Giant Steps...

The Hat Building shuffles the future a bit...

A couple of films have shifted their schedules since we last exclusively broke the news announcing the line-up for Walt Disney Animation Studios 2014 - 2018 back in July.  Those of you that read our report will remember that "Moana" was to be late 2018 following the last release of "Giants" in 2016.

Well, that has been confirmed.

Giants and Moana have official dates.  This isn't because of any trouble the productions have, only that Giants has progressed to a point where it has earned an earlier slot.  There was a time when Moana was thought to be put ahead of Giants, but the goal is to advance projects as their status changes.  Slots open up and slots get moved around.  Think of this as solidifying of tentative plans.

Ron and John's film is steadily moving along, but it's taking its own sweet time, and the powers that be have decided to give it more time for the story and structure to settle.  In film, particularly in animation, anything can happen and schedules can still change as well as films can be canceled, but as of right now this is the order:

The full line-up of Mouse/Lamp films (sans DisneyToons films):


Frozen (11/27/13)
The Good Dinosaur (5/30/14)
Big Hero 6 (11/7/14)
Inside Out (6/19/15)
Finding Dory (11/25/15)
Zootopia (3/4/16)
Untitled Pixar Film (6/17/16)
Giants (11/23/16)
Untitled Pixar Film (6/16/17)

Untitled Pixar Film (11/22/17)

Moana (3/9/18)


Again, life is fluid and animation is the very definition of that statement.  Films are in flux until they are finished, and then they're either glorified or excused.  But it's a good time for Disney animation.

For the company and its suits, the animators and fans...

ReTangled...

I have a dream...



One of the things announced at D23 this weekend was a continuation of the goldmine known as "Tangled" next year...

Not a sequel, but a short that will debut on the Disney Channel in 2012. Nathan Greno and Byron Howard will bring us "Tangled Ever After" as a special event on the Mouse's main cable channel which has yet to be scheduled.

Now, if some of those shorts inch closer to production...

Tangled Reviews...

Let down your box office...



The 50th animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures is out today...

And so are the reviews. And they're mostly, extremely good. First off, I don't really do reviews anymore, but I did see "Tangled" last night. I can tell you that everything I found distasteful about the ads, and everything I've heard about the film are exactly as I expected. I loved it. In fact, it's the best thing that Walt Disney Animation Studios has done since Lasseter became its head.

While I enjoyed "Bolt" and "The Princess and the Frog" was a beautiful,but uneven showcase of hand-drawn film making, my favorite thing from the Hat Building has been "Prep & Landing." Having seen the latest film, that has now changed. Tangled is far closer to the glory of the Second Golden Age than what TP&TF attempted to reach, despite its aspirations. The tone and style of the film is far more like the classic films we've come to love than the DreamWorks influenced commercials would lead you to believe. While I wouldn't rate it as good as "Beauty and the Beast" it comes close to the other films of 90's. Don't believe me? Check out what others are say...



"The delightfully witty Tangled is the first animated cartoon released by Walt Disney Pictures that can stand alongside Pixar toons without apology."

- Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

"While it may lack some of the emotional depth of what remains Disney's finest modern animated feature, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the studios 50th film, TANGLED, is as good as or better than works like THE LITTLE MERMAID and ALADDIN"

- Capone, Ain't It Cool News

"The film manages to earn a real emotional payoff by the time it ends, and I was surprised by how well the film wraps things up. "Tangled" may not be the new best Disney film, but it is a reminder of just how good the company can be when they bring everything together, and I suspect it's going to be a monster holiday hit for families."

- Drew McWeeny, Motion Captured

"'Tangled" is the best animated film from Disney in the past 15 years."

- Tom Long, Detroit News

"With the caveat that I really dug Tangled, I'm not sure it should have succeeded as well as it does"

- Rob Vaux ,Mania.com

"Tangled could have been a disaster. Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard really pushed for something different by attempting to modernize a classic tale for contemporary audiences while combining the classic storylines and imagery of Disney’s illustrious past. All of that experimentation can unbalance a film by leaning too heavily on one side or the other, but Tangled does a remarkable job at harmonizing the past and present."

- Bill Graham, Collider

"For "Tangled," the studio's 50th feature-length cartoon, the team at Disney has taken a deep breath and tried to be all things to all animation- loving people. There are some hiccups along the way, but by the end there is success."

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"The best non-Pixar Disney movie since 1994’s The Lion King, Tangled is an effortlessly captivating and frequently breathtaking throwback to the studio’s fairy-tale-inspired films of yesteryear."

- David Nusair, About.com

"Bright and engaging, and blessed with two superb non-verbal non-human sidekicks, "Tangled" certainly is more like it.

For much of the last decade the Disney corporation has struggled to regain its animation mojo, while one-time rival and current business partner Pixar — and, at its more sporadic best, DreamWorks — dominated the market. While no masterwork, "Tangled" reworks the Brothers Grimm tale of Rapunzel clearly and well. It's rollicking without being pushy. After the narrative chaos of last year's "The Princess and the Frog," it's a gratifying improvement."

- Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune


And over at Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a 89% fresh rating with about 70+ reviews in. Not bad, but don't judge it by what these critics or I said.

See it for yourself and come up with your own opinion...

A Tangled Web, Woven & Shown...

Let down yer hair, bitch!!!









Walt Disney Animation Studios did something unusual yesterday...

They showed a rough cut of "Tangled" to a gathering of press. John Lasseter was there to proudly present it and the film makers were there to talk about it. The film isn't finished yet. It's about 60 percent done. All of the animation is finished, but the lighting and shading as well as the musical score were noticeably missing. Quite a risk to show a film that has a couple months to go, don't you think? I mean, the press could tear it apart if it is bad. Even if it was mediocre there would be great danger for showing it so soon, letting bad press build up. That would be a long, painful two months wouldn't it?

So the Mouse believes they have something special. The press would be out with knives if this were a clunker, because this is WDAS's 50th animated feature. Imagine the headlines if that had sucked? Fiftieth fails. Half a century of films too late, or something like it. But everything I've heard is that they loved it. This isn't the film you've been shown in those horribly bad, rock song drowned trailers. From the Bothans I've talked to, it's closer to "Beauty & the Beast" or better yet, one of the classic tales of the late 40's/early 50's. Over at Deadline Hollywood, they're talking about it being a contender for Best Picture/Best Animated Picture. My good pal, George over at Latino Review loved it. And from the buzz I've heard, it appears that all those wishing/hoping/expecting Disney to fail are going to be sorely disappointed.

Still. they could have invited me to the screening. I was in Burbank yesterday. Ok, well, I was in the Valley so it wouldn't have taken long to have driven over there. I guess they still are kinda upset with me spilling the beans on a few things, hmmm?

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful November...

An Animated Direction...

Over at Collider, they're starting to post a great deal on their attending the Walt Disney Animation Panel...

The sites Bill Gram posts his interview with "Tangled" directors, Byron Howard and Nathan Greno. Very interest talk with a couple of nice, talented guys. I'm rooting for them to hit this one out of the bleachers and from what I'm hearing, it's a great film filled with what you want from a classic Disney film. Go over and take a look and get a little perspective of what goes on in making a major animated feature.

It's great to see the talent that Lasseter is putting in charge of the Mouse's animation house...

A Tangled World...

Let down your inhibitions...



Walt Disney Animation Studios next feature is just around the corner...


So, we're going to start hearing more and more about it. The Mouse has released a video in which they describe the look of the world of Rapunz-, uhm, I mean "Tangled." And it's a beautiful place I can't wait to see come November.

Take a look...

UPDATE: If you'd like to read more coverage of the "Tangled" panel then check out Collider's article on it, with more to come.

Getting Tangled...

The actual first teaser trailer for Walt Disney Pictures' "Tangled" has been released...

This is the same one which will be before "Toy Story 3" next weekend. As for what it shows, there is really very little of the story shown in context. The trailer is marketed very edgy, and is naturally trying to play up to the market that the Mouse thinks it missed out on in "The Princess and the Frog."

Males/Young Boys.

It comes off closer to pop-cultury references, but don't worry about that rock song being in the film. From what I've heard this is marketing for the trailer and the film has songs that play more classically, like B&B. The few I've talked to about the film said it's actually quite good, and Lasseter and the directors have been busy tightening up the story. Little tweaks here and there and most everyone is happy with the result despite a very crunched schedule.

Let down your guard, go over to the recently activated official website and give it a look...

EndTangled...

So Walt Disney Pictures name dropping (literally) of the "Rapunzel" moniker to "Tangled" has now yielded a logo for the new animated film...

It's done in the same style as the old logo, only with fresh new emphasis on males! Yeah...

Seriously though, I wish this film as much success as it can get. From what I've heard about the screenings so far it may be quite a surprise. The scenes that have been rendered are said to look stunning.

Let's hope the box office for the pic is stunning as well...

First Hair Cut...

Within a matter of hours(literally) Byron Howard and Nathan Greno will have their first test as the new directors of Disney's long gestating film, "Rapunzel." Their first up on reels story boarded pitch, a first pass if you will, will be seen by Lasseter and the crew.

Here's wishing upon a star that they've been able to navigate beyond the story problems that resulted in Glen Keane being removed from the director's chair.

I'm crossing my fingers for you guys...

The Shuffle...

While I've always been excited about seeing "The Princess and the Frog", I've looked even more forward to seeing "Rapunzel", not only because of the beautiful style of it's design or the good vibes I was getting from people that have seen it, but also because it was a labor of love for co-director(and my favorite living animator) Glen Keane.

Well...

No more.

He has left the project as director. His co-director, Dean Wellins has left the project as well. Nathan Greno(head of story on "Bolt") & Byron Howard(co-director of "Bolt") are the new duo in charge of bringing all that hair to the screen. Glen will stay on as an executive producer, while Wellins will be working on directing a short and several pitches for a future Disney animated film.

Don't take this as a disaster. If they've left the project, it's a reflection of where Lasseter wants to take the story and it apparently wasn't going there based on the last story reel he watched. While I regret the loss of seeing Keane get to direct his first film, I realize that for the film to succeed Lasseter has make sure the film is proceeding ahead in a direction he believes in. There is over two years before the film comes out and that's more time than an obscure director named Brad Bird had on a little film called "Ratatouille." It boils down to my faith in John Lasseter. I still believe in him and his decision making. We'll get our first look at his work for the Mouse on Thanksgiving weekend...

Developing...

Canine Howlings, Doggie Minutes...

Lots and lots of stories about dogs lately for Disney, eh?

The Mouse has put up small interviews with "Bolt" Directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard and Head of Story, Nathan Greno.

Enjoy...