conan the Barbarian," "Mission: Impossible," or any "Bourne," "Rocky," or "Rambo" films, get that action fix before New Year's Eve: These favorites are leaving Netflix streaming in January.
Holiday films "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" are also being yanked, as are several Disney classics, including "Dumbo" (1941), "The Aristocats (1970)," "The Fox and the Hound (1981)", "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986) and "Pocahontas" (1995).
Also say goodbye to classics "A Clockwork Orange: (1971)," "The Graduate" (1967), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "Serpico" (1973) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962).
What's Leaving Netflix in January 2016
Leaving Jan 1, 2016
"A Clockwork Orange" (1971)
"Almost Famous" (2000)
"American Psycho" (2000)
"American Psycho 2" (2002)
"The Bourne Identity" (2002)
"The Bourne Supremacy" (2004)
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)
"Coach Carter" (2005)
"Conan the Barbarian" (1982)
"Corpse Bride" (2005)
"Coyote Ugly" (2000)
"Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior": Season 1
"Four Brothers" (2005)
"Gladiator" (2000)
"The Graduate" (1967)
"Grandma's Boy" (2006)
"Harriet the Spy...
Holiday films "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" are also being yanked, as are several Disney classics, including "Dumbo" (1941), "The Aristocats (1970)," "The Fox and the Hound (1981)", "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986) and "Pocahontas" (1995).
Also say goodbye to classics "A Clockwork Orange: (1971)," "The Graduate" (1967), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "Serpico" (1973) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962).
What's Leaving Netflix in January 2016
Leaving Jan 1, 2016
"A Clockwork Orange" (1971)
"Almost Famous" (2000)
"American Psycho" (2000)
"American Psycho 2" (2002)
"The Bourne Identity" (2002)
"The Bourne Supremacy" (2004)
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)
"Coach Carter" (2005)
"Conan the Barbarian" (1982)
"Corpse Bride" (2005)
"Coyote Ugly" (2000)
"Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior": Season 1
"Four Brothers" (2005)
"Gladiator" (2000)
"The Graduate" (1967)
"Grandma's Boy" (2006)
"Harriet the Spy...
- 12/21/2015
- by Sharon Knolle
- Moviefone
United Artists
In a career that spanned 7 decades, Vincent Price played every character from The Invisible Man to Sir Walter Raleigh, he worked with directors such as Otto Preminger, Alfred Hitchcock and Mario Bava, was good friends with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff and even, courtesy of Thames Television, hosted his own cookery show. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Price is one of Hollywood’s genuine legends, a bona fide movie star with an immediately recognisable voice, and as with most legends, he was looked down upon by the Establishment before finding acceptance within the horror community. From The Invisible Man Returns (1940) to Edward Scissorhands (1990), he created a gallery of characters that deserve to be the envy of most “mainstream” performers.
At a time when voicing cartoon characters was considered at odds with “serious” acting, Price proved you could do both, voicing the villainous Professor Ratigan...
In a career that spanned 7 decades, Vincent Price played every character from The Invisible Man to Sir Walter Raleigh, he worked with directors such as Otto Preminger, Alfred Hitchcock and Mario Bava, was good friends with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff and even, courtesy of Thames Television, hosted his own cookery show. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Price is one of Hollywood’s genuine legends, a bona fide movie star with an immediately recognisable voice, and as with most legends, he was looked down upon by the Establishment before finding acceptance within the horror community. From The Invisible Man Returns (1940) to Edward Scissorhands (1990), he created a gallery of characters that deserve to be the envy of most “mainstream” performers.
At a time when voicing cartoon characters was considered at odds with “serious” acting, Price proved you could do both, voicing the villainous Professor Ratigan...
- 9/7/2015
- by Ian Watson
- Obsessed with Film
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