Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>[Hans] Bacher [(art director of MULAN)] makes a brief comment about his work on the new Disney short THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL short, saying, "I am very unhappy about that short. it's a disaster..." That opinion seems to be largely in line with the thoughts of the audience who saw the film at the Annecy animation festival a couple weeks ago. I could not find many people at the festival who had anything positive to say about the film. << So much for Lucky Hans.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 <<I just love The Muppets' 1960s version of "The Frog Prince"...<< Ohh, me too! Sweetums makes such an awesome villian, and I love how the princess speaks backwards. I alwasy tried to imitate that when I was a kid, lol. I also love their version of "Cinderella," "Hey, Cinderella!"
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Aside from the obvious European fairytales, a Cauldron girl can't help wondering what other Fantasy stories are out there from other countries--such as China, Japan, Africa, etc. I seem to remember a story about a little black boy named Sambo--who used to tangle with tigers all the time. Maybe the Disney Imagineers could use their magical ways to animate that one.
Originally Posted By u k fan If people could get past the fact that he's a spider I'd love to see them tackle some Anansi stories!!!
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy "Taunt Aminella, Taunt Aminella!" LOVE IT! Lol! :-D jasmine, I like "Hey! Cinderella!", but I LOVE "The Frog Prince"...it's just so classic and timeless and has that utter fantasy-storybook feel. (I like the look of it much better too, whereas Cindy is more grainy and not as good quality looking---but still worth to have in your collection, of course). "Bake the hall on the candle of her brain!"
Originally Posted By actingforanimators I'm rather taken back by the reports on "The Little Match Girl" as they conflict with what I've heard eleswhere, and from over a dozen different people. Chief among the "yea" sayers versus nay sayers are nine or ten artists - both studio employees and former employees all of whom have seen it (and had nothing to do with it) and several noted and respected animation critics and historians. The same site "Cartoon Brew" (www.cartoonbrew.com) where Amid reported on Hans Bacher's statement and the Annecy response (vastly different from what I heard from people who saw it at Annecy, by the way) has just posted this response from the site's co-writer, Author and Historian Jerry Beck: >Several days ago Amid posted some harsh reactions to Disney's new 2-D short, The Little Matchgirl, screened at Annecy. I saw the film a few months ago at the studio and I don't know what all the fuss is about. The Little Matchgirl is a sweet film, filled with beautiful elaborate images and teriffic traditional animation. The fact that it was finished at all under the old management is a minor miracle. Thankfully this won't be the last 2-D film the studio ever makes - and it's certainly no disgrace to the great Disney brand name. Bill Desowitz wrote a good behind the scenes article (with clips from the film) over at VFX World. It may not be as artsy as Destino or as dazzling as Lorenzo, but I have to give the studio some big points for making the effort to keep the hand drawn art alive.< I'm inclined to believe Jerry's perspective as being more balanced and accurate for several reasons: 1. The responses I've heard from some of Disney's harshest critics who saw it at Annecy and/or a studio screening; 2. I've learned in Hollywood that the more you hear something, the more likely it is that it's true, and the Annecy reponse is something I've only heard from Amid (who is addmittedly openly hostile in his response to any Disney product of the past 12 years)and from Hans's comment on his blog; 3. Certain commentary falls in line with the eager lashing Disney films get from people who haven't seen something but are thrilled to believe bad news, and it must be noted Amid nowhere mentions his own response to the film or otherwise gives any indication that he himself saw it. "The Little Matchgirl" will be out on DVD soon enough as part of a larger compilation and everyone will be able to judge for themselves (provided we bother to watch it.) I have not seen it. I was invited and could not attend a screening about four months ago. I'll reserve personal judgement until then. In the interim, I'm not so eager to dismiss it. r.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Thanks for that information. I appreciate your always balance perspective on news that comes up on this site. Will this larger compilation include the Disney shorts from the last 15 years or so all in one spot? That would be very cool.
Originally Posted By actingforanimators My understanding is that the disc will be "Award Winning Shorts" and will include anything of note from the contemporary cannon, including Pixar shorts - hopefully this means "Off His Rockers" which WDFA did so long ago.
Originally Posted By leemac actingforanimators, I've been meaning to ask for ages but keep forgetting...what happened to Lorenzo? Did it ever have a run? I remember seeing the poster of that fat pink (or purple?) cat at the Studios earlier this year and it made me smile.
Originally Posted By basil fan Was John Henry dissed in a similar fashion? Was it unshown for so long because somebody on the inside hated it? I'm not sure, but that was the impression I got when I originally learned it would not be released. When it finally showed up on home video, I found it to be a wonderful short. I'm hoping Match Girl will be the same. Donald Duck's Family Tree <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/donald.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/ disney/donald.html</a>
Originally Posted By tonyanton Funny that you mentioned "Off His Rockers." I couldn't remember the exact title, but was hoping that would end up on the DVD also. Very cool.
