The Walt Disney Company has been synonymous with animation ever since Mickey Mouse's debut in 1928's "Steamboat Willie." Almost 100 years later and Disney is not so much a little mouse but an enormous whale lunging through the media landscape and devouring properties such as Marvel, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios.Disney's holdings are so vast that its catalog ranges from "Bambi" and "A Bug's Life" to "Predator," "Die Hard," "Family Guy," and "The Simpsons," but that doesn't mean the company hasn't tripped up. On the contrary -- many Disney films have been financial blunders, even beloved works such as "Pinocchio," the initial failure of which caused Walt Disney to be, according to his friend and colleague Joe Grant, "very, very depressed."
The fortunes of "Pinocchio" have changed since its release in 1940 -- numerous rereleases pulled its lifetime grosses to over $120 million -- but that can't be said of other Disney productions.
The fortunes of "Pinocchio" have changed since its release in 1940 -- numerous rereleases pulled its lifetime grosses to over $120 million -- but that can't be said of other Disney productions.
- 5/13/2023
- by Jack Hawkins
- Slash Film
When Pete Docter thinks back to his early days at Pixar, working on 1995’s groundbreaking Toy Story, he thinks of his time studying animation at CalArts. “[It was] just a bunch of people drawing, trying to do something cool,” he says. Now a three-time Oscar winner and Pixar’s chief creative officer, Docter — along with Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken and the late Evelyn Lambart from the National Film Board of Canada — will receive the Winsor McCay Award for career contributions to animation during the 50th Annie Awards.
While speaking about his career to THR ahead of the gala event at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Docter fondly remembers meeting a trio of his own animation idols — Disney legends Joe Grant (Dumbo) and Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston (two of Disney Animation’s Nine Old Men) — and the valuable lessons he learned. “Ollie would say, ‘Don’t draw what the character is doing; draw what they’re thinking,...
While speaking about his career to THR ahead of the gala event at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Docter fondly remembers meeting a trio of his own animation idols — Disney legends Joe Grant (Dumbo) and Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston (two of Disney Animation’s Nine Old Men) — and the valuable lessons he learned. “Ollie would say, ‘Don’t draw what the character is doing; draw what they’re thinking,...
- 2/25/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A few decades after the first experiments with the new technology of film, cinema in the 1920s was beginning to come of age. Filmmakers mastered the essentials and embarked on ambitious storytelling projects with increased flair and sophistication, turning movies from novelty to art in just a few short years. The film industry began operating at full capacity in the 1920s, churning out feature-length productions on a scale and frequency that would have been unthinkable a decade earlier.
Filmmakers of the 1920s start to diversify, some becoming experts in the large-scale epics that were the earliest versions of blockbusters, while others honed a unique style as auteurs that would define the period as part of a larger artistic movement. Our first movie stars come from this era, both silent comedians whose death-defying pratfalls rival any stunts performed today as well as romantic matinee idols who had audiences eating out of the palm of their hands.
Filmmakers of the 1920s start to diversify, some becoming experts in the large-scale epics that were the earliest versions of blockbusters, while others honed a unique style as auteurs that would define the period as part of a larger artistic movement. Our first movie stars come from this era, both silent comedians whose death-defying pratfalls rival any stunts performed today as well as romantic matinee idols who had audiences eating out of the palm of their hands.
- 11/8/2022
- by Audrey Fox
- Slash Film
The outlaw presented in this new Epix series doesn't come off as a hardened killer.
Instead, the Billy the Kid shown on Billy the Kid Season 1 Episode 1 was more of a reluctant gunman, doing just enough to keep ahead of those pursuing him.
Not that that made him any less deadly. It definitely made him a more sympathetic figure around which to build a series.
So did going back in time to see how a young Irish immigrant who loved his hardworking mother and invalid father became one of America's most-feared outlaws.
Like many immigrants, Billy's family, the McCartys, bought into the illusion of the American West being an Eden where anyone could get ahead if they worked hard enough.
Tenement neighbor Frank O'Connor spouted the government's propaganda to convince the McCartys to try their luck out West. Patrick had his doubts, but he could deny nothing to his persistent wife,...
Instead, the Billy the Kid shown on Billy the Kid Season 1 Episode 1 was more of a reluctant gunman, doing just enough to keep ahead of those pursuing him.
Not that that made him any less deadly. It definitely made him a more sympathetic figure around which to build a series.
So did going back in time to see how a young Irish immigrant who loved his hardworking mother and invalid father became one of America's most-feared outlaws.
Like many immigrants, Billy's family, the McCartys, bought into the illusion of the American West being an Eden where anyone could get ahead if they worked hard enough.
Tenement neighbor Frank O'Connor spouted the government's propaganda to convince the McCartys to try their luck out West. Patrick had his doubts, but he could deny nothing to his persistent wife,...
- 4/25/2022
- by Dale McGarrigle
- TVfanatic
The sweetest tale of puppy love you ever did hear was inspired by a real-life Springer Spaniel named Lady Nell the Second. The year was 1937 and Walt Disney and his team at Walt Disney Productions were off to work on their first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Character designer and story artist Joe Grant, meanwhile, was adjusting to his new role as dad, discovering along the way that his purebred pup was actually a pretty solid nanny to his non-furry child. Inspired, the New York City native has said, "Ideas began to flow in form of drawings and story situations. One drawing in particular was especially poignant and I showed it to Walt. He gave us a big...
- 6/22/2020
- E! Online
The John Lasseter era is really over at Pixar and Disney with Tuesday’s promotions of Pete Docter and Jennifer Lee as chief creative officers of the respective animation studios. They’ve been the frontrunners all along to succeed Lasseter (set to leave Disney and Pixar at year’s end after allegations of workplace sexual harassment), and they are great choices. We can expect smooth transitions and likely success at Pixar and Disney along with better morale, improved workplace conditions, and, hopefully, greater advancement opportunities for women.
Docter was one of Pixar’s first employees, joining the studio in 1990 during the production of “Toy Story,” and the director of “Monsters, Inc.,” and the Oscar-winning “Up” and “Inside Out.” He’s a consummate animator and storyteller: warm, sensitive, funny, and a risk taker. He’s beloved at Pixar (a valued member of the Brain Trust), and has learned well from both...
Docter was one of Pixar’s first employees, joining the studio in 1990 during the production of “Toy Story,” and the director of “Monsters, Inc.,” and the Oscar-winning “Up” and “Inside Out.” He’s a consummate animator and storyteller: warm, sensitive, funny, and a risk taker. He’s beloved at Pixar (a valued member of the Brain Trust), and has learned well from both...
- 6/20/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Disney is bringing their treasure trove of their short films from the last deacde and a half to blu-ray/DVD for you and your family to enjoy together in one complete set. Come inside to learn more about the shorts being collected!
With each new release, Disney continues their tradition of having a short animated film play before their movies, and now they're brining all of their latest (including this year's Frozen Fever) together in one collection on Blu-Ray/DVD...and it's available Now!
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen's Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo. The Short Films Collection features contemporary shorts starring classic characters, including the 2012 groundbreaking Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse!, holiday treats like Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa as well as hailed Oscar® winners Paperman and Feast.
With each new release, Disney continues their tradition of having a short animated film play before their movies, and now they're brining all of their latest (including this year's Frozen Fever) together in one collection on Blu-Ray/DVD...and it's available Now!
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen's Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo. The Short Films Collection features contemporary shorts starring classic characters, including the 2012 groundbreaking Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse!, holiday treats like Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa as well as hailed Oscar® winners Paperman and Feast.
- 8/18/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
Since its release 60 years ago this week (on June 22, 1955), "Lady and the Tramp" has been not just one of the most beloved Disney animated features ever made, but also one of the great romances in screen history.
Still, as often as you've seen it, there's still plenty you may not know about how the canine classic came to be, So grab a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and chow down on 19 of "Lady"'s behind-the-scenes dish.
1. It took nearly 20 years to get the film made. The main character originated in sketches made by Disney animator Joe Grant in 1937, based on his own spaniel, whose name was Lady. Grant envisioned a short cartoon about a dog who's puzzled by the arrival of his masters' newborn baby.
2. By 1940, Walt Disney had imagined expanding the short into a feature and adding a dog-hating housesitter, two mischievous Siamese cats (then named Nip and Tuck), and a suitor for Lady,...
Still, as often as you've seen it, there's still plenty you may not know about how the canine classic came to be, So grab a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and chow down on 19 of "Lady"'s behind-the-scenes dish.
1. It took nearly 20 years to get the film made. The main character originated in sketches made by Disney animator Joe Grant in 1937, based on his own spaniel, whose name was Lady. Grant envisioned a short cartoon about a dog who's puzzled by the arrival of his masters' newborn baby.
2. By 1940, Walt Disney had imagined expanding the short into a feature and adding a dog-hating housesitter, two mischievous Siamese cats (then named Nip and Tuck), and a suitor for Lady,...
- 6/22/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Dumbo
Written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer
Directed by Ben Sharpsteen
USA, 1941
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ catalogue began with an artistic bang when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were released to audiences. While not the commercial successes the studio fantasized about, both demonstrated the sharp if simple storytelling and, arguably more impressive, a quality of animation that seemed unparalleled at the time. The issue, alas, was the lack of monetary success (especially with the company’s other 1940 release, Fantasia), a result that discouraged Walt Disney from swinging for the fences with his next outing, Dumbo. As far as the script is concerned, Dumbo performs some extraordinarily unorthodox circus acts to tell what is an extremely simple story, which compensates for the lower quality of the visuals, even though the latter is not quite as bad as it seems upon first glance.
The story begins in Florida,...
Written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer
Directed by Ben Sharpsteen
USA, 1941
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ catalogue began with an artistic bang when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were released to audiences. While not the commercial successes the studio fantasized about, both demonstrated the sharp if simple storytelling and, arguably more impressive, a quality of animation that seemed unparalleled at the time. The issue, alas, was the lack of monetary success (especially with the company’s other 1940 release, Fantasia), a result that discouraged Walt Disney from swinging for the fences with his next outing, Dumbo. As far as the script is concerned, Dumbo performs some extraordinarily unorthodox circus acts to tell what is an extremely simple story, which compensates for the lower quality of the visuals, even though the latter is not quite as bad as it seems upon first glance.
The story begins in Florida,...
- 2/9/2014
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Comedy Central’s Drunk History is so hilarious if you’re in the right mood, and probably even if you aren’t. So, what’d we learn from tonight’s season finale, “Wild West,” guest-starring Andrew Daly, Rob Huebel, Jake Johnson, Chris Parnell, and Horatio Sanz? (Nsfw language ahead.)
Key ‘Drunk History’ Lessons for the week of August 27, 2013
Teddy Roosevelt has a big old d*ck. Also, “Guys: Spain sucks.”
An 11-year-old Teddy Roosevelt once said: “If I’m gonna be anything? The thing that I’m gonna be? Is a badass.”
If you feel like you can’t remember history accurately enough,...
Key ‘Drunk History’ Lessons for the week of August 27, 2013
Teddy Roosevelt has a big old d*ck. Also, “Guys: Spain sucks.”
An 11-year-old Teddy Roosevelt once said: “If I’m gonna be anything? The thing that I’m gonna be? Is a badass.”
If you feel like you can’t remember history accurately enough,...
- 8/28/2013
- by Annie Barrett
- EW.com - PopWatch
Alice in Wonderland
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge
Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton
I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge
Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton
I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...
- 3/9/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Saludos Amigos
Directed by Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, William Roberts
Written by Homer Brightman, Bill Cottrell, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant, Harold Reeves, Ted Sears, Webb Smith, Roy Williams, Ralph Wright
Considering Saludos Amigos in comparison with its follow-up, The Three Caballeros, is akin to analyzing the pregame to the Super Bowl. (Our guest, Jeff Heimbuch, may disagree but will surely appreciate comparing these two movies to such a titanic worldwide event.) I’m often very vocal about not enjoying Disney’s release strategy for some of their lesser animated films—or, if you like, films they consider to be lesser even if the fans of those films are legion—specifically how they combine films in a Blu-ray combo pack. If you like Pocahontas and want it on Blu-ray, great! You’re cool if the film is packaged with its direct-to-dvd sequel, yeah? Well, you don’t have a choice,...
Directed by Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, William Roberts
Written by Homer Brightman, Bill Cottrell, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant, Harold Reeves, Ted Sears, Webb Smith, Roy Williams, Ralph Wright
Considering Saludos Amigos in comparison with its follow-up, The Three Caballeros, is akin to analyzing the pregame to the Super Bowl. (Our guest, Jeff Heimbuch, may disagree but will surely appreciate comparing these two movies to such a titanic worldwide event.) I’m often very vocal about not enjoying Disney’s release strategy for some of their lesser animated films—or, if you like, films they consider to be lesser even if the fans of those films are legion—specifically how they combine films in a Blu-ray combo pack. If you like Pocahontas and want it on Blu-ray, great! You’re cool if the film is packaged with its direct-to-dvd sequel, yeah? Well, you don’t have a choice,...
- 2/2/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
John Lasseter (left) and Joe RanftYou probably don't know the name Joe Ranft. If you do, you're likely not as familiar with him as you are with John Lasseter, Disney/Pixar head honcho and director of Pixar's first three films as well as their latest, Cars 2, which hits theaters this weekend.
I'm sure other Pixar greats such as Andrew Stanton (Wall-e), Pete Doctor (Up), Lee Unkrich (Finding Nemo) and Brad Bird (Ratatouille) are also more familiar to you than Ranft. Even Steve Jobs, who bought Pixar from George Lucas back in 1986 and then kept the lights on when things looked bleak in the late eighties and early nineties is likely to perk your ears sooner. And as Jobs kept Pixar open for business, it was Lasseter's unflagging belief in the future of computer animation combined with his talent and drive that brought the studio to where it is today.
I'm sure other Pixar greats such as Andrew Stanton (Wall-e), Pete Doctor (Up), Lee Unkrich (Finding Nemo) and Brad Bird (Ratatouille) are also more familiar to you than Ranft. Even Steve Jobs, who bought Pixar from George Lucas back in 1986 and then kept the lights on when things looked bleak in the late eighties and early nineties is likely to perk your ears sooner. And as Jobs kept Pixar open for business, it was Lasseter's unflagging belief in the future of computer animation combined with his talent and drive that brought the studio to where it is today.
- 6/22/2011
- by Bill Cody
- Rope of Silicon
We chat to legendary Disney animator about working on Tangled, getting the measure of hair, whether The Snow Queen stands a chance, and the opportunities computers present…
Last month, we uploaded the first of our two interviews with legendary Disney animator, Glen Keane. You can read the first here, and what you're about to read is what happened when we sat down with him face to face, to chat about his work on Tangled, and animation as a whole...
Just walking along the corridor before we started chatting, I saw a terrific Tangled painting, the one that appears in the film. Is it your daughter who's painted that?
Yes.
That's a lovely piece of work.
Isn't that cool?
So, you've got three generations of Keanes in the same film, effectively. You told us before that you based the baby Rapunzel in the film on drawings of your granddaughter, you've got your daughter's painting,...
Last month, we uploaded the first of our two interviews with legendary Disney animator, Glen Keane. You can read the first here, and what you're about to read is what happened when we sat down with him face to face, to chat about his work on Tangled, and animation as a whole...
Just walking along the corridor before we started chatting, I saw a terrific Tangled painting, the one that appears in the film. Is it your daughter who's painted that?
Yes.
That's a lovely piece of work.
Isn't that cool?
So, you've got three generations of Keanes in the same film, effectively. You told us before that you based the baby Rapunzel in the film on drawings of your granddaughter, you've got your daughter's painting,...
- 1/20/2011
- Den of Geek
Some of you probably already know how big of a fan I am of the art of animation. One of the things I've always wanted to do in my life was to become an animator, but as you all know, life pulls you in different directions, and that's not what I ended up doing.
Animation has become a huge industry. The traditional 2D animation style is currently hanging by a thread, while CGI animation is booming. I've always been partial to the traditional animation style. There is a look, style, flow and soul to it that can't be replicated with CGI animation.
Animated filmmaking all started with Walt Disney and his vision. The first feature length animated film ever produced was Disney's Snow White. In 1935 Walt Disney wrote an 8-page memo about the business of animated storytelling, and talks about how animators should be trained.
The memo was written to...
Animation has become a huge industry. The traditional 2D animation style is currently hanging by a thread, while CGI animation is booming. I've always been partial to the traditional animation style. There is a look, style, flow and soul to it that can't be replicated with CGI animation.
Animated filmmaking all started with Walt Disney and his vision. The first feature length animated film ever produced was Disney's Snow White. In 1935 Walt Disney wrote an 8-page memo about the business of animated storytelling, and talks about how animators should be trained.
The memo was written to...
- 11/5/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
To celebrate October 19th's Blu-ray and DVD release of How to Train Your Dragon, the best animated film of the year, Dreamworks hosted a virtual roundtable with Directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. They talk about everything from adapting the original books, to news about the upcoming sequel to the talent they sought to star in the film. Heck, they even expressed their love for animation legend Hayao Miyazaki and Pixar. To read the full text of the Q&A session, read on!
Q - You've directed both live action and animation; do you prefer one over the other?
A - Dean DeBlois: I love both equally. It's all storytelling at its core. Though I've directed a few live-action music and documentary films, Chris and I both have aspirations to direct live action narrative films. We're developing several as we speak.
A - Chris Sanders: Although I constantly have a camera in hand,...
Q - You've directed both live action and animation; do you prefer one over the other?
A - Dean DeBlois: I love both equally. It's all storytelling at its core. Though I've directed a few live-action music and documentary films, Chris and I both have aspirations to direct live action narrative films. We're developing several as we speak.
A - Chris Sanders: Although I constantly have a camera in hand,...
- 10/24/2010
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
by John Canemaker (Disney Editions) In "Two Guys Named Joe", his tenth book, animation scholar John Canemaker has produced an exceptional dual biography of two men who made their mark on the world of animation. They were a generation apart, yet they managed to briefly cross paths. Joe Grant was an integral part of the Walt Disney studio during its greatest period of creativity in the 1930s and ′40s, then returned in the 1980s and remained active until his death at the age of 99 in 2005. Joe Ranft studied at Cal Arts, along with John Lasseter and Brad Bird,…...
- 9/9/2010
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
Katy Manning has been talking to SFX and her feelings on returning to the role of Joe Grant 37 years after she made her television farewell to the character in The Green Death.
In the interview she talks about her delight in being asked to work on the show.I don’t think that anything nicer could have been offered to me. It is an absolute gift. And that Matt. Ooh, what a little darling he is! And as an actor, y’know, lovely actor. You get it straight away.
The magazine also contains a report on the read through which took place last Monday. They describe the script as very moving, with echoes of School Reunion and absolutely stuffed to the gills with in-jokes and little nods for the fans.http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com...
In the interview she talks about her delight in being asked to work on the show.I don’t think that anything nicer could have been offered to me. It is an absolute gift. And that Matt. Ooh, what a little darling he is! And as an actor, y’know, lovely actor. You get it straight away.
The magazine also contains a report on the read through which took place last Monday. They describe the script as very moving, with echoes of School Reunion and absolutely stuffed to the gills with in-jokes and little nods for the fans.http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com...
- 4/21/2010
- by Marcus
- The Doctor Who News Page
Peter Docter cannot believe the success of 'Up'. The director - who has previously worked on 'Toy Story', 'Wall-e' and 'Monsters, Inc.' - admitted he finds the attention of the film surprising. He said: ''It's pretty amazing. I have to kind of pinch myself once in a while to realise it's not just a dream.'' However, he added that the film - which has been nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars - went down well with audiences because of its ''relatability'', and he made sure the story was good by speaking to Disney legend, Joe Grant. He told the ..
- 2/5/2010
- Virgin Media - Movies
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