Seeker

Short sighted, in my opinion, but that's just me.

-------------

http://money.excite.com/ht/nw/bus/20...n10366236.html


Disney Set to Close Animation Studio


Saturday January 10, 4:55 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co. is expected to close a feature-animation studio in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, jeopardizing the jobs of nearly 260 animators, the Orlando Sentinel said.

Some artists will be transferred to Burbank, California, where Disney's corporate headquarters is located, but most of the employees, whose credits include the films "Brother Bear" and "Lilo & Stitch," are expected to lose their jobs, the paper said on Saturday.

Disney was a pioneer in hand-drawn animation, producing classic movies such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Cinderella" and "Fantasia."

In recent years, however, computer-generated animation has become increasingly popular as evidenced by movies like 2003's "Finding Nemo," made by Pixar Animation Studios.

The underwater adventure was the top-grossing theatrical release in the United States last year, generating about $340 million.

Disney distributed "Finding Nemo" and has a contract with the Emeryville, California-based company that expires at the end of next year.

No one at Disney headquarters was available to comment.


©2003 Reuters Limited.

NitroJMS

It's really sad that Disney believes its the hand-drawn animation that's been the cause of the lackluster returns for their latest cartoon films.

Maybe if they had tried making better stories that harked back to their best days (30's-60's) or even the revitalized period between '89 and '94, they wouldn't be in the trouble they are nowadays. How many people honestly wanted to see or liked the following films?

Pocahontas
Hercules
Mulan
Tarzan
Atlantis
Treasure Planet

Seeker

I liked Mulan and Tarzan.... but your point is valid.

nazz

I agree with the exception of Tarzan.

Doctor Gonzo

As an side note, some of the animators who lost their jobs have formed the new Legacy Animation Studio to carry on the 2-D animation style - click on the link below to check out their website. Once you hit enter you can click on "press" to read their press release on what they hope to do in the near future. I really wish them the best of luck as I dont think 2-D type animation is dead, its just that the last few features suffered from bad story telling. here ya go... http://www.legacyanimation.net/

Rogue588

****in' Eisner.

sararekuforever

Hercules, Mulan, and Pocahontas are the best of that generation.

Lion King
Aladdin
Hercules
Mulan
Pocahontas
Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast

They out do all their recent attempts, and are [at least in my opinion] better than their earlier ones..higher animation quality...better stories

Jepthah

And this is the facility that gave them their most recent significant hit Lilo & Stitch--in no small part due to its distance from the corporate HQ.

Disney's decline continues.

cruzness

I really hope Legacy animation comes out witha blockbuster film. That really put a black eye on Eisner's Disney.

fumanstan

I had no interest in Atlantis or Treasure Planet, but when i actually did see them they were marvelous.

Jackskeleton

I liked lilo and stitch. saw the studios and it's a sad thing it's closing.

clemente

They somehow don't make the connection that Nemo worked because it focused on an excellent story on not on how to best time the McDondald's tie in?

Nemo could have been drawn in crayon on line paper and still have rocked.

shaun3000

That's because Pixar does everything in their power to make sure every moment of their films is wonderful. Just watch the commentaries and documentaries they include on their EXCELLENT DVDs. You can tell right off the bat how much everyone cares about their films and how much work they put into them. They spend YEARS on the story before they even get to work on the actaul animation.

It has nothing to do with the animation style. Look at how well their films do in early previews, when most, if not all of the film is still in STORYBOARD format!

milo bloom

That just reminded me of a very funny version of Romeo & Juliet located here The animation is total crap, but the dialogue had my dying.

And I enjoyed Tarzan a lot, along with The Emperor's New Groove.

This is sad indeed, let's just hope some other studio picks them up and they make the greatest animated film ever.

RyoHazuki

I think its time for someone to assasinate Eisner. Just bust into the studio, his bodyguards wont even care, press a Beretta against his temple and paint the meeting room wall.

Daytripper

Just another reason to hate Eisner!

Would someone please thaw Walt out already!?

fourwalker

this is very short sighted.......... I thing Disney will probably bring back 2D again, although I imagine putting an animation studio back together again is tough.

RoQuEr

is that the building with the seven dwarves built into the pillars and pallisades of the structure?

Hokeyboy

I love The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, and Lilo & Stitch. They might not all be 4-star classics, but each of them is an absolute pleasure. I'm echoing a constantly-reiterated sentiment, but Disney really needs to focus on story and storytelling, not technology.

And lose the DTV sequels. Nobody ever has said "Cinderella II changed my life!"

mee2

No, that's Eisner's castle, in Burbank CA.

tanman

Are they working on anything right now? I remember seeing them work on Lilo and Stitch around 98' or so. Or did they just cancel all existing projects place it on Eisners desk let him crap on it and decide to skip the original and just head straight to the sequel.

Hokeyboy

From what I understand, there are no traditional 2D-animated projects in pre-production, save for television and DTV offerings.

hotaru_san

I like Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, and Atlantis quite a bit- not as much as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King, but they are still good movies and Pocahontas has grown on me in the last several years.
I haven't seen Treasure Planet, but when I get around to it I wouldn't be surprised if I liked it.

I prefer the 2D work...if the stories and the extras on the dvds were equal.

Michael Corvin

As forshadowed in Dogma.

but..
Tarzan is brilliantly animated. Great storytelling, and has wonderful songs by Phil Collins. This one is up there in my book and I will never understand the negativity towards it.

jayson1017

I hope Disney also closes Orlando Bloom. His only talent is in staring into the camera and slowly tilting his head.