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Press Releases from 1996 to 1999Computers Usage in Disney Films Info about the Disney Animators Disney Related Newsgroups Disney/Pixar Contact Information Mailing Lists about Disney Old Press Releases (After 2000) Old Press Releases (Pre 2000) |
March 9, 1999:
A BUG'S LIFE CROSSES $150 MILLION BOX OFFICE OVERSEAS
Point Richmond, CA - March 9, 1999 - A Bug's Life overseas box office
passed $150 million this weekend, bringing the film's worldwide cume to
more than $310 million. Released in 26 countries, A Bug's Life has set
box office records in the United Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan and Australia.
"A Bug's Life has charmed people around the world with its universal
appeal and some of the most creative characters ever designed in
animation," Mark Zoradi, President of Buena Vista International, said.
"We have not seen such strength of play from an animated movie since The
Lion King."
"We are thrilled that A Bug's Life, our studio's second feature animated
film, is doing so well internationally," said Pixar CEO Steve Jobs.
"Disney's marketing efforts have been superb."
In the United Kingdom, A Bug's Life set a new record for the highest
animated opening, and the eighth largest opening ever. After five weeks
as the number one film, it has grossed over $40 million. Box office
records continue to be set in Germany ($15 million), Italy ($5.5 million),
Spain ($10.2 million), Sweden ($3.5 million), and Taiwan ($3),respectively.
Febuary 5, 1999:
PIXAR DEVELOPS "PIXARVISION" LASER RECORDING SYSTEM FOR FILM
David DiFrancesco wins Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award
POINT RICHMOND, CA - February 4, 1999 - Pixar Animation Studios today
announced that it has developed a proprietary laser recording system called
PIXARVISION (tm) for converting digital computer data into images on motion
picture film stock with unprecedented quality. The new system was
successfully tested on the 1998 blockbuster animated feature film, "A Bug's
Life," and will be used to produce Pixar's future animated features
including "Toy Story 2", scheduled for release this Thanksgiving.
On February 27, 1999, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will
present a Scientific and Technical Academy Award to Pixar's David
DiFrancesco for "pioneering efforts in the development of laser film
recording technology."
"It's great to see David recognized for his pioneering work in laser film
recording," said Ed Catmull, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical
Officer. "He recently lead our team of scientists in developing PixarVision,
which uses solid state lasers to record on multiple film formats with more
quality and speed than ever before."
Traditional film recorders use cathode ray tubes (CRTs) to create the
images that expose the filmstock. Laser film recorders substitute lasers
for CRTs, and are significantly more complex, due to the technology required
to aim and control the laser beams. Pixar scientists pioneered laser film
recording in the early 1980s, and Kodak briefly sold a commercial laser
film recorder in the mid-1990s. PixarVision is more advanced than any
previous laser film recorder, and provides the following key benefits
over traditional CRT-based film recorders:
Higher quality color reproduction: Solid state lasers produce light at
precise frequencies, thereby eliminating the color "crosstalk" inherent
in CRT based recorders (where trying to write just one color undesirably
writes other colors too).
Sharper images: Lasers can expose smaller spots on the film, resulting
in sharper, less grainy images. In addition, lasers are brighter, thus
allowing the use of less sensitive "intermediate" film stocks. This
results in less "generation loss" (the copying from one filmstock to
another, which degrades image quality).
Faster recording: PixarVision records all three colors (red, green, blue)
simultaneously, rather than sequentially, resulting in much faster
recording-8 seconds per frame versus around 35 seconds per frame for
traditional CRT based systems.
ON CNBC at 19:26 pm on January 8, 1999:
"The "Mouse" restructures the house. After a dull year at the box-office,
Disney chief Michael Eisner has created a Walt Disney STudios
President position. The job goes to the company's Peter Schneider, who
helped revive the Disney's animation department with movies like "The Lion
King" and "Toy Story". Schneider will report to Disney studios' chairman
Joe Roth whose future at the house of the mouse is rumoured to be on
shakey ground.
Disney Recalls "The Rescuers" Video
January 8, 1999 10:01 AM EST
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1999--The Walt Disney Company
today recalled 3.4 million copies of the video release of "The Rescuers,"
after the company discovered that the more than 110,000-frame movie
contained two frames with an objectionable background image.
Under ordinary viewing circumstances, the two images cannot be seen since
they advance at the rate of 30 frames per second on video.
The company said it is making the recall to keep its promise to families
that they can trust and rely on the Disney brand to provide the finest in
family entertainment.
Customers who have bought the video since its release Jan. 5 may return the
video for exchange by C.O.D. mail to BVHE, Dept. 100, 1240 E. 230th St.,
Carson, Calif. 90745. This information is available 24 hours a day at
800/723-4763. Canadian customers may call 888/877-2843 for further
information.
From the Los Angeles Times, "Fairy Tale Ending
to a Real Disney Story" Studio restores Walt's first
animated work - long lost, but rediscovered by chance.
By Charles Solomon.
Used without Permission::::::::
Six years before Mickey Mouse made his debut in "Steamboat Willie,"
there was "Little Red Riding Hood" -- Walt Disney's first animated
work, a seven minute silent cartoon that the 21-year-old completed
while struggling as a commercial artist in Kansas City.
It was 1922 and the beginning of Disney's dream to make films that
would tell stories and compete in the growing animation industry.
Buth this and other early animated fairy tale ventures failed -- a
dubious start to the kingdom he would come to build.
Though it is documented in various Disney biographies and histories,
"Little Red Riding Hood" has long been considered a lost treasure. For
decades nobody knew where Disney's first attempt at animated
storytelling was -- or even if any prints existed.
But earlier this summer, the Disney studio was given access to the
rarity by a British collector, who years ago quite accidently stumbled
upon the reel in a London film library and purchased it the the
astonishing sum of 2 pounds -- about $3.
Walt Disney Co. now possesses a copy of the priceless cultural
artifact -- which in 1980 was included in the American Film Institute
list of the "10 Most Wanted Films for Archival Preservation" -- and
has just finished restoring this missing link to its storied past and
to animation history.
'The Acorn that Grew Into the Oak'
Peter Schneider, the president of Walt Disney Feature Animation,
called the rediscovery "thrilling," adding: "To go backand look at
Walt's own work and to be inspired by it is a special joy.
"It's a very exciting discovery of an example of Walt Disney's own
animation, which is extremely rare," said historian and filmmaker
John Canemaker, author of "Before the Animation Begins: The Art and
Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists." "It's also our first
chance to see the origins of what would become the Disney empire and
style.
"It's a bit like finding the acorn that grew into the oak."
From the Hollywood Reporter, April 24, 1998
The last fully animated traditional Disney animated feature
unreleased on home video - and the only one to be rated PG - will be
released Aug. 4., 1998
It's one of a record number of animated theatrical
features and original live-action and animated made-for-video
productions that the studio is bringing to market this
year. "The Black Cauldron", released theatrically in
1985, was also the only MODERN Disney animated feature
that made less money at the box office than it cost to
produce. "PINOCCHIO", "FANTASIA", "BAMBI", "THE THREE
CABALLEROS" AND "SLEEPING BEAUTY" ALSO WERE BOX OFFICE
UNDERACHIEVERS IN THEIR INITIAL RUNS, AND DISNEY HOPES
HOME VIDEO WILL FINALLY PUSH "CAULDRON" INTO THE BLACK.
About 12 years in the works, "The Black Cauldron" cost
about $25 million to make and grossed only $21 million
at the domestic box office. Disney's Bunea Vista Home
Video general manager Mitch Koch said the studio will
support "The Black Cauldron" with the same level of
marketing and promotion as other Disney animated features,
including the upcoming re-releases of "The Rescuers" and
"The Lady and the Tramp" and the recent rerelease of "The
Little Mermaid." Although the maturation of the video
sales market has built what some have said is a sales
ceiling at about 10 million units for major releases of
late, sources said Disney shipped about 13 million units
of "The Little Mermaid" to retailers last month. "The
Black Cauldron" is based on Lloyd Alexander's award-winning
series of children's fantasy novels called "The Chronicles
of Prydain", about a young boy who works with a magic sword,
a princess and a clairvoyant pig to prevent an ruthless
warlord from gaining the power of a mysterious black cauldron.
It was shot in 70mm with Dolby stereo surround sound and
used computer technology in the production process. Koch
said that the timing is right for the video release of
the movie because more PG-rated films have become embraced
as family-fare. The film will not be altered from its
original form, in contrary to months of rumours and
speculation that Disney was altering the film to make it
more palatable to small children. THIS YEAR ALONE,
TWO ANIMATED FEATURES WILL BE RELEASED THEATRICALLY
SPORTING PG RATINGS: DREAMWORKS "PRINCE OF EGYPT" AND
DISNEY'S OWN "MULAN". Also, the demand for the movie has
increased from Disney consumers who want to complete
their Disney collections. (True completionists are still
waiting for the classic but politically delicate
live-action/animated "Song of the South" on video as
well as the feature-length animation compilations of
animated shorts, "Make Mine Music", "THE RELUCTANT DRAGON",
AND "THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD". "MELODY TIME"
MAKES ITS HOME VIDEO DEBUT THIS JUNE.)
While "Lady and the Tramp" is expected to be a big seller
for Disney on Sept. 15, "The Rescuers", set for a Nov. 24
video release, was not among the studio's biggest sellers
when it was first released on video in 1992.
the movie has grossed more than $100 million at the box office in three
theatrical releases, in 1977, 1983, and 1989. With no unreleased major
animated classics remaing to pull from their vault for the video market
and with recent animated theatrical features such as "The hunchback of
Notre Dame" and "Hercules" not performing as well as the blockbusters
"Aladdin" and "The Lion King", Disney has begun increasing the number
of video rereleases and made-for-video titles each year. The studio will
release five theatrical animated features in 1998, including the release
of "Hercules" and the re-release of "Peter Pan", out already this year,
and three made for video titles. As previously announced, the live-action
"The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story", the second live-action made-for-video
feature from Disney following last year's "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves" --
will be released Sept. 29. The movie that features Mowgli as a young boy
is being downplayed as a sequel to the theatrical release that was released
by Disney but not produced by the studio. Koch said the company has a
couple of other live-action made-for-video titles in the works, but they
may not be related to Disney franchises as are "Honey..." and "Jungle
Book." The studio is expecting big things from the animated made-for-video
sequel "Pocahontas: Journey to a New World" on August 25th and even bigger
things from "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" on Oct. 27th.
Koch said "Lino King II" is a "hugely anticipated sequel." The original
theatrical film still stands as the all-time best-selling video with 30
million units. The best selling made-for-video sequel is the first sequel
to "Aladdin", "The Return of Jafar", with about 10.5 million units.
"The Lion King II and Lady and the Tramp will be huge tentpoles in the
fall," Koch said. Disney is also working on an animated made-for-video
sequel to "Lady and the Tramp". The studio will also introduce a couple
of acquired family films to the video market this year, inclduing "Summer
of the Monkeys" starring Wilford brimley and Michael Ontkean, on Dec. 22nd,
the animated feature-length "Kiki's Delivery Service" on Sept. 1, and the
IMAX movie "Titanica" on July 28.
--Hollywood Reporter, April 24, 1998
Mickey Mouse -- 70 years old in 1998 -- is
getting a makeover, along with other familiar Disney
cartoon characters. No more cutesy, innocuous,
not-a-care-in-the-world pet mouse. MM's about to become
more in-tune with his true rodency and the edgier times
and become a harried, '90s creature.
The new Micky will premiere on the newly announced
Toon Disney Channel. "Our focus groups told us that
these characters did not have enough attitude," said
exec producer Roberts Gannaway, who's in charge of the
makeover. The new Mickey will have to put up with a
new Minnie, who in addition to being his wife will
now become the world's only female conductor of an
international orchestra.
"These characters were born in the Great Depression
with a simple, optimistic outlook which now looks
outdated," said Gannaway. "There may be less need
to modernize Warner characters like Bugs Bunny,
who already had a more aggressive outlook when
they became popular during [ World War II ] ."
Media analyst Paul Wells applauds the makeover,
noting that Mickey "has progressively been stripped
of his original cheekiness and aggression until the
perception is that he is no more than a brand
name. He needs a strong new identity."
BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Video industry
leader, Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) announces its comprehensive
sell through release slate from April through August 1998. Disney's $85
million live- action family smash hit, FLUBBER, featuring the incomparable
comedic talents of Robin Williams, flies onto home video April 21st. Debuting
May 19th is an all-new made-for-video world premiere movie, BRAVE LITTLE
TOASTER GOES TO MARS; followed by the never-before-on-video 10th full-length
Disney Animated Masterpiece, MELODY TIME on June 2nd. THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY,
a fun and nostalgic collection of many of the best loved Mickey Mouse short
features, debuts July 14. Timely rental re-priced promotions featuring
such live action hits as CON AIR, GROSSE POINTE BLANK and NOTHING TO LOSE,
among others, continue throughout the Spring and Summer.
These exciting titles join BVHE's recently announced video
re-release of THE LITTLE MERMAID (3/31/98) and the spectacular video premiere
movie, POCAHONTAS: JOURNEY TO A NEW WORLD (8/4/98).
After going "a little dance" and making "a little flub,"
to the tune of $85 million at the box office, Disney's FLUBBER "gets down"
on home video on April 21. Starring the hilarious Robin Williams as a professor
so lost in thought he forgets his own wedding ... twice, FLUBBER is a fun
filled, side- splitting comedic adventure inspired by the original Disney
hit, THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR. Working with a high voltage, over amorous
flying robot Professor Phillip Brainard (Williams) invents a miraculous
goo with a mind of its own that enables objects to spring through the air
at remarkable speed. Through this turbo-charged discovery, Professor Brainard
tries to win back his fiancé and save his beloved Medfield College.
THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER GOES TO MARS, an all-new, fun
filled adventure inspired by the full-length animated film and Parent's
Choice Award winning, THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER, premieres May 19. A delightful
story that showcases caring, friendship and teamwork, this brand-new feature
length animated movie reunites the whole gang of favorite friends from
the original film including Toaster, Lampy, Radio, Kirby and Blanky. Following
the appliances on their wacky trip to Mars to save the "Master's" new baby,
this heartwarming tale delivers out-of-space entertainment for the whole
family. It stars such voice talents as Farrah Fawcett, Wayne Knight and
Carol Channing.
BVHE celebrates the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's
10th animated Masterpiece, MELODY TIME, by opening the Disney vault on
June 2, to release the song filled animated movie, for the very first time
on video. Available for a limited time only, fully restored and THX-certified,
it features one of Disney's most popular characters, Donald Duck. MELODY
TIME is a delightful musical collection that includes the classic folk
tales of "Johnny Appleseed" and "Pecos Bill" and includes "Bumble Boogie,"
a wonderfully fun jazz interpretation of "Flight of the Bumble Bee," and
more.
Debuting July 28, BVHE celebrates the spectacular Summer
theatrical release of Disney's 36th full-length animated Masterpiece, MULAN,
with a Mulan-themed sing along entitled "Honor To Us All." An exciting
new addition to the company's popular sing along line, this first video
glimpse features a toe tapping assortment of song sequences, including
two from MULAN and many more from Disney's most popular animated Masterpieces
including HERCULES (Zero To Hero) and THE LION KING (Hakuna Matata). Each
song is accompanied with on- screen lyrics.
The definitive collection of some of the greatest Mickey
Mouse shorts ever, BVHE debuts THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY on July 14, 1998. A
fun and nostalgic video collectible for audiences of all ages, THE SPIRIT
OF MICKEY includes the never-before-released short "Orphan's Picnic," the
very first Mickey Mouse cartoon "Steamboat Willie," and many more favorites
spanning the career of the lovable mouse. THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY will be
promoted by a company wide effort including Mickey's Hometown Parades and
the Disney Channel's PremEARS In The Park, bringing the most beloved entertainer,
Mickey Mouse, to hometowns across the country throughout the summer.
BVHE's upcoming second and third quarter 1998 titles also
includes numerous re-priced ($19.99) promotions, which mark the ownably
priced debut of such box office hits as GROSSE POINTE BLANK on April 28,
CON AIR on May 26 and NOTHING TO LOSE on July 7.
A never-before-released SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK video, MONEY
ROCK, joins the series of classic Emmy-Award winning shows from ABC Video
on July 21. It is the newest addition to a memorable collection that has
taught kids "knowledge is power." MONEY ROCK is available just in time
for back-to-school.
Please call 818-295-4609 to request screening or
artwork. All BVHE releases are closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
Running lengths and MPAA ratings vary.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment is the recognized industry
leader for ten consecutive years.
SOURCE Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) is preparing to release five major direct-to-video movies in 1998, the largest slate yet from the Disney subsidiary, it was announced today. After more than two years in production, two all-new animated Disney sequels, "Pocahontas: Journey To A New World" and "The Lion King: Simba's Pride" will debut exclusively on video, August 4 and October 27, respectively. In addition BVHE will debut its first animated film from acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki, "Kiki's Delivery Service," on September 22. Two all-new, live action features also are planned -- "Mowgli's Story," pre-quel to Disney's "The Jungle Book," and "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit," based on an original Ray Bradbury short story and play, and starring Joe Mantegna, Esai Morales and Edward James Olmos. Mitch Koch General Manager, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, North America, said, "In 1997, our direct-to-video movies enjoyed enormous success. Our fourth quarter was highlighted by the stellar performance of "Beauty and The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" which was one of the top 10 best-sellers of 1997. Having built a strong consumer base for these films over the past few years, we will now release our most ambitious slate, with what we believe are our greatest creative achievements yet in direct-to-video movies." Disney set its all-new movie, "Pocahontas: Journey To A New World," in London, England where Pocahontas and her friends experience the adventure of a lifetime. Along with six, show stopping new songs, the movie features the return of voice talent from the original film including Irene Bedard (Pocahontas) and David Ogden Stiers (Ratcliffe), and welcomes Donal Gibson as the voice of John Smith, "Titanic" star Billy Zane as John Rolfe, Jean Stapleton as Mrs. Jenkins and Finola Hughes as Queen Anne. "Pocahontas: Journey To A New World" debuts on August 4,1998. Based on Disney's "The Lion King," the $767 million worldwide box-office smash and number one video of all-time, "The Lion King: Simba's Pride" (debuting October 27) continues the "circle of life" in the Pridelands as Simba's heir to the throne coming-of-age. The all-new movie features six original songs and the return of the all-star cast including James Earl Jones as the voice of Mufasa, Matthew Broderick as Simba, Nathan Lane as Timon and Ernie Sabella as the voice of Pumbaa. Internationally renowned filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki delivers another animation masterpiece in "Kiki's Delivery Service." The film tells the delightful tale of Kiki, a young witch who must venture out on her own to find her place in the world. Celebrities including Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo and Mathew Lawrence lend their voice talents to this exceptional film. In the spirit of "Jungle Book" "Mowgli's Story" brings-to-life the jungle animals Baloo, Bagheera and Shere Khan, who adopt the young human Mowgli when he is alone in the jungle. It will be released in the Spring. This Summer, "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit" debuts. Directed by Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator" and "Fortress"), it is the tale of five down-on-their- luck young men who pool their last $100 to buy one magical suit that they hope will transform their lives. A premiere screening at the Sundance Film Festival is scheduled for Friday, January 23, and the film has been invited to a number of other festivals.
Source: Walt Disney Company Press Release
BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 8, 1997--Disney/ABC Cable Networks Monday announced plans to launch Toon Disney, a new 24-hour basic cable network featuring the company's vast library of animated television programming. The announcement was made by Geraldine Laybourne, president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks, and Anne Sweeny, president of Disney Channel and executive vice president Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Toon Disney will launch on April 18, Disney Channel's 15th anniversary. Targeted towards kids aged 2-11 and their families, Toon Disney is intended to complement Disney Channel's variety of kid and family programming by providing continuous and exclusive access to Disney animated programming. ``Toon Disney is the next step towards expanding the cable presence of the Disney brand,'' stated Sweeney. ``Having addressed the broad needs of kids and families through Disney Channel, Toon Disney will provide our audience an additional source of trusted and valued entertainment.'' Drawing from more than 2,200 episodes of animated television programming in the Walt Disney Co. library, Toon Disney will feature exclusive Disney-branded animation, as well as titles shared with Disney Channel. Schedule highlights include ``The Little Mermaid,'' ``Gummi Bears,'' ``New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'' and ``Darkwing Duck.'' ``Toon Disney meets the needs and opportunities resulting from digital roll-out, which further enables us to target niche audiences,'' stated Laybourne. ``This new channel will provide families with a trusted source of programming for their kids as well as providing cable operators a recognizable brand as they expand channel capacity.'' Toon Disney will be sold by Disney Channel's affiliate sales group as a package with Disney Channel and will be offered exclusively to those operators already carrying Disney Channel as a basic service. ``Our research indicates that cable operator response to Toon Disney will be extremely enthusiastic,'' stated Charlie Nooney, senior vice president, affiliate sales and marketing for Disney Channel. ``There is a tremendous demand for strongly branded quality kids' entertainment, which Disney is in an unique position to provide.'' Toon Disney will be based at Disney Channel's headquarters in Burbank. The operations and administration for the new channel will be handled by Disney Channel staff. Disney/ABC Cable Networks is composed of five cable programming services and oversees the development of future cable channels for the company. The services are: Disney Channel (100 percent ownership), Lifetime Television (50 percent ownership), A&E Network (37.5 percent ownership), The History Channel (37.5 percent ownership) and E! Entertainment Television (34 percent ownership). Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the only full-time general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Contact:
Source: Ain't it Cool News
First up for restoration is Beauty and the Beast, which will have about 8 minutes restored, including the song "Human Again", and Belle teaching the Beast how to read. B&tB did have a continuity problem, the result of this number being cut from the original film. It will be re-released a la the Star Wars films, and will go up against Prince of Egypt. Jeffrey Katzenburg's Disney Oscar-Nominated (Best Picture) masterpiece against Jeffrey Katzenberg's new baby.
Source: JOHN McKAY, Canadian Press
It's a direct-to-video sequel called Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, set for release Nov. 11. "There's certainly enthusiasm in the studio," says Lenora Hume, the Walt Disney Co.'s senior vice-president for international production. "I mean, they are really looking forward to the world seeing this product." The 72-minute video, 19 months in production in Disney's new Toronto and Vancouver facilities, expands on the blossoming romance between Belle and the Beast in the enchanted castle. The original voices return, including Robby Benson as the Beast, Paige O'Hara as Belle and Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts. Tim Curry signed up to voice the film's new villain, a malevolent pipe organ called Forte. And there are a handful of new songs, too. Hume says the production had an immovable completion date since it was targeted to the coming holiday season, and was finished on time. She says the artists involved saw the final product only a few days ago and pronounced it "terrific," although Disney provided the media with only a few preview snippets. It's been just three years since the direct-to-video market took off for Disney with the surprisingly successful release of the Aladdin sequel The Return of Jafar, which sold 16 million copies worldwide. So it was decided to create a sister division to Disney's Hollywood feature factory and to locate it in Canada expressly to churn out more modestly budgeted TV and video fare such as the Beauty and the Beast sequel. The studio is now turning its attention to Pocahontas Two and a Lion King spin-off. Plans call for the combined Vancouver-Toronto facility to release two to three films a year for TV and video. Hume vigorously denies any creative corners are cut with direct-to-video productions and insists savings are largely invisible to the average viewer. With image details, a TV monitor tends to be a bit more forgiving than a giant theatrical screen, she says. "When you're looking at it you might say if this is going to be projected 35 feet across, we would go in and finesse it a little further." The Canadian studio isn't starting from scratch either. It's given a completed script from head office in Burbank and many of the original elements, from storyboard design to the choice of actors' voices, are handed down from the earlier theatrical feature. But officials are vague on the financial advantages of skipping the usual theatrical distribution step. As for why Disney chose Canada, Hume credits the traditional support for the arts here and the flow of talent through the educational system. "Such a good flow that a lot of them have left the country in search of the kind of work they would like to do." She says by building animation studios here, Disney gives those Canadians an opportunity to stay at home. She says 80 per cent of the staff comes from Toronto's Sheridan College, which enjoys a reputation for producing world-class animators and artists. Others were hired from Vancouver's Capilano College and Emily Carr Institute and Ottawa's Algonquin College. Joan Fischer, manager of Disney Animation Canada, agrees there is an enormous talent pool in Canada. "I've heard many of the people in the studio say they've traveled all over the world and met Canadians everywhere they went," she says. "So it made a lot of sense for Disney to come here." Although it began both hand-drawn and computer-generated work on the Beauty sequel in March last year, the new Canadian facility only this past week took a breather to officially celebrate its opening. A chronology of the development of Disney's Canadian studio: November 1995: Disney Television Animation announced plans to establish studios in Toronto and Vancouver. Early 1996: More than 9,000 job applications reviewed, candidates interviewed and talent hired from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa. March 1996: Work begins on Canadian studio's first production, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. June 1996: The Canadian team moves into temporary facilities in Vancouver and Toronto. Fall 1996: Vancouver staff moves into its permanent studio on West Georgia Street. December 1996: Toronto staff moves into its permanent studio at downtown Simcoe Place. August 1997: Production work is finished on Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas and delivered to head office in Burbank, Calif. Oct. 6, 1997: Official opening ceremonies for Toronto facility. Media invited to tour. Nov. 11, 1997: Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas to make its worldwide video debut.
Source: Los Angeles Time
Source: ENTERTAINMENT WIRE
Source: PRNewswire
Source: Lampwick's Disney News
In exchange, Disney has accepted some restrictions on the use of the name on the variety of associated merchandise for which the company is famous, ranging from dolls and lunch boxes to clothing and tie-ins with fast-food restaurants. The exact details of the pact, however, will be kept confidential. Thursday's breakthrough came after U.S. District Judge Roger Strand publicly upbraided lawyers for both sides for their inability to craft an accord. At one point, he leveled a not-so-subtle threat, telling the attorneys that their clients would live to financially regret the legal battle: "Just get it done or the third quarter earnings of both companies are going to take a substantial dip," the judge said. Troy Froderman, the attorney for Karsten, said only that his client can live with the agreement. Attorneys for Disney were even more close-mouthed, saying only that anyone with questions should see the movie when it comes out next summer and buy the merchandise. Karsten began manufacturing its Ping line of clubs in 1959. Company founder Karsten Solheim said he gave the first club the model 1-A putter that name because of the sound it made when it hit a golf ball. Since that time the privately held company has extended the Ping name to everything from luggage to children's apparel. Sales of Ping products in the last decade alone, according to Karsten attorneys, amount to more than $1 billion. What spurred the suit was Karsten's discovery of Disney's registration of the Ping trademark for consumer items it intended to market next year in connection with the film. The story is based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese folktale of a young, high-spirited girl named Mulan whose aged father is called to war, where he faces near certain death. So she disguises herself as a man and joins the army in his place. When asked for a name by army officials, she chooses "Ping." The name, though, is a Disney invention; it doesn't exist in the original story. Pleading With the Judge Disney showed a copy of the partially completed film to Strand—behind closed doors—in an effort to convince him it was too late to change it now. The judge spent several days attempting to chide the two sides into reaching common ground. But the attorneys each gave reasons why the other side's position was wrong. Jody Pope, one of Karsten's stable of hired legal guns, wanted specific limits on both the use of the word "Ping" by Disney and the image of Mulan as Ping in her alter ego male garb. Barry Halpern of Disney's legal team countered that his client needed "flexibility" on things like games and puzzles. After several of these sessions, Strand started losing his sense of humor. And he put at least part of the blame on the suits. "The problem with lawyers is they're so damned innovative
and thoughtful," trying to worry about every potential future possibility,
he told the attorneys. "Don't try to chase every rabbit so far down the
hole that you end up chasing every rainbow." (By Howard Fischer, ABCNEWS.com,
August 21, thanks to Jeff Peterson for sharing this article.)
Source: The Wall-Street Journal Marketplace section Written By: Bruce Orwall Information supplied by Jeremy Falkowski
(End of quoted press release.)
Wednesday March 12 2:15 PM EDT Disney and Pixar Announce Sequel `Toy Story II' Production Underway Tim Allen and Tom Hanks Return as `Buzz Lightyear' and `Woody' BURBANK, Calif., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios announce today that a sequel to the groundbreaking Academy Award nominated feature film, TOY STORY, is underway and being created exclusively for home video. The all-new, fully computer-animated sequel will feature the voices of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks, who reprise their enormously popular roles as "Buzz Lightyear," the space ranger and "Woody," the pull- string Cowboy, respectively. Production on TOY STORY II re-teams Disney's Feature Animation team and Pixar's Northern California studios, utilizing the same cutting-edge, three-dimensional computer animation techniques that allowed the breakthrough creation of the original movie. The first fully computer-animated, feature length film, TOY STORY was 1995's highest-grossing family film, earning more than $350 million worldwide in theaters before becoming the top-selling video of 1996. Winner of a 1995 Special Achievement Academy Award for TOY STORY, director John Lasseter is the sequel's Executive Producer. TOY STORY Producer Ralph Guggenheim repeats as TOY STORY II Producer. Ash Brannon will direct TOY STORY II. "Utilizing what we call a `Digital Backlot' we are able to work with many of the same computer models of characters, sets and props as in the original film," said Ralph Guggenheim. "This enables us to create the new movie in less time, while maintaining the same quality of sophisticated animation and story." "We are excited to work again with Tom and Tim on this project," said John Lasseter. "Their amazing talent helped us bring the characters to life. In fact, we think of Woody and Buzz not as creations, but as employees." "`Toy Story II' is the latest production to be announced in our growing made-for-video film category," Ann Daly, President, Buena Vista Home Video, said. "With `Aladdin and the King of Thieves' and the debut of `Honey We Shrunk Ourselves' next week, we are now bringing both animated and live action films into this pipeline with great success. `Toy Story II' further demonstrates the prominence of this business category for us, and our belief in its ongoing success for the company." Walt Disney Home Video is distributed by Buena Vista Home Video, Inc., the recognized industry leader for nine consecutive years. Pixar Animation Studios combines creative and technical artistry to create original characters and stories in the new medium of three-dimensional computer animation. Pixar created and produced the first computer animated feature film the Academy Award-winning TOY STORY, and has recently entered into a partnership with The Walt Disney Company to finance, produce and distribute five computer animated feature films and related products. Pixar also created two top selling CD-ROMs based on Toy Story characters which were released in 1996. SOURCE Buena Vista Home Video (End of quoted press release.)
Information supplied by ken coates Today's paper said that Disney is buying about 5% (1 million shares @ $15/share) of PIXAR and have extended their original 3 picture contract (1st was Toy Story, second has code name of "Bugs" to come out in 1998) to 5 pictures over the next 10 years. Instead of getting 10-15% of a film, PIXAR would get 50%, but they would have to pay more of the upfront costs. It went on to say that Disney would get warrants to buy another 1.5 million shares at an unspecified higher price. Steve Jobs (owner of PIXAR) had been shopping around the other animation studios (SKG Dreamworks for example) for the same type of investment. Disney wanted to keep the technology and animators busy on its own projects. PIXAR is also thinking about releasing a sequel to Toy Story that would probably go directly to home video. That video wouldn't count against the 5 picture deal. The deal also includes derivative products such as home videos merchandise, interactive media products, and made-for-home-video sequels.
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