Feature Animation Consolidated.

[Another Voice]

From this morning's, 3/10/04, 'Studio Briefing' (http://studiobrf.newshare.com/today.html):

Disney Animators Heading to Australia

Virtually all of the Walt Disney Co.'s hand-drawn animation is currently being produced in Sydney, Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald observed today (Wednesday), noting that Disney Toons Studio Australia is currently working on Bambi, the Sequel and Lilo and Stitch 2. "We are now [Disney's] primary traditional animation studio in the world, and that just shores up our future," Philip Oakes, the studio's general manager, told the newspaper. Oakes indicated that he has been hiring talent laid off by Disney in Paris, Tokyo, Toronto, Florida, and California during its recent rounds of retrenchment.

Ah – wasn't the excuse for killing Animation in Florida so they could "consolidate" operations in Burbank? One has to wonder if "shoring up the future" really means anything.


Oh – and in the same report, Eisner's setting up the his next fall guy.

Iger Indicates He Knows He'd Be The Fall Guy for ABC

Walt Disney Co. President and COO Robert Iger acknowledged Tuesday that his future with the company depended on his ability to turn around the performance of ABC. Asked at an investors conference in Palm Beach, FL about reports that he might succeed Michael Eisner as CEO of Disney when and if Eisner steps down, Iger responded: "If we deliver [at ABC] ... I think my chances improve dramatically. If I don't, I shouldn't get the chance. It's that simple." Several publications have suggested that Iger's days at the company are numbered if ratings at the network don't rise. And Iger himself acknowledged Tuesday, "I do take responsibility for ABC. It's performance in primetime has been disappointing." Reporters attending the conference took note of the fact that while Iger praised the work of ABC Entertainment President Susan Lyne, he failed to mention ABC Network President Alex Wallau or ABC Entertainment Chairman Lloyd Braun. Later, however, Disney spokesperson Zenia Mucha said that by excluding any reference to Wallau and Braun, Iger "wasn't sending any message."

 

[KNWVIKING]

Is this a Disney owned company ?

 

[Amor4Pooh]

animators will have a chance to work there?
If I remember correctly that's about the number I added up as being laid off here in the USA from Disney Animation. And you wonder why so many of us aren't buying the Disney sequels anymore (along with some very poor quality products). Personally I don't spend my money to support moves like this from Disney. I'd rather speak with my $$ by not buying, along with writing Burbank about supporting American jobs, not outsourcing them. Is this how they're increasing their profit margins?

Amor4pooh

 

[renknt]

Originally posted by Another Voice
Ah – wasn't the excuse for killing Animation in Florida so they could "consolidate" operations in Burbank? One has to wonder if "shoring up the future" really means anything.

AV I don't mean to correct you but you appear to have left out a word it should read "off-shoring" after all we all know how much ME listens to share holders at least he is listening to the Fed Chairman who says "off-shoring jobs is good for the economy" and that means increased shareholder value. So what if the product suffers at least we are making a buck or two



Just when you think it cant get worse..... It does

 

[wtg2000]

What happens when Eisner has made a cheap sequel from every animated classic lovingly produced by Walt? Does he start on Round 3?

 

[freediverdude]

Oh, I know I'm heartily looking forward to "Cinderella 24 - The Final, Final, Final, Final Dream Comes True", produced by the then newest Disney production facility, Disney Television Animation Ethiopia, with even lower production costs matching the local economy

 

[wtg2000]

Cinderella 24

Starring Keifer Sutherland as the voice of Cinderella. "The following takes place between 1200 and 1300 AD. Events occur in real time."