Disney's use of older/rarer characters

[forsakenoswald]

Hi everyone,

Don't know where else to put this, so here goes:

I was at the MK this past week, and I am really into the animation aspect of the parks, so I was talking to one of the Disney artists for a little while. I did some amateur drawing back in the day, so it's just something I find interesting. Anyway, the conversation went like this:

Me: Hey.
Drawing Guy: Hi, how are you?
Me: Good.
[enter into lots of small talk about geography, weather, etc.]
Me: So I was wondering, do you or any artists do commissions?
DG: Well, do you mean ask us to draw any thing and we'd do it for you.
Me: Not exactly. You work for Disney, so obviously it's a Disney thing. Anyway, I really like the sketches here, and I have a few of them myself at home. I was wondering that if I asked you to draw me an Oswald, if you could do that. I'd pay extra if needed.
DG: Nope. Can't do him. They won't let me.
Me: Seriously?
DG: Sorry, he's not in our docket right now.
Me: But he's a Disney character.
DG: I hate to say this, but they don't know what they want to do with him right now.

So let me get this straight: I wanted to PAY money for a character Disney owned. They won't let their official artists do it!

I am befuddled by this. I look at so many of the characters they have: Oswald, Horace, Clarabelle, Clara Cluck- there's a whole sandbox of characters to play with that are ignored.

Epic Mickey is an excellent game. Oswald is a character with a lot of possibilities. He can be what Mickey can't be anymore because Mickey is a corporate icon. Oswald can and should be utilized more.

Outside of a plush figurine available at the Disney Store right now, there's no other way they are capitalizing on what has become a very popular videogame.

Any news on what they might be doing to rectify this?

 

[Oglet]

I have a feeling that Oswald isn't really going to ever be developed too much. I see him as being more historical than anything, his importance has more to do with the Disney timeline than anything else.

Disney are very particular about how they have their characters presented and until they have decided on how they want Oswald presented to the general public I don't feel they would allow anyone to have any artistic creativity with him.

 

[forsakenoswald]

I understand that. To a point. But the fact of the matter is they have a pretty hot thing going with Epic Mickey, and I really think a large part of that is due to Oswald.

They should strike while the getting is good, is all I'm saying.

And if I want a picture of a michevious Oswald- what's the problem with that? I would be paying disney for a picture of their character.

Also, Mickey Mouse has been so pasteurized over the years he's not an interesting character and there's this strange focus thing he has that makes everyone talk about him like Poochie from the Simpsons. Just saying.

 

[doconeill]

I also would have my doubts that they are allowed to do paid sketches anyways. Disney has very strict regulations about such things.

 

[skiingfast]

I am befuddled by this. I look at so many of the characters they have: Oswald, Horace, Clarabelle, Clara Cluck- there's a whole sandbox of characters to play with that are ignored.

Not Oswald but through online voting some very old/rare characters have been appearing in a special off season activity at Disneyland. It's called Family Fun weekends if you want to check it out.

Also, Mickey Mouse has been so pasteurized over the years he's not an interesting character and there's this strange focus thing he has that makes everyone talk about him like Poochie from the Simpsons. Just saying.

Speaking of that. Totally of topic but very funny clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVx8lZIgLpA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

 

[brdlyleon]

I go regularly to the Disney Store (like, twice a week) and I know they have an oswald plush there sitting next to mickey. I've wanted one for a while now but haven't gotten it yet. I think they're slowly introducing him to see how well he does but I couldnt imagine them taking the deep plunge and just having an all out propaganda for him

 

[skiingfast]

I go regularly to the Disney Store (like, twice a week) and I know they have an oswald plush there sitting next to mickey. I've wanted one for a while now but haven't gotten it yet. I think they're slowly introducing him to see how well he does but I couldnt imagine them taking the deep plunge and just having an all out propaganda for him

Possibly because they are busy with Duffy right now?

 

[kelseighrox925]

It'd be nice to see Oswald and Duffy in WDW.

 

[Figment632]

It'd be nice to see Oswald and Duffy in WDW.

Duffy is in WDW.

 

[forsakenoswald]

Only if Oswald makes a fool out of Duffy. Don't get me started on Duffy. "Oh, hey, Mickey has a bear, and you should want to have it!" It's essentially a build-a-bear that you don't stuff but can get outfits for. I don't care about Generic Bear when Disney has so many great characters that have personality and, um, character!

I said to my wife that it would be great if Disney did a Build-A-Bear like thing, except with its own characters- say you could stuff Goofy, and dress him up however you'd like.

Again, I don't care if Mickey has a bear. Good for Mickey. Just let Mickey have it and don't push it down my throat.

DOWN WITH DUFFY!

 

[dicelees]

I had a similar conversation with a disney artist at WDW a couple years ago. My boyfriend and I are both huge fans of The Great Mouse Detective and we really wanted a picture of Basil. But the guy told us he couldn't draw it (even though he said he would love to) because it wasn't in the binder of approved drawings. He went on to say it wasn't in the binder because Disney didn't think it would make them any money. We all speculated as to why offering something that could potentially earn some money just by existing in that binder would be bad, as opposed to absolutely no money by not being an option. I suppose they would have to make the time to train their artists to learn how to draw it?

That being said, they probably can't just draw any character you want because Disney wants to approve the positions of the characters. To prevent anyone from drawing Disney characters in compromising positions that children might see, or might ruin the image of the character... But that's just a guess.

 

[knewton64]

Only if Oswald makes a fool out of Duffy. Don't get me started on Duffy. "Oh, hey, Mickey has a bear, and you should want to have it!" It's essentially a build-a-bear that you don't stuff but can get outfits for. I don't care about Generic Bear when Disney has so many great characters that have personality and, um, character!

I said to my wife that it would be great if Disney did a Build-A-Bear like thing, except with its own characters- say you could stuff Goofy, and dress him up however you'd like.

Again, I don't care if Mickey has a bear. Good for Mickey. Just let Mickey have it and don't push it down my throat.

DOWN WITH DUFFY!

I agree - besides....Duffy just looks like a stowaway from DCL

 

[skiingfast]

Only if Oswald makes a fool out of Duffy. Don't get me started on Duffy. "Oh, hey, Mickey has a bear, and you should want to have it!" It's essentially a build-a-bear that you don't stuff but can get outfits for. I don't care about Generic Bear when Disney has so many great characters that have personality and, um, character!

I said to my wife that it would be great if Disney did a Build-A-Bear like thing, except with its own characters- say you could stuff Goofy, and dress him up however you'd like.

Again, I don't care if Mickey has a bear. Good for Mickey. Just let Mickey have it and don't push it down my throat.

DOWN WITH DUFFY!

I agree - besides....Duffy just looks like a stowaway from DCL

Duffy is wildly popular in the Tokyo parks. If they can get it to be a quarter as popular in the US, why would they risk promoting a completly unproven product line in exchange for one with total success in one market?

 

[TisBit]

That being said, they probably can't just draw any character you want because Disney wants to approve the positions of the characters. To prevent anyone from drawing Disney characters in compromising positions that children might see, or might ruin the image of the character... But that's just a guess.

And that is the biggest reason. Disney wants to control their characters and how they are presented and distributed. They do not want artist to have free reign of drawing the characters.....if they did a one of a kind sketch/drawing for you, the price would have to astronomical because the collectability of that sketch/drawing would high.

Plus the potential for someone to make a mistake or create something that is inacurrate or embarrasing is high.

 

[rebecca06261]

To help you understand-

The artists (caricature & others) scattered around the parks are actually working for a private company (the name escapes me.) The company has a licensing agreement with Disney as to which characters can be drawn. Hope that helps!

 

[forsakenoswald]

No worries. I found an artist who will draw me an Oswald.