Pune Media’s Post

Welcome to Part 2 of my short story, THE EIGHTH DWARF, about the making of Walt Disney’s first animated feature.

Here’s me reading the introduction to my latest short story, “The Eighth Dwarf,” about the making of Walt Disney‘s first animated feature.

This week marked the 60th anniversary of the release of THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES—a fun and light Disney comedy starring Disney Legends Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. Originally intended as a two-episode arc for WALT DISNEY’S WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR, Walt saw its feature potential and combined the two episodes for theatrical release. The film’s sense of fun really starts from the first frame with the creative title sequence. Designed by Disney Legends Bill Justice and X Atencio, it was put together using painstaking stop-motion animation. Bill and X created similar title sequences for THE SHAGGY DOG (1959) and THE PARENT TRAP (1961). What I love most about the title sequence are its playfulness and storytelling. It sets up the plot situation in an entertaining way—keeping the audience’s attention through what could normally be a dry part of the typical film experience (sitting through credits). There are so many fun details, effects, and movements throughout. The bouncy and beautifully lyrical theme song (penned by Disney Legends Richard and Robert Sherman) adds even more dimension to the whimsical visuals. MERLIN JONES (and its sequel THE MONKEY’S UNCLE) is of those Disney films that, while not as popular as a MARY POPPINS, is still a delightful experience full of that same Disney magic. I hope it’ll be released on Disney+ at some point. #disney #disneyhistory #disneymovies #waltdisney #creativity #film #filmhistory

It's a significant and much-needed course correction for the film industry. For too long, studios have been ensnared in the relentless pursuit of short-term profits and the production of an overwhelming quantity of films, often at the expense of quality. This approach, driven by the demands of Wall Street rather than the artistic integrity of filmmaking, has diluted the impact and potential of movies as the pinnacle of storytelling. Thankfully, there's a growing recognition that this strategy is unsustainable and ultimately counterproductive. By deciding to focus on crafting fewer films with a much higher quality, studios are beginning to realign with the true essence of cinema. This pivot not only criticizes the previous misguided priorities but also heralds a hopeful return to storytelling excellence. It's a reminder that the heart of cinema lies in its ability to tell compelling stories that resonate deeply with audiences, not in the volume of content produced. https://lnkd.in/gZx3aBws

Re-Release of Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ Bombs at the Box-Office, $500k Weekend   “There is no point in re-releasing a 2-year-old animated movie that can conveniently be streamed at the comfort of your own home. Disney is quickly finding that out.”   😬   I am a PIXAR fan. We made sure to make it to Soul. Hadn’t planned on Turning Red or Luca yet. I feel guilty not going... especially as I want to keep up my streak of all the movies in theaters. I honestly don’t think the issue here is re-releasing the movies, but I think the problem is the mass release. If these were just re-released in small theaters in select cities this wouldn’t seem like such a bomb. I hope they follow through on the plan for Luca, but I wouldn’t expect that this hasn’t gone as Disney planned. Disney shouldn't have planned to make much money on these, and they shouldn't care, they've written the movies off already. But with the activist investors they're facing right now, Disney needs to stop setting itself up for more bad press. I expect Luca next month will end up doing the same thing sadly.   (And, I assume when The Phantom Menace is re-released in May for their 25th they’ll do gangbusters, so again, the issue here isn’t re-releasing a movie… it's the choice of the movies being re-released…)   https://lnkd.in/e8mDPJd3 #letsmakeplans #filmindustry #pixar #disney #disneyplus

Who is the Voice of Moana in the Disney Movie? Animation movies rely immensely on stellar voice acting to give characters life and tell an engaging tale. The voice acting was vital in creating an immersive and engrossing experience for viewers in Disney's Moana, which is no exception. This blog post will examine the value of voiceover work in animated movies, focusing on Moana in particular. Click the link below for an interesting read! #moana #disney #voiceover #blogpost

Did you know about the Sodium Vapor Process? It was developed in the 60s by Disney Studios. It's a visual effects technique that allows for much more precise integration of filmed actors with painted or animated backgrounds compared to the green or blue screen techniques used previously. 🎥 #FilmProduction #FilmMaking #Production #Creativity #SpecialEffects #MakingOff

Lumping the news of the Woody Woodpecker Netflix Hybrid movie and the theatrical movie IF into one post here because I'd like to note that both are surely marketing themselves as family co-view with a lean towards the older with their retro-brand (Woody) and star-studded casting (If) that matter more to the grown-ups than to kids. Also, I'm hopeful to see more hybrids like this following the double success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films. Hybrid naturally offers more unique marketing, story-telling, and fresh visuals that may help differentiate from their fully animated near-cousins in the film world. Also, brands that already have saturation in the animated marketplace in TV and/or film can find fresh returns by creating the best-of-both-worlds - their characters animated, but mixing with live-action counterparts. #animation #cartoons #hybridmovie #movies #film IF (trailer marketing stunt) https://lnkd.in/dqKAZVQR Woody Woodpecker (release date) https://lnkd.in/dAFcgiVR

Disney Trivia: Did you know that Mickey Mouse once worked as an accountant in a Disney cartoon? Even our favorite animated characters dabble in finance! Explore the magic of Disney in a whole new way. 🎥📜 #MickeyMouse #DisneyTrivia #AccountantMickey #AnimatedFinance #CartoonFun #DisneyMagic