animation – Page 51 – The Animation Commendation

Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #16: Queen Leah

Come once upon a dream with me as we investigate Disney’s 16th animated feature, “Sleeping Beauty”. Released in 1959, this film was meant to be a masterpiece. Intricate detail was put into the animation and backgrounds. Two versions of the film were made: a widescreen version and a regular version. And to top it all off, this was the most expensive animated Disney film to date! Walt and his crew were hoping for this to be a success! Was it? No!

Like “Alice in Wonderland”, this film was not an initial success, but rather saw box office profits through future re-releases. The underperformance of this film was the reason that Walt decided not to make another animated film based on a fairy tale again. And the Disney Studios would not make an animated film based on a fairy tale until 1989’s “The Little Mermaid”. Continue reading “Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #16: Queen Leah”

85th Academy Award Nominations for “Best Animated Feature”

So yes folks, the Oscars nominations have been released and the five animated films nominated for “Best Animated Feature” are: Continue reading “85th Academy Award Nominations for “Best Animated Feature””

Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #15: The British Polyglot Professor

Traveling along the Disney Canon, we have to embark at the 15th stop: “Lady and the Tramp”. Yes, released in 1955, the love story about two dogs of different statuses has made its way into the hearts of many! The story is an interesting one: it’s based on a story man’s dog, based on a short story in “Cosmopolitan Magazine”, inspired by an actual event involving Walt Disney and his wife, and/or possibly plagiarized from feminist María Lejárraga.

Walt, if you grant me accreditation, , that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you! — “Walt, if you grant me accreditation, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!”

Whatever the main inspiration of the film, we all have to agree that this movie is pretty much perfect! I personally have no problems with it. The animation, backgrounds, and character designs are perfect and beautiful. The characters are lovable. The voice acting is admirable (even if including, arguably, the first use of a celebrity voice in animated films),

Blue Sky Studios' Inspiration! — Blue Sky Studios’ Inspiration!

the story is precise, and the movie keeps you entertained. I honestly wouldn’t consider it to be one of my favorite Disney films, but it’s still an amazing work of art!

With that said, let’s focus on the…umm…well…the …focus of this project: the forgotten/minor characters! This case was similar to “Peter Pan” in which my choice of forgotten/minor character was one I really didn’t want to go with; but in the end I gave in. Continue reading “Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #15: The British Polyglot Professor”

Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #14: The Hot Water Pirate

Let’s fly to Neverland, folks! We are viewing Disney’s 14th animated feature film, “Peter Pan”. Released in 1953, the film was a commercial success after the somewhat failure, “Alice in Wonderland”.

The film’s story, again extremely well-known, is about a boy who doesn’t want to grow up named Peter Pan. He lives in a fantasy world called Neverland where he has fun with the Indians, talks with the mermaids, and battles the villain Captain Hook and his gang of pirates. After Peter Pan loses his shadow in the house of the Darling family,

Sneaking off to Dreamworks Animation to sell a story idea!

he goes back to retrieve it and decides to bring the Darling children along to see Neverland. And that’s basically the story. Continue reading “Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #14: The Hot Water Pirate”

My Thoughts: MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED (2012)

So I’ve finally seen this film that (hopefully) ends the “Madagascar” franchise with a trilogy! I was never a fan of the “Madagascar” franchise and never thought much of the other two movies! So the fact that I actually LIKE this movie is somewhat of a shocker! And although I do like it, I also think that it’s not a great movie nor is it perfect. So with that in mind, let’s take a deeper look into this movie and my thoughts regarding it. Continue reading “My Thoughts: MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED (2012)”

Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #13: The Mome Raths

I hope you’re not late, not late, for a very important date; because we have to venture into Disney’s 13th animated feature, “Alice in Wonderland”. This was a film that Walt Disney had wanted to make for a long time, even before “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”; but due to various reasons, the film was finally made and released in 1951. Sadly though, it was not a box office success and had to wait over 20 years to be re-released in theaters! During its re-releases, the movie became a financial hit and an animated classic; possibly due to people seeing it as an LSD trip of sorts!

There's no knowing where we're going! Or which way the river's flowing! — There’s no knowing where we’re going! Or which way the river’s flowing!

Whatever the reason, we all can agree that “Alice in Wonderland” has got to be one of the most strangest books and films that we’ve ever read or seen in our lives! And in my opinion, what makes this movie so likeable and perfect are its characters: its PLETHORA of characters; its PLETHORA of ODDBALL characters; its PLETHORA of MEMORABLE ODDBALL characters! So picking a forgotten one was a bit of a challenge, but I managed to complete that task! Let’s follow the Mad Hatter and March Hare’s advice by starting at the beginning and when we arrive at the end, stop! Continue reading “Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #13: The Mome Raths”

My Thoughts: THE PEBBLE AND THE PENGUIN (1995)

Goodness Glaciers! Another Don Bluth film?! Yes, but it should be the last one for a while. Released in 1995, the film was panned by the critics and wasn’t a box office hit. It featured the voices of Martin Short, James Belushi, and Tim Curry among others; but that wasn’t enough to make the film a hit! Now, is this film as bad as people and critics make it out to be? Honestly, I don’t think so! But then again, after you watch “A Troll in Central Park”, anything else seems like a masterpiece! Anyway, let’s take a look at this animated flop! SPOILERS ALERT! Continue reading “My Thoughts: THE PEBBLE AND THE PENGUIN (1995)”

Disney’s “Planes” Is Cleared For a Theatrical Release

Disney Toon Studios’ “Planes”, originally meant as a direct-to-DVD release, has been allowed a theatrical release on August 9, 2013. The CGI film takes place in the world of Pixar’s “Cars” franchise, but instead focuses on the vehicles of the air! Current attached voices include Jon Cryer, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, and Carlos Alazraqui.

More can be found at http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=98312 . So are you excited about this film, dreading it, indifferent to it? Let me know in the comments!

My Thoughts: A TROLL IN CENTRAL PARK (1994)

Yes, it’s Don Bluth time again! So let me just open up by saying that I think this is one of the WORST animated films I’ve ever seen. It’s not that far from “Doogal” on my list. With that compelling introduction out of the way, let’s proceed. Continue reading “My Thoughts: A TROLL IN CENTRAL PARK (1994)”

Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #11: Mr. Winky

Yes! We’re finally at Disney’s last package film and probably my personal favorite amongst them! Applause, people, applause!

Released in 1949, we have Disney’s 11th feature, “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”! The film is similar to “Fun and Fancy Free” in the fact that it only consists of 2 segments: “The Wind and the Willows” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Continue reading “Disney Canon-Forgotten/Minor Characters #11: Mr. Winky”