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DisneyToon Studios layoffs mark shift in animation market

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Remember the days when you raced to the Disney Store to pick up the latest VHS release and an exclusive litho? If you’re like us, you have dozens of those lithographs in boxes and a huge pile of VHS tapes tucked in a corner somewhere.

The Mouse House could make money hand over whisker those days, sometimes just by not releasing a film and putting it the vault for 5 to 7 years. Then came DVDs and things got crazy. Disney turned to classic editions, platinum editions, diamond editions, each slightly different than the previous edition and all of them finding their way to the shelves of Disney fans.

Out of that glorious money tree, came DisneyToon Studios. What started off as a way to get Disney Television Animation’s “The Return of Jafar” into the home video market became a bounty of VHS tapes, and later DVDs. Eventually DisneyToon Studios an animated theatrical film producer in its own right. It was as much a move to combat the public’s unwillingness to buy another copy of a VHS tape or DVD when they knew a new format was just around the corner (Blu-Ray, Digital, or on-demand) as it was an artistic move.

Still as DisneyToon Studios matured, quality improved and audiences were thrilled to see Tinkerbell and her adventure on the big screen. Disney even almost managed to make Planes a bonifide franchise. But not quite as the latest attempt hasn’t had half the success of the first Planes film. And face it, even the most ardent Disney fans will eventually tire of seeing Tinkerbell and her fairy friends everywhere.

And so, what is to become of DisneyToon Studios? Well it will probably fade away, at least for a while.Read More »DisneyToon Studios layoffs mark shift in animation market

Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Extended Trailer

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I was recently able to take in a preview viewing of this summer’s new animated feature from DisneyToon Studios “Planes: Fire & Rescue.” I enjoyed the first “Planes” movie and expected a very similar movie in the sequel. Turns out that Planes 2 soars above the original with not just new characters, but a whole new development arc for Dusty Crophopper.

Here’s an extended preview to whet your appetite:

The original movie was always intended just to introduce the audience to the idea that Planes exist in the world of Pixar’s Cars. It was successful and now Disney’s storytellers can explore that world with a new series of films. If this is an example of the quality of films to come, I’m definitely ready for more.

Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue comes to theatres on July 18!

Head below the jump for a World Cup themed teaser trailer from the smoke jumpers of “Planes: Fire & Rescue”

Read More »Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Extended Trailer

Disney’s Planes Attempts Takeoff

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Disney’s Planes, set in the world of Pixar’s cars, started as Direct to Home Video project from DisneyToon Studios with most of the animation work done out of India via Prana Studios. At some point in the process the powers that be decided that the home video market wasn’t strong enough to support more releases and that the movie would need to be upgraded to a theatrical release. There isn’t one clearly identifiable moment but the shift in intensity is obvious between the start and end of the movie.

How can you tell? The world building got richer, the main character got a new voice with more of a spine, featured characters became multidimensional, supporting characters either fade into the background or gain more importance to the plot. It definitely makes for a stronger film, even if it has a bit of a multiple personality disorder.Read More »Disney’s Planes Attempts Takeoff

Disney’s Planes Takes Off With All-Star Voice Cast, New Poster

When Disney’s Planes takes off this summer, audiences will Dusty the crop duster on a unique journey above the world of Pixar’s Cars. Disney has announced a long list of talented voiced actors for the movie. We already know Dane Cook, will provide the voice of Dusty, and others just announced include: Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese, Carlos Alazraqui, Priyanka Chopra, Gabriel Iglesias, Roger Craig Smith, Colin Cowherd, Sinbad, Oliver Kalkofe and Brent Musburger (repeating his role from the Cars films). Adding some high-flying cameos from a high flying feature film are Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer.

Inspired by the world of Cars and directed by Disneytoon Studios veteran and aviation enthusiast Klay Hall (“King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons”), Disney’s Planes is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights. The film takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013.

Character cards and names of which actor is playing which character below the jump:Read More »Disney’s Planes Takes Off With All-Star Voice Cast, New Poster

Disney Planes – Teaser Trailer

I missed this a few days ago, but Disney has released a teaser trailer for the direct to home video Planes. Set in the world of Pixar’s Cars, Planes explores the world above those movie’s more earth bound characters.

John Cryer is on board to voice Dusty, the little plane that could. It’s scheduled to hit home in Spring 2013

More information on the film below the jump:

Read More »Disney Planes – Teaser Trailer

The Goofy Movie – Real Life Version

I suggest that Disney’s The Goofy Movie is one of the overlooked gems of Walt Disney’s animation pantheon. It was Kevin Lima’s coming out party as an Animation Director and largely a production of the short-lived French branch of Walt Disney Animation aka DisneyToon Studios.… Read More »The Goofy Movie – Real Life Version