Ready for a little light Sunday reading? Put down the New York Times and read the sorrid tale of Big Idea, the producer of the Veggie Tales animated series and Jonah, the animated feature, their desire to be the next ‘Disney’ and the cruel reality the Animation Business. (via)
my favorites
These are some of my favorite.
Personally, I think that the failure of Veggie Tales is in the premise. By embracing the non-secular theme of Christianity it labled itself; and despite the conservative movement occuring right now, the majority of consumers (it would appear) do not wish to be preached to, however subtle, by their entertainment, namely cartoons, and more specific talking vegetables.
Speaking as a huge Veggie fan, I found the article sad. Speaking as a business major, I understand so much better now what happened.
Of course, Whit, VeggieTales was succeeding remarkably until Phil got too ambitious. I think that’s the end of the tale as he sees it, and I’d have to agree. And I rather find it hard to consider something a failure because of it’s premise when it made money and continues to make money. The problem was they tried to expand too fast based on data that wasn’t a sure thing. They continue to sell, and I continue to enjoy them.
Mark, I agree, though not a fan, that Veggie Tales has been succeeding in a very competitive market. My point that they were failing was in regard to becoming the next Disney, not their own individual performance. Sorry if that came across differently.
I’ve been a Veggies fan since almost the beginning, and the whole business of the downfall of Big Idea is very tragic. Ambitions aside, these seem to be folks with good intentions, good heart and good (and Big!) ideas that just got caught in the secular world of business.
I think they tried to mold VeggieTales and Big Idea to fit into the mainstream media business, instead of forcing mainstream media, in their own little niche, to fit around them. Doing so, by a) hiring shrinkwrap execs to run the business, b) obsessing about becoming a “top 4” company instead of just a well-run, successful, growing company, and c) doing the same thing Disney did, in that they sacrificed story for effect and marketing.
And they became just like the other studios – controlled by the bottom line, instead of the Top Line.
Whit,
I’m with ya now. As much as I love Big Idea, I never saw them as being the next Disney.
Barry,
I think you nailed it.
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