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| Type | Separate unit within Disney Animation Studios[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Glendale, CA, USA |
| Key people | Ed Catmull (President) John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer) |
| Products | Animated films |
| Parent | Disney TV Animation (1988-2002) Disney Animation Studios (2003-present) The Walt Disney Studios (The Walt Disney Company) |
DisneyToon Studios, headquartered in Glendale, California, and formerly know as Disney Movietoons,[3] is an American animation studio which creates direct-to-video (and occasional theatrical) animated feature films, short films and TV specials for The Walt Disney Company. The studio operates as a separate unit within Disney Animation Studios,[4] with both being part of The Walt Disney Studios.[5] The studio has produced 60 feature films, beginning with DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990), and most recently with Secret of the Wings (2012).
In 2007, Pixar executives Edwin Catmull and John Lasseter assumed the studio as President and Chief Creative Officer,[6] respectively. Since the release of Tinker Bell the following year, the studio began to focus on the production of spin-offs of both Disney and Pixar films, rather than direct-to-video sequels.[7][8] Their 61st feature, Planes, is currently in production and set for release on August 9, 2013.
Contents |
History [edit]
Early years (MovieToons) [edit]
Disney MovieToons' first feature production was DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990), based upon the syndicated Disney TV show DuckTales, with animation from Disney Animation France.[3] At the same time, Disney began producing direct-to-video sequels of Walt Disney Feature Animation films: the first of which was the Aladdin (1992) sequel The Return of Jafar (1994). When Aladdin was selected as a possible candidate as an animated TV series (before the film's release), as with many animated series, the first three episodes were one multi-part story which Disney used as a potential ‘family movie special’ for the Friday night before the series’ premiere. With work handed out to the Australia animation studio, the opening story was instead greenlit for a direct-to-video release. Thus with The Return of Jafar and its success, the direct-to-video unit started. Then a second sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996), assign work to both the Australia and Japanese animation units.[9]
More direct-to-video sequels followed, among them Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), and Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002).[10]
DisneyToon Studios [edit]
In January 2003, Disney initiated a reorganization of its theatrical and animation units to improve resource usage and continued focus on new characters and franchise development. Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premieres unit was transferred from Walt Disney Television Animation to Walt Disney Feature Animation and renamed DisneyToon Studios in June.[9]
Some of the DisneyToon productions, including Return to Never Land (2002) and The Jungle Book 2 (2003), received wide theatrical releases rather than being issued only on home video. The Australian studio also provided additional animation on Home on the Range (2004).
On July 25, 2005, Disney announced that it was closing DisneyToon Studios Australia in October 2006, after 17 years of existence, with its final feature being Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.[11] The closing was attributed to the rising costs of animation production in Australia.
On June 22, 2007, management of DisneyToon Studios was turned over to the control of Ed Catmull and John Lasseter under the banner of the recently reorganized and renamed Feature Animation studio, now called Walt Disney Animation Studios.[12] As chief creative officer, Lasseter called for the cancellation of all future films in production or development at DisneyToon Studios that weren't connected to a Disney Consumer Products franchise. As a result, planned or in-progress sequels to Dumbo, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and The Aristocats were all cancelled, among other projects.[13][14] A few days later, it was announced that DisneyToon Studios would no longer produce future sequels to Disney animated films, but will instead focus on spin-offs and original films.[15]
Following conflicts over the new direction for the division, as well as complications relating to the production of Tinker Bell (2008), the debut film of Disney Fairies franchise, the previous president of the studio, Sharon Morill, moved to a new position in the company.[16]
Filmography [edit]
The following is a list of films produced by DisneyToon Studios.
- Notes
- 1. Theatrical
- 2. Direct-to-video
- 3. Wrap-around animation
- 4. Films produced by Disney Television Animation
- 5. Live-action/animation film
- 6. 3D film
- 7. Tentative release dates for upcoming films
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/disneytoon-studios-to-be-restructured-and-will-operate-as-a-separate-unit-within-walt-disney-animation-studios-58278982.html
- ^ http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-companies/studio-entertainment
- ^ a b Harrington, Richard (August 7, 1990). "‘DuckTales: The Movie’". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/disneytoon-studios-to-be-restructured-and-will-operate-as-a-separate-unit-within-walt-disney-animation-studios-58278982.html
- ^ http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-companies/studio-entertainment
- ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/disneytoon-studios-to-be-restructured-and-will-operate-as-a-separate-unit-within-walt-disney-animation-studios-58278982.html
- ^ Baisley, Sarah (June 21, 2007). "DisneyToon Studios Prexy Morrill Steps Down". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Hill, Jim (June 20, 2007). "Say "So Long !" to direct-to-video sequels : DisneyToon Studios tunes out Sharon Morrill". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Strike, Joe (March 28, 2005). "Disney’s Animation Cash Crop — Direct-to-Video Sequels". AnimationWorld. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ Hoffman, Ilene (November 1997). "Buena Vista Home Entertainment: A Very Lucky Accident Indeed". Animation World Magazine. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ Grimm, Nick (July 27, 2005). "Disney cans Australian animation operation". Australian Broadcasting Company. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/disneytoon-studios-to-be-restructured-and-will-operate-as-a-separate-unit-within-walt-disney-animation-studios-58278982.html
- ^ Baisley, Sarah (June 21, 2007). "DisneyToon Studios Prexy Morrill Steps Down". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ Hill, Jim (June 20, 2007). "Say "So Long !" to direct-to-video sequels : DisneyToon Studios tunes out Sharon Morrill". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (2008-04-08). "Disney unveils animation slate - Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
- ^ Moi is Moi (June 25, 2007). "Disney Puts Direct-To-DVD Sequels to Bed". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ Disney Sets Cars Spinoff Planes for a Theatrical Release
- ^ "Quest for the Queen : le prochain film de la fée Clochette". Disney Next. April 27, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- ^ Linder Silver, Lisa. "Lisa Linder Silver". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 11, 2012. "Currently cutting the next Tinkerbell movie... Quest for the Queen."
- ^ Liu, Ed (June 13, 2012). "Disney Delays "Planes" to Fall 2013, "Quest for the Queen" to Spring 2014". Toon Zone. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ "Actor, Singer, Composer, TV Personality Carlos Ponce Named Recipient of Hispanicize 2013 Latinovator Award". PR Newswire. March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (December 26, 2012). "Disney's 'Planes' to Take Off in Theaters in August". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Bastoli, Mike (June 12, 2012). "Exclusive: DisneyToon Already Working on Planes Sequel". Big Screen Animation. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
External links [edit]
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