Disney Studios- The future of Disney Animated Films

Disney fans should count their blessings that Pixar came along when it did. Disney animated movies had hit a lull that had extended past a decade and Disney had not had a hit since the Katzenberg era's string of successes. Since 1995, the list of animated underperforming movies was staggering: Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, Fantasia 2000, Dinosaur, Emperor's new Groove, Atlantis, Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Brother Bear, Home on the Range, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, etc. All of these movies failed to garner a significant audience and failed to resonate with the viewer that past Disney movies had. These movies simply lacked the charm that past movies had. Pixar changed all that; with Pixar, Disney had a new player with a new strategy. They had FRESH IDEAS, new technologies, and a strong writing & directing team backing them up. Pixar brought a much needed spark to Disney animation, a division that Eisner was ready to shut down at one point. We must consider though, what is Disney without animation? The Walt Disney Company is based on the results of animation and should not abandon the entire medium based on lousy returns. Imagine if an NFL football team, that has fallen on a decade of poor seasons, decided to simply call it quits and close up shop...that would be ridiculous. Disney must always seek to re-ignite their animation department so that it is always relevant and always at the forefront of the company's efforts. The Disney animation/Pixar combination has already produced results. Disney's recent animated films such as The Princess and the Frog and Tangled were clearly of higher quality than its recent predecessors of Home on the Range and Chicken Little. Simply having Pixar on the same team helps Disney animation in their ventures. Next, Disney also capitalizes on the success of Pixar's films. Pixar's success streak was unheard of in the film industry. Films such as Finding Nemo, Toy story, and Up are deemed masterpieces by even the toughest critics, but the smaller films like Monsters, Inc., Ratatouille, Wall-E are just as good and should be considered just as elite. (Notice I leave out A Bugs Life and Cars, which I think are the weakest of the Pixar bunch. In fact, I was really disappointed that Disney chose Cars for a movie sequel and for the basis of the Carsland in California Adventure, when Ratatouille and Up provide much more endearing characters and settings). Pixar's upcoming film slate looks promising as well with Brave, Monsters University, and two untitled pictures about dinosaurs and the human mind. Although details on these are slim, IT IS PROMISING THAT PIXAR IS NOT SOLELY SEEKING TO CREATE SEQUELS TO THEIR FRANCHISES. Disney animation's upcoming film slate also seems promising with Wreck-It Ralph and King of the Elves.

  The Disney Animation division is still in a fragile state and must be invested in heavily and every film in the near future must be handled carefully. Disney animated films must be able to put the butts in the seats if Pixar's films begin to erode at any time.

 Don't get stuck on sequels. I loved Toy story 3, but that should not deter Disney/Pixar from making a new movie and putting something new out there. Once a film is successful and has received a sequel, it should be considered "franchised", a term I use to infer that ITS SUCCESS AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE STUDIOS, THEREFORE ITS COSTS SHOULD BE BACKED BY MORE THAN JUST THE STUDIOS. They could continue to make Toy Story sequels for years, but the burden of cost should not come from the Studios, but from the Company as a whole. All sequels should originate from this. Disney/Pixar animated films should focus more on NEW content, about making films that resonate with the viewer and build future franchises. What will be the next character or movie to earn an attraction or parade at the parks? We don't know, but I do know that it will almost assuredly come from the creative genius of the Disney Animation/Pixar team.