(Note: The Buzz Cut's Disney's Urban Legends series still has two remaining parts. Consider this a slightly-more-than-slight detour before the series continues to its end. All apologies for the domain troubles Animatedbuzz.com experiences in May.)
Disney has been making news left and right lately, so in turn, The Buzz Cut seems to have become a column dedicated to all-things Disney. Darn that Mickey Mouse.
The latest news out of Disney that has some loyal fans crying foul is that CEO Michael Eisner suggested recreating classic Disney movies from scratch, shot-for-shot, but this time, using computer generated graphics (Read the Buzz-Wire report here). Supposedly, this is so an entire new generation of children can enjoy the film.
With Finding Nemo breaking box-office records this past weekend, and previous CG movies Ice Age, Shrek and Monsters, Inc. grossing in the hundreds of millions, it doesn't seem like a bad idea, right?
Well, OK, it does, but not to a corporation who wants to cash in on the CG trend, while at the same time living off of past franchises. No easier way to make a buck—well, except for releasing low-budget, straight-to-video sequels of popular films.
Remember the shot-for-shot remake of Psycho a few years ago? I don't think a single person appreciated it more than the original (if anyone appreciate the remake at all, that is). It's completely needless. There's no reason a child growing up today wouldn't enjoy Bambi or Snow White, as old as they are. Kids don't really give a crap. My favorite cartoon used to be Tom and Jerry, and that show continues a successful run on the Cartoon Network to this day.
It isn't like 2-D has fallen out of favor with anyone. Disney's older features that have been updated to DVD continue to sell extremely well. This news just sounds like another cheap way for the Mouse House to cash in. And unfortunately, some of the magic and charm of the originals will be lost in any sort of updates.
Peter Pan now seems to be the front-runner for the CG treatment. Get ready, because this is another blow to traditional animation—and 2-D is already on the ropes.
