Slashing More Frogs...

The second part of /Film's Frogumentary series is out...

Take a look at it and enjoy the loving craft these animators of hand-drawn art work so hard to create.

Part Three.

Part Four.

Sooooo much talent coming from such a little pencil...

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow...

I alluded to some of this in"The Killing of a Queen by a Princess" post the other day...

Yes, it looks like "Rapunzel" will get a name change. I've known about this for the past couple of weeks. And this along with some other news has sort of been disappointing when it comes to the animated world that we all love to talk about.

The marketing guys have gotten together with the Suits and Ed and John and have determined that boys being boys, well... they won't go see a movie that is perceived to be a "girlie" pic. Now, I may think that there might be some truth to what they're saying, but I certainly don't believe wrapping it up in that nice little bow explains fully the box office disappointment of TPATF. In fact, one of the main problems I believe happened with this film is that the word "Princess" in the title made many a girl expect to see more, not less princess and some of them were disappointed that she spent so much time as a frog. They did, after all, come to see a princess movie. So I think that the perspective may be somewhat off here.

One important thing to remember is that just because the name changes doesn't mean the story does as well. From everything I've gathered, the film itself is quite good, entertaining and gorgeous to behold. The last couple of screenings up on reels have improved the story which Lasseter is very happy with. So when it comes out in theaters it'll have to stand on the tale that is written, not the name on the screen. There are several factors that also seem to have worked against Frog as well. The holiday release date which is so jam packed as well affected this (Pixar in my estimation gets the more desirable summer openings).

Now another thing I want to address is the strategy that Ed and John came in with and how it was/is noble and was/is flawed. Now, that is changing and hopefully it's a good thing. But when they came in the plan was to get the division up and running as quickly as possible. John went through the entire list of development projects and shelved some while altering others and looking for new stories in the process. The original strategy was to take what Disney is known for (Princess films, fairy tales, classic characters) and show that you can make a solid, well crafted film with a good story. The problem with many of those stories in the past is that they used all these characters in crappy stories. Ed and John felt that making quality stories using a tradition Disney staple would help get the company back on track and then after showing that they would move on to other, original material (like the Lamp). After TPATF this idea has been scrapped and the focus will just be on creating good stories as it appears fairy tales are perceived as "old hat" and there is a need to "just tell good stories." Ed and John thought that focusing on these stories would help out the marking department and other consumer divisions that continually want to focus on Disney's "Brands." Now, the feeling is that the marketing department will have to bend to the story not the other way around.

Back to Rapuzel, I'm sure most of you have heard about the names that are up for this new title change. I personally like none of them, although the "Tangled" one is in the lead. I just pray that "The Thief in the Tower" doesn't wind up wining the prize. Again, it doesn't mean the film will be bad, I happen to think "The Great Mouse Detective" is a wonderful film despite "The Basil of Baker Street" being the better and original title. I don't know why they don't just take part of the original title and call it that... "Unbraided" as in "Rapunzel Unbraided," which was the actual name of this project. We'll find out about this very soon, btw. And by that I mean VERY soon. The only way that the title will remain the same is if Ed and John decide against it and right now they're part of the group that is working on this name change. If it does happen, let's try and makes sure the box office results of this film are different from TPATF as well. Come November, we'll all get to put our voice and dollars into this process. Only then will we find out if this tangled web ends happily everafter.

Time will tell...

Slashing Frogs...

Those of you that happened to have really enjoyed "The Princess and the Frog" like myself should head over to /Film...

They've put together a very nice documentary of the making of the film from videos of their visit to the Hat Building of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Great stuff. Go take a look and see what goes into making one of these films.

Part One.

Part Two.

With more to follow...

Welcome A Princess In March...

On March 16th, "The Princess and the Frog" Blu-Ray/DVD will be released...

If you haven't seen it yet (shame on you!), then this is your chance to take a look at a beautiful little fairytale that audiences loved... at least those that showed up to see it. The film got great reviews, but the audiences to needed to make it a hit didn't materialize. Partially due to the release schedule with all those large films around it and somewhat due to the term "Princess" most likely. But it's a very good film, one that you will enjoy and one that you should and will want to own.

Reserve yours today...

No Loss In Translation...

Don't matter what you look like, don't matter what you wear...


I love movie posters as most who come here know...

Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" has to be sold in international markets as well as America so they've created several different posters for different markets. I thought you'd enjoy seeing some of them.


Kissing would be nice, yes?

Dig a little deeper...

Hat Tip to IMP Awards.

Perspective On Princesses & Frogs...

Are you ready...


Yes, I know this came out almost a week ago so I apologize for the tardiness, but Christmas shopping and a full schedule in the real world has prevented me from posting this...

First off, I don't call this a review. This is just my thoughts/opinions/feelings on the latest release from Walt Disney Animation Studios. I've always been uncomfortable with the idea of writing reviews and if you've noticed, I haven't written one in a good while. Just think of this as my perspective on Disney's forty-ninth animated feature with some illumination on where it's headed for the fiftieth and beyond.

I didn't get around to seeing "The Princess and the Frog" till Sunday because of the flooding that Southern California was having. My friends and I had to postpone our little get together a few days and I've been busy making sure I stuffed all those stockings and between that, work and juggling meetings and plans over my iPhone, I just didn't have time to put down on paper or computer, exactly how it was.

Now that that's out of the way let me say: "Welcome back hand-drawn animation." I missed you! And the relatives you've had around weren't exactly the best showing of your family. Let's face it, "Home on the Range" is a hayseed hick in your family and I don't really like spending much time with 'em.

I thoroughly enjoyed TPATF and it's a glimmering jewel of what can be done my the Mouse when bean counters understand they weren't hired to write, but count. Yes, I loved it but many will ask if it's as good as the films of the early nineties like "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin;" both of which were directed by the same people. Truthfully, no it's not. I believe that the quadrilogy of films from the late eighties to mid-nineties are superior stories. That doesn't mean that this has a horrible story, only that it doesn't hold up as well as something like "Lion King." But again, that's a tall mountain to climb. I found the first act somewhat rushed and uneven, but still entertaining. The second act was my favorite and it had a strong finish.

I do believe that the animation is second-to-none. It's truly spectacular and shows you what Disney Animation is all about. I have nothing against CG animation and think Pixar is the top of the game with theirs, but I love hand-drawn animation and this film is a testament to the love of that form. Even thought it doesn't come out in cels anymore, I love seeing the animated form that starts first with a pencil or Cintiq.

The songs in the film are also not as memorable as the earlier films; as least in terms of quantity. There are two stand outs though. The "Friends on the Other Side" and "Dig a little Deeper" had the entire audience clapping and swinging to the tune.

But the boys/girls up at the Hat Building have something to be rather proud of. And it should show everyone, including Mr. Eisner that it was a tragic mistake to throw away those drawing tables a half a decade ago. The Suits of the time thought people didn't want to see hand-drawn films. What they didn't want to see was badly told hand-drawn films. I have a feeling we won't have to worry about that for the next few years. Hopefully it'll be for a lot longer. I for one can't wait to see Disney's next hand-drawn film in Spring of 2011. From what my Bothans tell me, "Winnie the Pooh" is moving along at a shockingly fast rate. It'll likely be done well before the release date which is something that can't be said for "Rapunzel" which will be rushing to meet its deadline with six and even seven day work weeks as the film draws closer to it's release next year. Development on "Snow Queen" continues and "Joe Jump" is moving forward with each vying for a release date in 2012/2013 sometime. Then there are at least four other projects that are moving through various states of existence that will fill the rest of the Disney half of animation from the Mouse over the next five years.

After watching this latest effort I count the days until the next release. And I can't wait to own it on DVD in a few months.

Especially with that sneak peek at the girl with seventy foot long hair that will be included...

Best Film Of 2009...

A nice start...





Time Magazine is out with their Top 10 List of Everything and in it is the Top 10 List of Films as well...

1. The Princess and the Frog
2. Up
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Up in the Air
6. The White Ribbon
7. A Single Man
8. Of Time and the City
9. District 9
10. Thirst

So the top two were films from the Mouse. And the top one was from Disney's animation unit. Nice. I'll have my own comments/review of "The Princess and the Frog" later this week. But it's nice that the first hand-drawn film from WDAS in over half a decade has received glowing reviews and Time considers it the number one film of the year. Take that, Michael Eisner!

Now, work on "Rapunzel" steadily moves on...

La Grenouille Critiques: Partie Deux...

When you wish upon a frog...



And the roll call for a new dawn in Disney Animation continues...

The Mouse's latest film has gotten mostly high marks since it's release last week. A week from Friday everyone else gets to make their own minds. Until then, here's a few thoughts from some critics' minds.

"Disney Animation is back doing what it does best -- musical romantic adventure with magic -- after 10 years of unfortunate forays into barnyard humor and science fiction (see the same directors’ Treasure Planet or, better yet, don’t.)"

- Lou Lumenick, New York Post

"Visually lush, the film strikes me as the most American of the Disney Princess movies, using uniquely American iconography to paint the fairy tale.

I don't think this is the best of the Disney films, or that it's the best of what Disney is capable of, but I do think it's a movie that treats its target audience with uncommon respect. One might argue that the hand of John Lasseter, the film's executive producer, can be felt in the way the film treats its audience. After all, Pixar's built the brand out of treating the audience well. But to the credit of Lasseter and the Disney animators, this doesn't feel like the film has been "Pixar"ed. It's still recognizably a Walt Disney animated film, and the mere fact that this film drops so recognizably into the archetypes is comforting, an itch scratched, a momentary detour corrected now."

- Drew McWeeny, Hitflix/Motion Captured

"In a culture where advertising hype is more ubiquitous—seemingly more "real"—than the movies themselves, The Princess and the Frog’s feels like the ultimate betrayal: It’s classic Bait-and-Switch. Hyped as offering the Walt Disney corporation’s first African-American animated heroine, The Princess and the Frog actually refrains from expanding our social imagination. Based on the venerable The Frog Prince, it uses that fairy tale’s moral about seeking inner value and personal worth to exploit "post-racial" complaisance."

- Armond White, New York Press

"The animation style of The Princess and the Frog is perhaps the best Disney has produced for a traditionally animated film in years. This may not be 3D, but the film's vibrant look feels like much more than two dimensions with incredible character designs and an elaborate recreation of the architecture of the French Quarter from the Roaring Twenties. As an African-American and a Hispanic, I didn't find the character designs and portrayals to be stereotypical or racially offensive."

- Ron Henriques, Latino Review

"This is the first Disney animated film about an African-American princess, and this delightful fairy tale couldn't come at a better time, what with the two little African-American princesses who live in the White House."

- Allison Samuels, Newsweek

And the beat goes on...

And the beat goes on...

La Grenouille Critiques...

The reviews for Disney's return to hand-drawn animation are starting to roll in...

I can't wait to see this film. I've heard about it for almost three years and have wanted to see the Mouse return to an art form that it set the standard for. I've had several friends and colleagues see it; almost all have loved it. Unfortunately I'll be out of town during the exclusive showing on the Burbank Lot and will have to wait and see it on opening night when it goes wide. I'll be there with soda and popcorn in hand. But the reviews are starting to come out and overall it's getting good marks with the exception of Variety.

Take a look for yourself...

"This is the best Disney animated film in years. Audiences -- who don't care whether it's cel animation, CGI, stop motion, claymation or motion capture as long as it's a good story -- will respond in large numbers. A joyous holiday season is about to begin for Disney."

- Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

"Conspicuously outfitted with an African-American heroine and a vibrant 1920s New Orleans setting, this cheeky update of a classic fairy tale boasts almost as many talking points as merchandising opportunities, and should enjoy jazzy holiday biz starting with its Thanksgiving weekend bicoastal engagement and extending well past its Dec. 11 wide release. But whatever it accomplishes for Disney's reputation or bottom line, this long-anticipated throwback to a venerable house style never comes within kissing distance of the studio's former glory."

- Justin Chang, Variety

"Princess and the Frog" isn't the second coming of "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Lion King." It's just plain pleasant, an old-fashioned little charmer that's not straining to be the next glib animated compendium of pop-culture flotsam."

- David Germain, AP for SF Gate

"This A-level, G-rated entertainment is a fresh twist on the classic fairy tale about a handsome prince temporarily out of commission due to a malicious magic spell, a royal catch requiring the smooch of the right kindhearted, risk-taking heroine to restore him to his waiting throne."

- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

"Go ahead and pucker up. Because long before "The Princess and the Frog" is over you'll want to smooch the charming couple, air kiss a romantic firefly and hug a voodoo queen in this foot-stomping, smile-inducing, heart-warming animated twist on the old Brothers Grimm frog-prince fairy tale."

- Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"In an era dominated by CGI, Disney makes a bold return to 2-D animation. The medium may be old-fashioned, but the story is thoroughly, refreshingly modern. Funny, inspiring and gorgeously rendered, The Princess and the Frog is an instant classic."

- Dezhda Gaubert, E! Online

Not a bad start out of the gate, but most everyone will have to wait a couple weeks to see it for themselves...

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...

Giving Frogs Direction...

El Guapo over at Latino Review has an interview with the directors of Walt Disney Animation Studios latest film...

Really nice interview and if you love animation, particularly Disney Animation then this interview is a must read. Not only for what it tells you about "The Princess and the Frog," but future Disney films. You can see how Lasseter has guided the animators and how his influence has turned the direction of the studio toward a more positive destination.

With all the things happening in the world, it's nice to see Disney Animation going somewhere for the better...

Frog Upclose...

Must see soon, must see soon, must see...



A new poster for "The Princess and the Frog" is up...

The closer we get to this, the harder it is to wait for it. It looks great and if it's the hit I believe it is then we're in for a new Golden Age of Disney Animation.

If that happens we all benefit in oh, so many ways (hint: not just Disney films)...

Hat Tip to Latino Review.

First Five From Frog...

Kiss, kiss, smootch, smootch...


Walt Disney Pictures has released the first five minutes of "The Princess and the Frog" for all to see...

Take a look at the first of what lies ahead next for animated features from WDAS. And if you really like it, I'd suggest getting your tickets now. You might not want to wait to get them on opening weekend in December.

They could be pretty hard to find...

Frogs, Princesses And Posters...

It's magic...


When I'm with you...
Check out the latest "The Princess and the Frog" poster...

Hat Tip to Latino Review.

Advance Princess, Errr Purchase...

Psssst. Wanna buy a frog?

Ok, at least a ticket to see a frog?

In November?

Then go here now.

Be prepared, don't be sorry...

New Princess, New Trailer...

There's another, more expansive and just plain longer trailer for "The Princess and the Frog" animated film...

Wow, this looks so 80's/90's in a really good way. I can't wait to see this.

In the whole scheme of things, holidays are only mere moments away...

Villainous Frog...

Jerry Beck's wonderful animation website, Cartoon Brew has got exclusive look at another featurette on Walt Disney Animation Studios latest effort...

This one entitled "Conjuring the Villain" focuses on the new Disney Villain, Dr. Facilier and the men behind animating and voicing him in this film, Bruce Smith and Keith David respectively. Yet another chapter of these little shorts that give us more beautiful clips of the evil Nemesis in this latest Mouse film.

Anticipating the holiday magic...

Awaiting Tiana...

Three months from today, "Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!" premieres at the Happiest Place On Earth...

Time flies when you're waiting for life to begin. I have a feeling with this show during the holidays and the actual film itself, we're going to get to an extravaganza like we haven't seen in a long, long time. If you plan on going during the Christmas season, it's going to be quite an experience.

Bring on Disney's Third Golden Age...

+ Color...

Now isn't this a nice give all drawn out in pencil and paper...

This is supposedly a pencil test for Walt Disney Animation Studios' "The Princess and the Frog" that was shown during 2009's Comic-Con. I can't vouch for it being shown there, since I wasn't there this year, but I know that it's a pencil test from the film. You can tell just from these shots the pure magic that these animators have put into these characters.

This holiday, back to hand drawn...

Fortune Teller...

Good Luck Charm.



Good Luck Charm.

Disney's marketing campaign for "The Princess and the Frog" is starting to kick into high gear...

The last couple weeks the Mouse's publicity people have been handing out a neat little card game based on the upcoming film. It's a series of 14 cards that tells your fortune/luck and I think it's a harbinger of the Walt Disney Animation Studios own luck. I know you want to see what they looks like, so here you go...















Pretty swanky, don't you think? Maybe if you get your hands on one of these decks you can change your luck.

Just like Disney Animation seems to be doing under Lasseter...