Happy Birthday, Uncle John...

And on a lighter note...

John Alan Lasseter was born on this date in 1957. If you don't know who he is... you... really... are... on... the... wrong... blog. Really.

Lasseter, head of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering, Head of development for Toon Disney Studios, advisor to Disney Consumer Products and wine maker, wasn't in town today. Believe it, or not. Can you imagine how busy this guy is with all these titles? It's a wonder he has time to tie his shoes. Well, let me just say, from everyone here at Blue Sky Disney, happy birthday Uncle John. Or Mr. Lasseter, which ever you want your highness. Hehe. Yes, say it if you want. I'm a lemming. But if you do, you'll realize that you don't have a sense of humor and you need one.

One of the great things about Lasseter is his passion and belief in a project. He also has the ability to inspire those around him to do better than what they expected or even believed they could do. And another sign of his authenticity came at the D23 Expo. When everyone came out, from Iger, Rasulo and even Cook, there was a giant teleprompter set up that had their exact script. All of their words were just calculated and prepared beforehand. Not John. If you would have looked at the monitor during his keynote you would have seen this:

Talk about Tinkerbell film.

Talk about new Winnie the Pooh film.

Talk about Princess and the Frog.

ect.

See? He just put bullet points up to remind him about stuff so that he wouldn't forget anything. His entire speech was ad-libbed and from his heart. What he said, he believed. That is something that is very hard to come by in life, and even harder in Hollywood. That's something of true value there folks.

Have fun blowing out those candles, sir...

Leaving A Legacy...

Amazing what a day brings...

At an event honoring the life of Roy E. Disney, the Walt Disney Company announced that the studio's animation building will be named after him. It's not known if this is the original animation building or another, new one. If it's a new one, The Roy E. Disney Animation Building would be built on the studio lot in Burbank, not in Glendale next to WDI on Flower Street as John Lasseter and Ed Catmull originally wanted.

Unlike the Hat Building, which was designed with Michael Eisner's ego in mind, this one would be designed with animators in mind. You know them, right? It would be filled with open spaces designed to make people bump into one another, kind of like that other animation complex in Northern California run by the Lamp. If it's a new building, the exact location on the lot wasn't revealed, but in all likelihood it will be placed in the parking lot across the street from the ABC Building. This is where it was originally planned over two years ago, but was nixed because of the cost the underground parking structure was deemed too expensive for that time. It's unknown what changes have been made, but if built, the designs would be heavily influenced by John and Ed with a little advise from Steve.

More to follow...

UPDATE: When I first heard this, I was curious as to why an announcement would be made on a Sunday, and it appears that this wasn't the original animation building, but the Hat Building, guys. A re-naming, not a new building. Big news like a new building would arrive on a weekday to get the most press. Renaming a building that isn't built for animation for a man that helped bring about the animation rebirth of the company isn't nearly as big of news as we would like. Check out the story here. It would be nice to see some of those other plans for the original "new" building. Being as we're in a recession right now, I'm not sure that we'll see a new structure unless WDAS starts making major box office which sadly, "Princess and the Frog" hasn't achieved.

More to follow II...

Animated Reactions...

Something is brewing in the Hat Building...

I've been getting some interesting e-mails from people I know with somewhat cryptic statements about rather curious moves coming down the pipe line. Walt Disney Animation Studios could soon be making some interesting moves/changes soon. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up.

Progressing...

Perspective On Princesses & Frogs...

Are you ready...


Yes, I know this came out almost a week ago so I apologize for the tardiness, but Christmas shopping and a full schedule in the real world has prevented me from posting this...

First off, I don't call this a review. This is just my thoughts/opinions/feelings on the latest release from Walt Disney Animation Studios. I've always been uncomfortable with the idea of writing reviews and if you've noticed, I haven't written one in a good while. Just think of this as my perspective on Disney's forty-ninth animated feature with some illumination on where it's headed for the fiftieth and beyond.

I didn't get around to seeing "The Princess and the Frog" till Sunday because of the flooding that Southern California was having. My friends and I had to postpone our little get together a few days and I've been busy making sure I stuffed all those stockings and between that, work and juggling meetings and plans over my iPhone, I just didn't have time to put down on paper or computer, exactly how it was.

Now that that's out of the way let me say: "Welcome back hand-drawn animation." I missed you! And the relatives you've had around weren't exactly the best showing of your family. Let's face it, "Home on the Range" is a hayseed hick in your family and I don't really like spending much time with 'em.

I thoroughly enjoyed TPATF and it's a glimmering jewel of what can be done my the Mouse when bean counters understand they weren't hired to write, but count. Yes, I loved it but many will ask if it's as good as the films of the early nineties like "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin;" both of which were directed by the same people. Truthfully, no it's not. I believe that the quadrilogy of films from the late eighties to mid-nineties are superior stories. That doesn't mean that this has a horrible story, only that it doesn't hold up as well as something like "Lion King." But again, that's a tall mountain to climb. I found the first act somewhat rushed and uneven, but still entertaining. The second act was my favorite and it had a strong finish.

I do believe that the animation is second-to-none. It's truly spectacular and shows you what Disney Animation is all about. I have nothing against CG animation and think Pixar is the top of the game with theirs, but I love hand-drawn animation and this film is a testament to the love of that form. Even thought it doesn't come out in cels anymore, I love seeing the animated form that starts first with a pencil or Cintiq.

The songs in the film are also not as memorable as the earlier films; as least in terms of quantity. There are two stand outs though. The "Friends on the Other Side" and "Dig a little Deeper" had the entire audience clapping and swinging to the tune.

But the boys/girls up at the Hat Building have something to be rather proud of. And it should show everyone, including Mr. Eisner that it was a tragic mistake to throw away those drawing tables a half a decade ago. The Suits of the time thought people didn't want to see hand-drawn films. What they didn't want to see was badly told hand-drawn films. I have a feeling we won't have to worry about that for the next few years. Hopefully it'll be for a lot longer. I for one can't wait to see Disney's next hand-drawn film in Spring of 2011. From what my Bothans tell me, "Winnie the Pooh" is moving along at a shockingly fast rate. It'll likely be done well before the release date which is something that can't be said for "Rapunzel" which will be rushing to meet its deadline with six and even seven day work weeks as the film draws closer to it's release next year. Development on "Snow Queen" continues and "Joe Jump" is moving forward with each vying for a release date in 2012/2013 sometime. Then there are at least four other projects that are moving through various states of existence that will fill the rest of the Disney half of animation from the Mouse over the next five years.

After watching this latest effort I count the days until the next release. And I can't wait to own it on DVD in a few months.

Especially with that sneak peek at the girl with seventy foot long hair that will be included...