Walt Disney Animation

ALL NEW Disney Prep & Landing on ABC Plus More Webisodes! Now!

5 December 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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This is an emergency message from the All-elf Broadcasting Company (ABC!) Set your sets and dvr’s for 8:30 tonight (7:30 Central) to catch a brand new Disney Prep & Landing show – Naughty vs. Nice…

The yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue this season. With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology that has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission, a bombastic member of the Coal Elf Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.

Once you’ve seen Naughty vs. Nice, head over to ABC.com for even more Prep & Landing fun – Webisodes and exclusive content await! TINSEL!

Beauty and the Beast in 3D Trailer

29 November 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I remember when Beauty and the Beast first came out like it was yesterday. Yes, that makes me old. I had just started college a month before and the tale of Beauty and the Beast had always been a favorite of mine. To say I was excited to see Disney’s treatment of it is an understatement. Now, *gulp* 20 years later, Disney is re-releasing the film in theatres, and this time in 3D. After meeting Paige O’Hara at Disney’s D23 Expo a few months ago, I’m even more excited! Here’s Disney’s latest information on the project:

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ magical classic “Beauty and the Beast” returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™, introducing a whole new generation to the Disney classic with stunning new 3D imagery. The film captures the fantastic journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), a bright and beautiful young woman who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

Featuring unforgettable music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and an enormously talented vocal ensemble, “Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated feature to receive a Best Picture nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“Like” BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST returns to theatres for the first time in 3D on January 13, 2012!

Prep & Landing on DVD? That’s SO Tinsel!

18 November 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I remember the excitement surrounding Prep & Landing when it first appeared on television a few years ago as ABC’s first ever animated special produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios first ever animated . Now Prep & Landing has come out on DVD, for the whole family to enjoy whenever they need a little TINSEL! If you haven’t seen Prep & Landing, here’s an overview: Prep & Landing is an adorable holiday story about a high-tech team of elves who ensure homes around the world are properly prepared for their visit from Santa. After working for a tireless 227 years, an elf named Wayne (voiced by Dave Foley) is upset when he doesn’t receive an expected promotion. Instead he is partnered with an idealistic rookie elf named Lanny (voiced by Derek Richardson) to execute a special Christmas Eve mission. While on their journey, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits and ultimately threaten Christmas for children around the world. But in the end, these two elves work together to guide Santa through a raging snowstorm in order to save Christmas.

And here’s a clip from the bonus features:Since Prep & Landing is only 22 minutes in length, the DVD is chock full of fun bonus features; two Stocking Stuffer Shorts and some Prep & Landing Kringle Academy Training videos. The best part is that the bonus features auto-play so you get to see all the fun without pressing a button. Prep & Landing is arriving from the workshop on November 22nd and makes a perfect backdrop for holiday gatherings and an even better stocking stuffer!

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition-Classic Lessons For All

22 September 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

“The very things that held you down, are gonna carry you up and up and up!” ~Timothy Q. Mouse

Dumbo has always held a special place in my heart, I think for its quiet simplicity and life-lessons. Unlike the previous Disney animated films of Snow White and Pinocchio, there were no real “scary” parts for me as a child, so it was therefore a safe movie to see again and again. Of course I wasn’t around when it first premiered in 1941, but I do remember being slightly scared by the evil Queen and the Pleasure Island scenes in Pinocchio and relieved by the lack of those elements in Dumbo. While we did own Dumbo on VHS, it had been quite some time since I’d viewed this classic and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing it again.

This 70th Anniversary edition DVD and Blu-ray combo pack are impeccably restored and you’d think the film was just released with its crisp, clean animation. Dumbo is notably one of only two Disney animated feature films to use watercolor backgrounds. Lilo and Stitch animators used some watercolor backgrounds as a nod to this classic style. The result in the film is a beautiful environment that just draws you right in.

Things I never really paid attention to before this viewing of Dumbo are how the elephants are the only animals which speak (aside from Timothy, the Stork and the crows of course). All the other circus animals are much less detailed, letting the audience know that our story lies here, with Mrs. Jumbo and her precious baby and not with other popular animals like lions and tigers. The elephant ladies are given human-like characteristics of being proud and gossipy, and showing emotion in the case of Mrs. Jumbo. What mama doesn’t feel the same sense of pride and need to defend one’s child if attacked? We instantly feel for Dumbo and his mom, knowing they are different than the other, rude and shallow elephants that rely on appearances and worrying ‘what the neighbors will think’. At the same time, we see Dumbo jump right into the action and be ready to pull his weight, help out, and be a part of the circus family.

Dumbo and Timothy — Timothy keeps Dumbo motivated

The circus scenes, and in fact the entire movie, do not feature much in the way of human interaction. The faceless roundabouts setting up the circus tents sing a song as they work, the clowns grouse about wanting more money, and the Ringmaster worries only about entertaining the crowds and making money. This is truly an animal’s tale, but a reflection on all of us as well. The result is a captivating tale for little ones, as my almost-3-year-old has been entranced by it ever since I opened the case. It is rare he’ll sit through an entire film of any sort, animated or otherwise. Dumbo has held his attention and been on repeat for the last 4 days! The dialogue is scarce, and as a result, has much more meaning when it is spoken.

Some history about Dumbo of interest, it was actually produced in the midst of the Disney animator’s strike, which resulted in several strikers receiving caricatured appearances as the clowns, complaining of wanting more money. In addition, Dumbo was created in an attempt to recoup financial losses from Pinocchio and Fantasia, which is why the film is so stark and plain in detail, compared to the first two films. I think this is exactly what makes the film so heartwarming, as you focus more on the characters and Dumbo’s story than on other details. Dumbo does not utter a word, but captures our heart completely. Each song is memorable and singable and the hi-jinx from Sterling Holloway as the Stork leave you smiling.

An exception to this simplicity is, of course, the Pink Elephants on Parade scene, which comes to pass as Dumbo and Timothy accidentally imbibe water laced with Champagne. After viewing this fantastical segment multiple times over the past week, this has become one of my favorite animated sequences ever. I’m no Disney historian, but I think you can definitely feel the Fantasia vibe here, as well as some foreshadowing of the upcoming Three Caballeros South American influence. Truly a unique and masterful spotlight on Disney animation. And Technicolor pachyderms.

Now you’ve made it through the entire review and I didn’t even mention Baby Mine. You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? Of course this heartfelt, tear-inducing song is one of the most tender moments of the film and certainly part of what makes it a classic in every sense of the word. I sung it to all of my babies and it still brings a tear to my eye today. Motherly love at its finest.

Back to Timothy’s quote – the life lessons within Dumbo hold true and are relatable to by every generation since its release. You may not be what society expects you to be, but being yourself and owning your individuality can lead to great success. And despite thinking you have something holding you back, it just might lift you up. Magic feather or no, you truly can fly in life, if you believe in yourself.

Dumbo dvd Blu-ray — Click to purchase the combo-pack

So whether you are just a Disney fan picking this up for your collection, or a family looking to entertain your little ones, or a Disneyphile looking for a snapshot into Disney history, this is a must-have for you. There aren’t too many DVD bonus features, but the Blu-ray definitely offers more, so I highly recommend the combo pack for the most options. The Blu-ray has additional animated shorts, art galleries and games in addition to deleted scenes and songs, as well as expanded viewing experience and Cine-explore experience. The DVD also features the deleted scenes, making-of, and some behind-the-scenes featurettes. The deleted scene shows Timothy Mouse’s explanation of why elephants are afraid of mice, saying how millions and millions of years ago in “pre-hysterical times” giant mice 100 times as big as a circus tent roamed the earth, with “tails as long and fat as a sewer pipe”. A fun, if unrealized little scene.

Be sure to check out the Backstage at Disney scenes in the Bonus Features. This showcases the the sound effects created for the black and white Casey Jr. train scene in The Reluctant Dragon and it is, in a word, amazing. What a treat to see the original voice and sound actors creating movie magic. Did you know Casey Jr. was “voiced” by a woman? You can see the Sonovox technology used to create Casey Jr.’s signature train-whistle style of sound. This also held my littlest guy’s attention, assuring me that he’s got the Disney gene.

Winnie the Pooh Movie Strikes a Balance With Classic Characters

11 July 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

*spoilers may be contained within the review below, so please read at your own risk!

Tonight my daughter and I were treated to a screening of Winnie the Pooh, which opens nationwide this Friday, July 15th. Competing with the final installment of the Harry Potter series sets the bar high for expectations but I think with the older age range for Harry Potter, Winnie the Pooh is a great alternative for younger families or those with little siblings.

The film opens with a live-action view of Christopher Robin’s home – the hallway leading up to his room as the narrator (John Cleese) tells us all about Christopher Robin’s collections, including his favorites, his stuffed animals. The narrator lets us know that all of their adventures take place right here, in the 100 Acre Wood, as the classic Winnie the Pooh book opens up and we are taken inside. The film continues in this informal manner, with the narrator conversing with Pooh and Pooh and the other characters using the letters and words as props within the movie. In this way, fans of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Walt Disney World will feel an instant connection between the movie and the child-friendly ride. In the way that so many musicals become movies or movies become musicals, I felt like the ride had become a movie in a way. Of course both take their content from the classic A.A. Milne stories and this new take on Winnie the Pooh was definitely a proper treatment and handling.

I felt as though Tigger’s voice and character got a bit of ‘updating’ and was a bit Jim Carey-ish, which appealed to the youngest audience members. Piglet, always my favorite, was definitely not as main a character, nor was Rabbit, compared to the attention spent on Owl, Eeyore, Pooh and to a lesser extent, Tigger. Pooh was definitely the main attraction with his hour-long quest for “hunny” and the lesson he learns about friendship along the way. Another ‘character’ within the story is actually the “rumbly in Pooh’s tumbly” which sort of takes on its own personality throughout the film and kept the laughs going.

I won’t give too much of the storyline away but I will say that it was short and sweet and full of physical gags and hi-jinx that kept every child in attendance entertained. Older fans that were lured in by the Zooey Deschannel and Keane music used in the ad campaigns may be a little disappointed in the lack of real emotional pull. I was going in fully expecting to be tearing up at one if not several points in the film, based on the teasers I’d seen. The story was nice and sweet, but not sad or overly sentimental.

Two of my favorite aspects of the film were the way Tigger was drawn and Kanga’s personality. Tigger was very sketch-like, where you could see his little shaded in stripes. It didn’t really look like any of the other characters were drawn in that manner, but I really liked Tigger’s look and it seemed to mesh with the letters/pages that we kept seeing as the movie progressed.

Up to now Kanga has been the ever-perfect mother in the 100 Acre Wood, who takes care of not only little Roo but everyone else as well. There are a few jokes in this story that let you know the writers understand a mother’s/parent’s plight and understand parents are who will be in the audience with their little Roos. In particular, there is a song all the characters sing when each person ‘wins’ the contest to find Eeyore a new tail. When Kanga finally finds a tail, they all start to sing and she says, “No, no, no singing, thank you!” which is certainly an emotion parents know all too well, when the best reward to a parent is sometimes just silence.

Also shown with feature is the short film The Ballad of Nessie. In discussing the short with friends after the show, we all seemed to have different opinions of it, but I loved it. It reminded me in style and design of the classic Disney shorts from the Tall Tales – Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, even Pecos Bill and Slue-foot Sue from Melody Time. Narrated by Billy Connolly (which works nicely as a segue to the upcoming Disney Pixar film Brave), Nessie herself does not speak. The theme of the short also reminded me of the Pixar short Boundin’, my favorite of the Pixar shorts.

Nessie’s happy home is taken away when a greedy golfer decides to make it into a course for his own personal use. The villain is not the real antagonist of the short, however. Rather it’s Nessie’s fruitless struggle to find a home and her being told at every turn to keep her chin up and not to cry, which plague Nessie as she deals with no one wanting her around. After holding in her tears for so long, Nessie finally cannot contain her sadness and cries and cries until she forms the entire Loch Ness – her new home. The lesson the narrator leaves us with is that it’s okay to cry and sometimes tears allow the best of us to shine through. And yes, I *did* tear up at that!

If you are a Winnie the Pooh fan or have little ones, you will not be disappointed with Disney’s newest treatment. The Zooey Deschannel songs sound like they came right out of the original time period of the very first Disney film featuring our favorite stuffed friends, and the sight gags and short length (right about an hour) will ensure happy faces on all family members. For those who think it’s not worth it, all I am saying, is give Pooh a chance.

Winnie the…Potter??

8 July 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Disney just sent over these cute spoof videos for the Winnie the Pooh movie, which happens to be opening on July 15th…the same day as another little film you may have heard of about a boy wizard…I love when Disney has a sense of humor about their films!

“Like” WINNIE THE POOH on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh.

WINNIE THE POOH opens in theatres everywhere on July 15th.

Alice in Wonderland 60th Anniversary HD Release+Bonus Features

27 January 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

With interest in all things ALICE IN WONDERLAND at an all-time high following the record-breaking theatrical performance of Disney’s epic live-action fantasy adventure, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment proudly unveils aone-of-a-kind 60th Anniversary Special Edition of Walt Disney’s original animated version of the whimsical classic tale ALICE IN WONDERLAND on Blu-ray — on February 1st, 2011. Released just in time for Valentine’s Day!

The new ALICE IN WONDERLAND 60^th Anniversary Special Edition takes viewers on magical adventure like never before with a fantastically odd and fun-filled world of colorful characters in brilliant high-definition and crystal clear sound. Additionally, the disc comes specially-packed with never-before-seen footage hosted by Kathryn Beaumont, an all-new interactive game and more. I was given a chance to preview this edition – one of my all-time favorite movies and was simply blown away by the colors, the quality and the sound. The bonus features are must-views for any Disney or Alice fan. This is definitely a film you’ll want to add to your Disney collection.

Tangled Movie Review

22 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 41 Comments

I mentioned previously that I was honored to attend the Walt Disney World Holiday Showcase as a representative of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Part of that weekend included a screening of Disney’s Tangled before its November 24th nationwide release. I know I’ve shared some funny clips that Disney passed along showcasing the film, but honestly, they do not begin to do justice to the actual film itself. I realize they are trying to get audiences super excited about what many people view as “just another animated film” but I truly feel that when families of all ages and sizes see the movie, word of mouth will be all that’s needed to make Tangled a success.

We knew going in that Tangled was the classic tale of Rapunzel, but with a twist. What we didn’t know was the unique backstory that Tangled provides, which actually works. It’s sort of like Sleeping Beauty meets Cinderella meets Little Mermaid. Rapunzel’s parents have lost her, however unlike Sleeping Beauty, she is stolen by the evil “Mother” Gothel who kidnaps Rapunzel for her own selfish gains. Rapunzel is somewhat happily living in her impenetrable tower up until her 18th birthday, where her birthday wish is to see the “stars” or lanterns that float in the sky each year on her birthday. What she doesn’t realize is that the lanterns are set into the sky by her real parents as they continue the vigil to seek out their missing daughter, and the townspeople who also hope for the princess’ return.

[Read more…] about Tangled Movie Review

Disney’s Song of the South to Be Released on DVD?!

20 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 14 Comments

Some readers may know that Song of the South has always been one of my favorite Disney films. Originally released in 1946, I remember seeing it at some point in my childhood and hearing about it often, as it was one of my Dad’s favorites as well. The lessons illustrated by Brer Rabbit and his pals are similar to what he grew up hearing . As a child, I never took on or felt any racist effects from the film, as many critics have stated could be an adverse effect of re-releasing the controversial movie. To a child, Uncle Remus is just a story teller. The tar baby is just that, a baby made out of tar. I realize I am speaking from a white girl raised in a white world perspective but I stand by the fact that most negative views of the film are based on adult connotations of innocent subject matter. Is Gone With the Wind banned due to its portrayal of African-Americans during civil war time? Critics fear the master-slave relationship is a little too optimistic in Song of the South but again, this is a children’s film and the purpose is to share the lessons taught by Uncle Remus, not make a social commentary. Further, I have always maintained the personal opinion that animated films like Peter Pan with its “What Made the Red Man Red” or The Aristocats portrayal of a Siamese cat brimming with Asian stereotypes are actually much worse as far as blatant racism go. Of course these are just my opinions, I am no film critic or historian.

Disney has seen the value of the content within the film, crafting its Splash Mountain storyline and characters around the Song of the South anthropomorphic animals we’ve come to know and love: Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox among them. However Disney has shied away from making concrete plans to release the film simply because it is so controversial. Most likely any attempt to release it would meet with discord no matter how it was approached. So what’s the answer? Perhaps a prologue explaining that as with any history, time casts the proper light on lessons to learn and not repeat. I can’t in good conscience support a cut or censored version, so hopefully a way can be found to properly bring this film to a new generation, with the caveat that times change and hopefully so do people.

That said, I was just sent a link to an interview by Boston area movie reviewer and pod caster Steve Head. Steve recently interviewed Dave Bossert, the artistic supervisor for Disney’s restoration team as he was covering the D23 event – Fantasia: A 70th Anniversary Celebration at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Dave Bossert gave an encouraging quote regarding the potential for Song of the South’s re-release: “I can say there’s been a lot of internal discussion about [Song of the South]. And at some point we’re going to do something about it. I don’t know when, but we will. We know we want people to see Song of the South because we realize it’s a big piece of company history, and we want to do it the right way.”

Certainly that gives fans of preserving Disney classics some hope, yes? To read the rest of Steve’s wonderful article, head over to The Post-Movie Podcast. Many thanks to Steve for sending this link over and helping to build the excitement for the possible future of Disney’s past. It’s important to note that this is not a definite “yes” as far as a release and certainly no date has been mentioned, however as Steve comments in his article, the optimism comes from the fact that this quote is coming from the supervisor of the restoration team at Disney Animation, which is who should be making the decisions about the release and support of Song of the South.