Of King & Kingdom...

A whole new world...










It's amazing what a couple of years and a blockbuster can do to a studio...

The Hat Building is flying on all cylinders and things are a buzzing. But not everything is going well in the Happiest Studio in Burbank.

Later this year, "Wreck-It Ralph" will debut and show audiences that "Tangled" wasn't a fluke. From the stories I've gotten, it sounds like they really have a heart filled tale that will have everyone seeing this film over and over again. What "Toy Story" did for toys, this does for video games. And the nostalgia for those that grew up on 8-bit games as well as those that love the 90's games are going to be in love with this film. And boys, will eat this up. Get that? "Boys," the marketing demo that the Suits seem to be worried about.

After that, next year we go back to classic fairy tales. Minus the names that tell you they're royalty, of course. But one tale that won't be happening anytime soon is about Elves. That's right, "King of the Elves" was racing with "Frozen" to be the 2013 release and it still has too many story structure problems to make it across the finish line. So many in fact, that Chris Williams is now off the project and going back to work on other projects (not as a director, but story boarder). It seems the script for Snow Queen aka: "Frozen" is in much better shape and it got the release date for next year, while KOTE got put on the shelve. Again.

Ron & John's new project is going through story development and could wind up being the 2014/15 slot, but it's still deep in the early stage so time will tell what happens. A lot of people have commented that this will be the duo's first computer animated film. As of now, there are development test going on for traditional, hybrid and computer examples, and no decision has been made. This decision won't be made for quite a while. Just like Pixar, the focus is on story, story, story. Not, the medium it's presented in.

The projects competing for 2014/2015 are the uber-secret film from Don Hall, which will be a marvelously unexpected project if it ever gets the green light, and Nathan Greno and Byron Howard's films which are deep in development. These are projects that are busy working out the story elements so that the films live up to John Lasseter's high Pixar standards. The one that gets the release slot will be the one whose story is deemed ready to actually animate. Not a bad concept, right?

There are a couple other projects in concept form and many more animators are lining up for pitch sessions with John for a chance to develop their ideas. Slowly the culture has changed over the past half-decade to the point where many animators and artist actually are having fun again. And many are hoping that they will be part of the Third Golden Age of Disney Animation. That is a very good thing.

Those of you that are fans of "Prep & Landing" will be interested in knowing that the ratings for last Christmas' "Naughty Versus Nice" special weren't where ABC/Disney wanted them to go, and any plans for a third special have been put into a holding pattern as the Suits figure out what/where or even when/if it should go forward. It's possible that the advertising schedule didn't exactly set the mark for giving people the information for when it would be broadcast. So Burbank is factoring in merchandise, ratings and other elements to see if there is any viability in creating another special. I certainly hope so, because there was talk of taking all of them and combining the into a film with original footage along the lines of "Winnie the Pooh."

And when talking about animation, if you follow WDAS then you know there was talk of moving down toward Glendale a while ago to be next to WDI. Those plans were canned and plans moved to trying to find a place on the lot to build a new animation building. Well, now the goal is to take the existing animation building and rework it, kind of the way Disney California Adventure had an extreme makeover done to it. And just like DCA was kept open as guests went about their way, so would be the same for artists in the Hat Building. It's nice to know that in addition to screwing up Disneyland's Second Gate, Eisner was capable of screwing up the animation building as well. But thankfully, it's all getting fixed.

But it's great to see the majority of news coming out of the Hat Building to be positive...

Believing In Elves...

Thirteen is a lucky number...





There is a lot of talk going on about what comes after "Reboot Ralph" next year...

Specifically, a good deal of talk about Chris Williams' "King of the Elves." I've received several e-mails asking me about the status of this project. A few have asked if it has been canceled.

I can say that as of a couple weeks ago, the project was right on schedule. So if it's been put into turnaround, then it has happened in the last week or so. I personally doubt it. From those Bothans that I've talked to, the project was moving steadily forward and was having no more story problems than any other project of its type. It has been doing so well in fact, that it was/is being considered for the Christmas holiday release for 2013.

Now, all that could change if Lasseter and Catmull find that story problems will make it impossible to have ready for that release date. As far as I know all is moving forward and Chris Williams' next effort should/could be out a year and a half after Ralph winds up rebooting.

Developing...

A Glimpse Into A Future Past Never To Be...

I know many are saddened that "King of the Elves" got put into turnaround, but nothing ever dies in Hollywood...

It may rise again at a later date or in another incarnation. Just like WDI happens to always find places for projects that got canceled in earlier forms. Some day we might see Phillip K. Dick's fantasy short story come to life.

Until then, take a look at some of the character designs that Rune Brandt did for the development.

Not exactly Middle Earth Elves, are they...

Hat Tip to Cathicks.

Animated Road...

Later this month the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios really kicks into high gear and it's time we reflect on where it's going afterwards...

On November , WDAS' "Princess and the Frog" shows the world what Disney can do. And hopefully the public will show the Mouse some love by seeing this Frog and giving Disney some major green. That will go a long way toward job stability and a return to the high throne for Disney Animation. It'll take time. We won't start to see if Lasseter's plan for the animation division as a whole has worked until 2011 or 2012. By then enough films will have been released under his belt to give the public an idea of how successful his magic is at turning the Mouse around. Not that we won't get an idea with Frog or the upcoming "Rapunzel," but we won't be rushing to any judgements until we get our first glimpse of Disney's take on Phillip K. Dick's novella in the early part of the next decade.

Now, we've seen the list of films before, but some things have changed since Disney announced its lineup a little more than a year ago. Remember at that time there was no Disney film coming out in 2011. That looked to be an off year according to the schedule, until we found out earlier this year that Lasseter had decided to release a new hand-drawn picture based on untold stories of a silly ole' bear. That meant that we'd get a 2D film in 2009, a 3D film in 2010, another hand drawn in 2011, and finally another CG film in 2012. But since then a few projects have moved quietly along in development at the Hat Building. Right now it appears that somewhere after "King of the Elves" we'll get another Computer generated film. Somewhere between 2013-2014 there is the possibility that a project that died when Lasseter came to WDAS will be showing up in theaters. And it's something that will go perfectly in CG.

When John Lasseter first arrived at Walt Disney Feature Animation (former name of WDAS), he looked through all the projects and had to whittle down what was to be worked on. He had to make it lean. There would be only so much resources to go around and anything that wasn't needed, wasn't "Disney" or wasn't working was tossed. One of those projects was a film in development for several years called "Joe Jump."

Joe Jump was a project headed by Sam Levine, who is a very talented story artist working at the Hat Building. JJ was the story of an outdated video game character whom time had passed by. A fish out of water tale about a Pac-Man era game trying to make it in a Halo era world. When Lasseter looked at it he realized that, although the concept itself was quite good, the story wasn't coming together. So it got tossed. Or it got put back on the shelf; to use a better term. Nothing ever dies in animation, really. I guess Imagineering also since so many projects that got cancelled have wound up in other lands or parks.

But as of now, "Joe Jump" is back in active development. It appears that since the next slot available is going to be around 2013, the Story Trust think that there is enough time to fix the story problems and have it ready to go in four or five years. Interestingly, the Pixar film it may be paired with that year features a big, furry blue monster and his green, one eyed friend, just in case you were wondering. But as of right now, that's the plan. Sort of. Nothing is really put in stone. Remember how Pixar was going to release "Cars 2" in 2012 and then it got moved up a year? Well, things could shift like that, but as of now that's how it'll stand.

After that CG film there is talk of another classic hand-drawn film that is in very early stages. I don't have the name for it, but I have an idea as to what it is. It's had a name in the past but I don't know if they're going to be using it on the final project so right now I'll just refer to it as "untitled." Let's just say that it will be another sweet, hauntingly beautiful 2D animated film that will fit the current direction of the studio. I hope to have more about this project later if all goes well.

And then there is Chris Williams' film that he's working on. This project should be just about to come out by this time as well. Now, not many are privy to his ideas, but he's the wunderkind that Lasseter has singled out and his work is going to be put on the front burner when he finally moves forward with it. And from what I've heard it'll also be computer animated, but Chris has been rather hush-hush about it. So we'll have to wait to hear more about this one sometime next year. Hopefully. But don't expect it to surface before 2012-2013.

Both of these projects will bring us up to 2015, which will almost be an entire decade of Ed Catmull and John Lasseter being in charge of the animated division of the Mouse. And I'm sure they're going to have something special planned. As to what it is? I don't have a clue. There are many projects in various states of readiness there right now and it could wind up being any one of them.

So for those of you that need to see a time line of everything after the Frog:

Rapunzel 2010
Winnie the Pooh 2011
King of the Elves 2012
Joe Jump 2013-14
Untitled hand-drawn film 2012-2013
Untitled CG film by Chris Williams 2012-13

By the time this last movie is out the Mouse House should be putting out about one film a year. Just like it did in the early nineties, only this time the story won't be sacrificed by the Suits desire to just see dollars. There will be a new CG animated film approximately every 18 months and a hand-drawn film approximately every 24 months. Within the time line that should work out to an animated film between every 12 to 14 months. Not too bad. And that's just from the Southern California Branch of Disney Animation. The Northern Branch, aka: Pixar will have it's own films released yearly too. But that's a story for another time on another day in another post.

And you'll have to wait a while for that post...

State Of Play...

The change will be palpable. The difference between what has come before and what has now arrived will be clearly evident when you adjust yourself in the seat waiting for the lights to go down. Waiting for what comes up on that silver screen...

Over the next few years, starting this Thanksgiving we're going to notice something from Disney that we haven't really cared about over the last few years. Maybe the last decade...

Animation.


First is Realization...

When you see "Bolt" you'll realize that this is actually a good film. A really good film. Far better than since... well, the late 90's possibly.

Next year will come Actualization...

Once you sit down and watch "The Princess and the Frog" you're going to know that the last film wasn't a fluke. It wasn't just a shot in the dark. And you're going to realize that Disney's back. Animation-wise, at least... we might be in for a great new age, you'll probably catch yourself thinking...

Then you're going to sit down with your bag of popcorn and soda as the lights go down and your mouth will be agape with Amazement...

You see, because no matter how much you liked "Bolt", or loved "The Princess and the Frog", you can't really describe the feeling that comes over you watching "Rapunzel"... its classic story, its hauntingly beautiful images or the stirring soundtrack. And when it's over you'll sit there watching the credits having that similar feeling from watching "Beauty and the Beast" way back in the early nineties when you were thinking about the next Disney film to come out. One called "Aladdin"... wondering to yourself if it would be as good as Beast was.

And what's the next one after "Rapunzel"?

"King of the Elves" you say to yourself...

You can't wait for it to come. Neither can I...

A Note From The Past, A Glimpse Of The Future...

With all that was announced today, Disney has gone a long way toward revealing its roadmap for the next four years. It's an unusually aggressive line-up. WIth Four films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Six films from Pixar Animation Studios and Four from DisneyToon Studios straight to video DVD/Blu-Rays. I've had a few people e-mail me about the films and the most asked question is: "What is this 'King of the Elves' story'?"

Philip K. Dick's "The King of the Elves" was a short story that appeared in Beyond Fantasy Fiction Magazine in September 1953 and was Dick's only real delving into the world of fantasy.

The story follows a man by the name of Shadrach Jones who lives in a small desolate town in the South. One night, a group of tired and weary Elves seek shelter from the rain for themselves and their ailing King. Shadrach is doubtful at first, but finally lets them into his home. They put the sickly King in Shadrach's bed hoping he will get better. Sadly, the King dies in bed and the Elves need a king. They convince Shadrach to be their king. At first he refuses, until they convince him of the need for a king in their battle with the Trolls.

Shadrach's neighbor, Phineas Judd tries to convince him that he's going insane. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Phineas is indeed the evil Great Troll. Shadrach leads the Elves in battle against the Great Troll and his gathering. Once the Trolls were defeated in battle, Shadrach abandon's the Throne and goes back to his world, the real world.

Totally a PKD story where illusion and fantasy collide with a world that is real and the questions about what is perceived versus what is authentic. I'm sure Lasseter and the Story Trust will find the heart of the story and preserve what was best about Dick's story while molding it into something attainable to a modern audience. Just as Disney took the heart of "The Little Mermaid" and turned it into a Disney classic, it looks like this could become one as well...

It's way off, but it bears the striking quality that I've seen in brief glimpses we've gotten from "Rapunzel"...

Something to look forward to as the Mouse puts Disney fans under an animation version of Chinese water torture with each piece of artwork that it lets drip from inside Lasseter's little animation kingdom.