Interesting. I agree with your remarks, particularly about the whole "rehashing" business that Disney has been doing for the last five, eight years or so.
But are we really going to see any change from this sort of business tactics from Disney, even if John Lasseter is now in charge of Disney's movie production? I doubt it, as the Disney corporation has seemed to have dug itself in a hole that it's unwilling to move from. After all, why do something new when you can bank on profits from new merchandise on old properties? I mean, last I knew, they were making a new Disney Prince doll line, and they're currently working on a Oswald the Lucky Rabbit stuffed animal (Which can be found here http://thedisneystoreshelves.blogspot.com/ ).
Even if they do change though, and start creating new works that don't rely on their old stuff to sell, are we really going to see anything different from all the old movies? We will still get the same purely family-oriented stuff that we've always been getting. Mind you, I'm not against that sort of movie at all, but I do think that Disney, as a corporation and business, is more than wealthy enough to try something new.
For example, Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End was a decidedly more adult movie than its predecessors. The fact that they took that chance helped make it a blockbuster that landed them millions. If they can do that, why not do the same with an animated movie?
One of the things that I respect Japanese animation for is that it recognizes the potential animation has as an adult medium. Obviously not adult in the sense of constant sex and gore; that's more juvenile than anything else. No, adult in the sense that it intelligently discusses issues that most people would think only live-action movies can do.
Getting back to the original point, I don't honestly think that we're going to see that much change and innovation from Disney in the near future (by which I mean within the next five years to a decade or so), as the company has become complacent in its profits from older works. That, and I really wouldn't consider it innovation unless an animated Disney movie had this preface before the movie started:
This movie contains content that may not be suitable for minors under the age of fourteen, as it explores adult themes that may be unsuitable for them. Parents are adviced to remove themselves from the theater if they have any child under the age of fourteen, if they feel that their child isn't able to handle the adult themes explored in the following movie. Thank you.
no subject
But are we really going to see any change from this sort of business tactics from Disney, even if John Lasseter is now in charge of Disney's movie production? I doubt it, as the Disney corporation has seemed to have dug itself in a hole that it's unwilling to move from. After all, why do something new when you can bank on profits from new merchandise on old properties? I mean, last I knew, they were making a new Disney Prince doll line, and they're currently working on a Oswald the Lucky Rabbit stuffed animal (Which can be found here http://thedisneystoreshelves.blogspot.com/ ).
Even if they do change though, and start creating new works that don't rely on their old stuff to sell, are we really going to see anything different from all the old movies? We will still get the same purely family-oriented stuff that we've always been getting. Mind you, I'm not against that sort of movie at all, but I do think that Disney, as a corporation and business, is more than wealthy enough to try something new.
For example, Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End was a decidedly more adult movie than its predecessors. The fact that they took that chance helped make it a blockbuster that landed them millions. If they can do that, why not do the same with an animated movie?
One of the things that I respect Japanese animation for is that it recognizes the potential animation has as an adult medium. Obviously not adult in the sense of constant sex and gore; that's more juvenile than anything else. No, adult in the sense that it intelligently discusses issues that most people would think only live-action movies can do.
Getting back to the original point, I don't honestly think that we're going to see that much change and innovation from Disney in the near future (by which I mean within the next five years to a decade or so), as the company has become complacent in its profits from older works. That, and I really wouldn't consider it innovation unless an animated Disney movie had this preface before the movie started:
This movie contains content that may not be suitable for minors under the age of fourteen, as it explores adult themes that may be unsuitable for them. Parents are adviced to remove themselves from the theater if they have any child under the age of fourteen, if they feel that their child isn't able to handle the adult themes explored in the following movie. Thank you.