Fafhrd on 8/7/2011 at 03:14
Quote Posted by dexterward
From Wikipedia:" Pixar states that they believe that sequels should only be made if they can come up with a story as good as the original. Following the release of Toy Story 2, Pixar and Disney had a gentlemen's agreement that Disney would not make any sequels without Pixar's involvement, despite their right to do so. In 2004, after Pixar announced they were unable to agree on a new deal, Disney announced that they would go ahead with sequels to Pixar's films with or without Pixar"
The thing is, after Pixar left Disney in 2004, Steve Jobs (who owns a controlling stake in both Pixar and Disney), turned around and basically put Pixar
in charge of Disney. John Lasseter is the Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney Animation, and Principal Creative Advisor for Disney Imagineering, and the first thing he did after that was done was axe all the non-Pixar sequels to Pixar's movies. Toy Story 3 was done because they cracked a story that they really liked for it. Cars 2 was done because Cars is Lasseter's baby. I'm not entirely sure
why Monster's Inc. 2 is being done.
The problem is, Lasseter isn't really all that great creatively. It was Lasseter that fired Chris Sanders (co-director of Lilo and Stitch) and turned (
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YH_2Y1Azor8/SRzYNkzocAI/AAAAAAAAABs/vQROuNwaiwk/s1600/40955595061f50586c1bq8.jpg) American Dog into (
http://nicedisneyworld.com/disney-pic/bolt-1.jpg) Bolt, and he's directed the three movies that are generally considered to be Pixar's worst (Bug's Life, Cars, and Cars 2. I think A Bug's Life is over-hated, but that's just me). The position of power that he's been put in seems to have made him incredibly risk averse, and there are only a couple of directors at Pixar that are able to stand up to him (Brad Bird and Pete Docter).
fett on 8/7/2011 at 05:37
I fail to see the downside of having Bird just do all the writing and be done with it. Not only is the guy a fucking genius, the sheer breadth and diversity of his ideas makes the case for itself.
Thirith on 8/7/2011 at 06:22
I have to say I have a pretty intense (and admittedly disproportionate) dislike for John Lasseter. I just *hate* the intros he did for the Studio Ghibli DVDs when they came out in English. The Spirited Away intro is especially bad. He has this brand of humility that sounds a) phony and b) patronising, both to the audience and to Miyazaki. Bleh.
Matthew on 8/7/2011 at 10:34
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
When I was a kid I loved shitty limited animation like Filmation and 70's/80's Hanna Barbara. That doesn't mean the Smurfs or Transformers cartoons were good, and I sure as hell wouldn't wish that garbage on any kid that I cared about.
I specifically buy DVDs of the shows from my youth so I can subject my future offspring to them. I'm having some
Boys From Brazil shit going on.
fett on 8/7/2011 at 14:17
Despite being exposed to pretty much the entire cannon of modern cartoons, my boys prefer 80's era transformers, and they think Looney Toones are the absolute shit.
dexterward on 8/7/2011 at 16:12
Quote Posted by fett
and they think Looney Toones are the absolute shit.
They`re right...I`m glad some kids still dig these timeless classics.
Hanna Barbera might have a bad rep for low production values, but most of it`s shows were quite fun and I`d still watch them. With exception of Scooby Bloody Doo and Jodie & The Pussycats, that is. Space Ghost FTW.
But our own Eastern European (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEkKdrEJNE&feature=related) Krtek (Little Mole) leaves all competition far, far behind. Incredibly touching, very funny, and beyond cute...recommended for types that cried on Iron Giant ;)
Ulukai on 8/7/2011 at 16:21
Quote Posted by dexterward
Jodie & The Pussycats
Can't say I've ever heard of that one.
Bugs is a big favorite of mine, but pretty much anything Looney Tunes has me grinning like an idiot. The BBC used to show Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner etc. whenever they had five minutes to fill. Sadly, they don't seem to do this anymore and nowadays if there's space to fill you usually get some bloke in sandals reading a poem about his dead pet or something equally thrilling.
Matthew on 8/7/2011 at 16:44
I loved it when they used to show Harold Lloyd films before the children's TV came on. Fantastic stuff.
