Disney Magic at Your Fingertips

The Walt Disney Company has done it again!  On August 8th, Disney released an innovative app available only on Apple’s iTunes for the iPad called Disney Animated. This app allows fans to explore the behind-the-scenes process of classic animated films.  This app is groundbreaking because Disney is known for keeping a lot of their behind-the-scenes material inside their infamous vault.  The app is important for the company because it shares their proud heritage in history in animation.  With so many animated films being released, it is important for Disney to remind the animation industry and their fans that they are the pioneers and leaders in the animation industry. Disney Animated also becomes a great resource for animators who can now see the techniques used to create their films.

The app gives users the ability to interact with their animated films by allowing users the ability to swipe through the timeline for their favorite animated film and see the step-by-step process.  Everything from story, concept, pencil tests and background paintings will be at their fingertips. While this app is very entertaining, it is also very educational.  I can imagine how often I would have used this app during my childhood. I picture children today watching their favorite movie and using this app side-by-side as their second screen.  Having an interactive app allows the learning process to become more immersed.

From a business stand point, Disney Animated is a great way for the company to make more money on their past work.  While the app does cost $13.99 it is still an excellent price for the large amount of access it will have to Disney’s animation history. I can easily see this app become a textbook supplement for aspiring animators.  Based on the success of Disney Animated, I’m sure Disney will continue to add more information and updates.  With the success of Disney Animated, we could see the next wave of similar apps from Pixar, Marvel, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and all other forms of visual entertainment. I would not be surprised if more companies released a similar app during the release of their new films. At the moment, most animated films have an “art of” book released. This is an exciting time for the animation industry and as a fan of the industry, I hope more companies follow Disney’s lead.

Slow Down DreamWorks

    

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            DreamWorks Animation, the studio that created successful franchises like Shrek, Madagascar, Kung-Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon is now entering the television market.  DreamWorks Animation is now preparing to enter a new market despite the recent layoffs within their company.  Recently, their film Turbo failed to make an impact at the box office in America and Overseas.  The film cost DreamWorks $135 million and has grossed about $70 million in America (as of August 7, 2013).  However, DreamWorks still has big plans for their racing slug, which currently has a cartoon series in the works. The question is, should DreamWorks slow down before they run out of gas and allow other animation studios to move past them?

            Lets be honest, DreamWorks is currently the third best animation studio trailing far behind Disney Animation Studios and the current champ Pixar.  Both Disney Animation Studios and Pixar are under the Disney family.  Also, if Disney’s Planes becomes successful then Disney’s DisneyToon Studio could take the third spot.  To make matters worse, Illumination Entertainment, the creators of Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and Despicable Me 2, is now looking to drive past DreamWorks.  Illumination’s Despicable Me 2 is currently the highest grossing animated film of 2013 (as of August 7, 2013), outperforming Disney/Pixar’s Monsters University.  As a result, DreamWorks continues to struggle trying to find consistency.

            DreamWorks needs to take a good look at themselves and figure out whom they are.  At the moment, they are a company who plays it safe and creates franchises out of mediocre films.  Recently, they changed the release date for Mr. Peabody and Sherman and placed Me & My Shadow back into development.  In addition, the company fired over three hundred employees and then hired more executives to create television series.  In contrast, Pixar and Disney Animation are famous for finding talent within their own respected brand and elevate them to higher positions.  Instead of spending their money on more executives they should have saved their employees.  Wouldn’t having more employees easily allow DreamWorks to work on feature films and television shows?

            It seems like I am bashing DreamWorks but I am not.  I am showing the company “tough love”.  I believe that DreamWorks can dominate the animation industry but at the moment they are moving too fast with no clear direction.  As a person who loves the animation industry, I want to see all the studios make the best possible films and compete neck to neck.  If all the studios are pushing the limits of animation and creativity then both sides win.  The studios will make their returns off their movies and the fans will have new classics to enjoy.  The time is now for DreamWorks to change gears and start on a new path.

Nostalgia Nausea: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

SOURCE

Nostalgia is the sentimental memory from the past associated with happiness. That is the definition found in the dictionary.  My personal definition of nostalgia is very different.  Nostalgia means not being able to let go of the past. How many times have we revisited a movie or cartoon from our childhood only to discover it was not good?  The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise is one of the latest cartoons from the 80s and early 90s  rebranded for a new generation

Measuring Success: The Iron Giant

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      The Iron Giant is one of animation’s most loved and disappointing film in the industry.  Fans of animation have grown to love The Iron Giant and consider it a masterpiece.  On the other hand, people never heard of the film and walked past it in your local bargain bin pile. 

INFORMATION: The International Animated Film Association

Source: http://www.asifa-hollywood.org

The International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1960.  As members of the animated industry it is important to know about different associations and how they can benefit our career. 

INSPIRATION:"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

As an animator there are many people who inspire me in the industry. However, Steve Jobs inspires me on different levels as a businessman, innovator, presenter and a thinker. Steve Jobs will always be remembered for his breakthroughs in technology with Apple.   While I do respect all of his accomplishments with Apple, it is his history with Pixar that makes him stand out to me.  After reading The Pixar Touch by David A Price, I learned about the man who bought Pixar from George Lucas for the basement price of five million dollars.  Before you continue reading this blog make sure you watch the video above from his commencement speech (or click HERE) from 2005.

Sparking Creativity

Source: http://blog.zelladesign.com/2008/10/

It happens to all of us, that feeling of power and creativity running through your blood, nothing can stop you now.   There is nothing more devastating to the creative process than the moment where your ideas cannot come to life.  Your ideas are prisoners and keep filling up the cell.  Fear not! There are keys that will unlock all your ideas and unleash them to the world. So step away from the blankness and read on.  

Follow Your Own Dreams

Image from: http://skullappreciationsociety.com

Like every morning I woke up, got my coffee, started surfing the web and went to Cartoonbrew.com.  This morning however, I read that DisneyAnimation is cutting off several employees of their hand drawn animation division.   This was disturbing because the company's roots stem from hand drawn animation and Disney has released part of their heritage.  Recently, Disney also shutdown LucasArts division from Lucasfilms.  In addition, DreamWorkslet go some of their employees.  What does it all mean?  As technology continues to grow companies will cut more jobs.  I know how it feels to lose your job. It is depressing and you question your worth.

Return of the Big Cheese

(IMAGE FROM CARTOON BREW)

The Walt Disney Company has announced the return of Mickey Mouse.  Mickey will return to his roots with all new shorts that will air on Disney Channel and Disney.com.  The question is, where has Mickey Mouse been? In the 1920’s and 1930’s short length cartoons featuring Mickey Mouse would run before a feature film. Mickey Mouse and the shorts became so popular that people would watch a feature film just because it had a Mickey Mouse short.  Mickey’s popularity would take Disney to the next level and allow the company to focus on making animated feature films.  In the past twenty years Disney’s main star has been in semi-retirement, appearing in a few straight to video releases.  What happened to Mickey Mouse?