Rumors from the Stockholder's Meeting

[Sarangel]

I picked out the following interesting tidbits from the Mouseplanet report of the stockholder's meeting:

The company is hoping that they can start another franchise (they were really pushing the “franchise” angle in their presentations) with the Disney Fairies line, which will be introduced later this year with an illustrated novel, to be followed by an animated series, and finally merchandise. They also showed hidden-camera footage of a focus group of young girls shrieking with avarice for proposed merchandise in the new Disney Cuties line, which has been in the Disney Stores for a couple of months now (for those who haven't seen the merchandise yet, think of it as “Disney meets Hello Kitty”).

They also listed the upcoming animated movies, and had the directors discuss them:

Chicken Little (2005)
Cars, (with Pixar - opening June 9 2006)
A Day in the Life of Wilbur Robinson (2006)
American Dog (2007)
Rapunzel Unbraided (2008)
Toy Story 3 (2008)

Finally, for anyone who's missed it

We were also shown a trailer for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the first in another planned franchise, The Chronicles of Narnia, which opens on December 12 of this year.

 

[WDWHound]

We have to wait 3 more years for Repunzel?! Dang, whats up with that? Its the only animated Disney movie in production I have any interest in (the artwork I have seen is amazing, jaw dropping stuff), and it looks like they are going to take their own sweet time getting it out.

 

[Sarangel]

That may not be a bad thing, hound... It's certainly different from the tack they've been taking lately of get it out cheep and quick.

Sarangel

 

[Plus4206]

I wonder if the 2008 release date is in anticipation of NOT reupping with Pixar. If they are confident this will be a blockbuster movie maybe they want it to open in a timeframe that would have normally been saved for the next Pixar release.