Editorial: In Animation, Anonymity is the Brand that Sells

"From the creators of:" Disney and Pixar are big selling points, but the directors rarely get a mention
in animated film marketing. As opposed to what we see in live-action.

When you hear about an animated film, you don't hear who's directing it but rather the name of the studio that's doing it. Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Blue Sky, among others, are studios that sell their films through the power of their respective brands but who rarely name the human talent behind the projects. For the record, I don't condemn that practice as people have come to expect a certain level of excellence when they hear a new film is coming from Pixar or Disney, but I think that this  kind of anonymity has contributed to the general disregard that animated films are an "easy" thing to do; leading to not taking the people behind them seriously.

Watch: Tom Hanks Talks About Being Walt Disney for Saving Mr. Banks

Mary Poppins is inarguably one of Walt Disney's crowning achievements - up there with Steamboat Willie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Disneyland. Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of that story, and how Walt Disney acquired the rights to author P.L. Travers's original book. Emma Thompson plays Travers, and Tom Hanks is the first person to play Walt Disney; Hanks talked about the pressure and importance of taking on such a high profile role in a new featurette for the film, below.

Diane Disney Miller, Daughter of Walt Disney, Passes Away at 79

Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, has sadly passed away. The last living child of Walt, Diane devoted her life to preserving and sharing personal artefacts from her father's rich history, as well as her philanthropy. She sadly died yesterday, at age 79, following complications from a fall in September.

90 Years, An Infinite Legacy: Disney Turns 90 Today

90 years ago today, on 16th October, 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. From that day onwards, the landscape of animation changed forever. Alice Comedies, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, all the way through to Toy Story, Tangled and modern greats like that; join us in a look back at the unparalleled legacy of The Walt Disney Company.

The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition Trailer

Is is available now in the UK, but US (and some other territories) consumers will have to wait until February to own Disney's 1967 classic on Blu-ray. The Jungle Book was the last film Walt Disney was personally involved in before his death and it remains one of the company's most enduring classics. This new "Diamond Edition" will have HD picture, lossless sound and both new and old bonus features. Exact technical details are yet to be announced but, based on the UK edition, this is what you can expect in terms of bonus material:

[UPDATE] Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious News: Mary Poppins Coming to Blu-ray on 10th December!

In some great and unexpected news (I predicted this one to be released early next year), Disney is planning to released its beloved 1964 classic, Mary Poppins, on BD on 10th December. This release will coincide with the theatrical release of Saving Mr. Banks, which stars Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, and tells the tumultuous story of how Walt Disney convinced P.L. Travers to let him do a cinematic adaptation of her beloved nanny.

Two Animation Cels from Disney's Get a Horse! Short

"Here Comes Trouble: Peg-Leg Pete interrupts Mickey Mouse and his favorite gal pal Minnie in this
 animation cel as they delight in a musical haywagon ride."

Disney have released two "vintage animation cels" from their beguiling new/old Mickey Mouse short, Get a Horse!, which is tipped to play before Frozen in November.

Saving Mr. Banks Official Poster

It's a bit late, but still a big, new arrival for Disney's film Saving Mr. Banks has been released- a very charming poster.

Watch: First Trailer for Saving Mr. Banks

Not long after the first look at Saving Mr Banks - Disney's retelling of the true story of Walt Disney's quest to adapt Mary Poppins from book to film - was revealed yesterday, the trailer has appeared online.

First Look: Saving Mr. Banks; Tom Hanks is Walt Disney

The first image for Disney's Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, has been revealed. Read below to find out more about the film and check out the exciting first look!

Disney Reveals Poster for Get a Horse; Release Date and Plot Synopsis Announced

As we've heard previously, Disney are set to release a new Mickey Mouse short, Get a Horse!. Today, the House of the Mouse revealed a nice new poster for the film (above). More details below.

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #20: The Aristocats (1970)

Make Sure You've Read: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Silver Age (Part 3) Introduction

The Aristocats was the final film to have Walt’s approval, but he didn't see its development. After the huge success of The Jungle Book in 1967, The Aristocats didn't do as well as its predecessor and, in terms of quality, is also not on par with it. The Aristocats tells the story of Madame Bonfamille, a rich French old lady who wants to leave all her inheritance to her beloved cats: Duchess and her three kittens, Toulouse, Marie and Berlioz. This is not well received by the lady’s faithful butler Edgar, and he plans to get rid of the cats so he can inherit everything. He leaves the cats in the outskirts of Paris and they embark on an adventure to return home, with the help of a stray cat named Thomas O’Malley. The Aristocats is the definition of fun. While the beginning of the film is slow, once the cats are lost, all the adventure begins and it's a very entertaining journey with lots of funny moments and action. The problem with the film is that it lacks some recognizable characters and tends to be forgettable (which is not the case with The Jungle Book). The animation isn't very inspired and lacks some of the grandeur of early productions. What saves the picture though are the excellent and catchy songs by the Sherman Brothers, and the infinite amount of gags in the story (the sequence with the geese is a particular highlight). All in all, The Aristocats may not be a groundbreaking film but it still offers tons of fun and good-hearted entertainment. Rating: 4/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #21 Review: Robin Hood (1973)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Silver Age (Part 3) Introduction

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #19: The Jungle Book (1967)

Silver Age (1950-1977)
The 70s

Overview

With Walt gone, the animation studio entered the 70s filled with uncertainty. The “Nine Old Men” took charge of the studio but it's undeniable that some of the ‘magic’ was lost in this decade. Carried by the motto “What Would Walt Do?" (a motto that was used until the mid-80s when the company made big changes and went for a different direction, the animators played it “safe” and produced animated features that, while fun, didn't break new ground story-wise or technologically speaking. Many refer to this decade as the beginning of the “Dark Age” that was prevalent at the company until the late 80s, but I think that, while the films released in this era can’t (for the most part) surpass their predecessors, they were still made by the same men and women that made all the Walt-era classics and are pretty entertaining and often heartfelt too. For that reason, these films represent the final batch of the classic era that started in the 1930s with Snow White.

Classic Cartoons #13 - Three Little Pigs

And now the story of an A113Animation feature that fell by the wayside, and the one blogger who eventually remembered to revive it: it's our Classic Cartoons feature.

Today seemed an apt day to bring back the series, as it marks the 80th anniversary of one of Walt Disney's earliest landmarks, the Oscar winning short film, Three Little Pigs. Released on this day in 1933, the short - and the best-selling Frank Churchill song that resides within it - would go on to symbolise the American resolve against the Great Depression. It would win the Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons in 1934, and was inducted into the US National Film Registry for perpetual preservation in 2007. Directed by Burt Gillett and produced by Walt himself, savour in the immutable majesty of Three Little Pigs again today.

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #19: The Jungle Book (1967)

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #18: The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Walt Disney didn't live to see The Jungle Book in theatres, but his touch on the film is undeniable. Dissatisfied with the studio's two previous efforts, Walt turned his full attention to this film - something he hadn't done since the 50s - and turned the initially dark story into a lively and colourful tale. Instead of being faithful to the grim Rudyard Kipling novel, Walt and his team just took some basic characters and altered the storyline into something more fun-filled, with memorable characters and catchy music. While the plot may be light, we aren't so much interested in the ultimate goal as on the journey that the characters take - and what a fun journey it is! The Jungle Book was Walt's swan song and it's a testament to his vision as a storyteller and filmmaker that it remains one of the studio's most treasured classics. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #20: The Aristocats (1970)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #18: The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #17: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

The Sword in the Stone was the last film Walt was alive to see, and is also his weakest (not counting the anthology films). The story of King Arthur's beginnings is retooled here as series of lessons to the future king, and while many moments are amusing and charming, the pacing is  sometimes uneven, making the film a little bit slower than expected. The animation lacks the grandeur of past films but the character animation is excellent. And, while the protagonist is not very interesting, the supporting players (mainly Merlin, Archimedes and Madame Mim) are a delight from beginning to end and help elevate the picture from its uneven rhythm. Plus, the epic battle between Merlin and Madame Mim is one of the most memorable and beautifully animated sequences in all of animated film. All in all, The Sword in the Stone may not be an instant Disney classic but has enough charm and magic to delight young and old audiences. Rating: 4/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #19: The Jungle Book (1967)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #17: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Make Sure You've Read: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Silver Age (Part 2) Introduction

The first film to use the Xerox technique, 101 Dalmatians was reportedly very much liked by Walt. With his mind on other projects like his TV show and his magnum opus, Mary Poppins, most of the burden went to story artist Bill Peet and 101 Dalmatians truly is one of Disney's best films and a real classic. The story of two dogs rescuing their puppies from a mad woman was a departure from the fairy tale lands that graced past Disney productions. By setting the movie in real time, 101 has a fresh tone that hasn't diminished with time. It's full of action, gags and the character animation is simply amazing. Cruella De Vill is one of the greatest villains created for an animated film and one of the most memorable characters ever committed to film. Add two very likeable leads and 99 adorable puppies and you have a charming an endearing Disney classic. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #18 Review: The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Silver Age (Part 2) Introduction

Silver Age (1950-1977)
The 60s

Overview

After a very productive decade, Walt entered the 60s as a very established personality. Disneyland was fully operational and plans for Walt Disney World had started, he was a TV personality, and the five films released in the 50s were mostly well-regarded and turned out profits (except for Sleeping Beauty which was the most expensive film Walt ever made). But because Sleeping Beauty failed to recoup its monumental budget, the studio was in financial trouble yet again and, in order to keep it afloat, the animation department developed a new technique called Xerography were the animation sheets were processed and coloured automatically without the aid of the ink & paint department. While this technique made the animator's work more visible, this also meant that the ink & paint department closed, laying off many people and concluding a beautiful animation era. Nonetheless, the three films that were released in this decade are full of charm and at least two of them are regarded as classics nowadays. These three films were the last ones that had Walt’s touch before his unfortunate death in 1966.

Tomorrow: Animated Classic #17 Review: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #16: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #15: Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Arguably the most ambitious film Walt created in his entire career, Sleeping Beauty is truly a sight to behold. Spending the entire 1950s in development, innovating new techniques (Super Technirama) and pushing the envelope in every aspect of its production, the film ended being the most expensive endeavour in Walt’s career. It nearly bankrupted the studio when it premiered, and it signalled the end of the ink & paint era for the studio (they would instead go on to use the newly created Xerox technology, a less expensive tool, in future films), but Walt had truly created a unique movie. From its lavish and opulent backgrounds to its spectacularly designed characters, the film’s ambitiousness is limitless. The gorgeous animation and the breathtaking colours envelop the viewer throughout the movie and never let go. Also, accompanying the perfect technical achievement is a wonderful fairy tale full of magic, romance, evil and a wondrous Tchaikovsky score that holds everything together. The unforgettable characters make an impression on you and even if many have criticized the title heroine as ‘passive’, I think it serves the story right and advances the plot in a wonderful way. No film, before or after, has matched the sheer marvelousness of this one. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #17 Review: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #15: Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #14: Peter Pan (1953)

For his next feature film, Walt Disney departed fairy tales and magical lands, instead focusing on a more down-to earth story about two dogs that fall in love. Set against a lovely turn of the century town, Lady and the Tramp is the quintessential love story. Two dogs from different classes fall for each other, but have to overcome a lot of obstacles in order to be together. That may not sound all too great, but the truth is that Lady and the Tramp is one of the most compelling stories ever created by the studio (and the first one created in the CinemaScope format allowing for a wider aspect ratio). The romanticism in the movie is brilliantly executed without becoming obnoxious, and the ‘Bella Notte’ scene is one of the best ever created for film. It's hard not to fall in love with this movie when every aspect of it is a labour of love. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #16 Review: Sleeping Beauty (1959)