The end of the great Disney Musicals?

[KingofKamelot]

This isn't really a rumor, but lately I've been VERY dissapointed in Disney's movies. I know there will never be another hand-drawn Disney movie (which in my opinion is just plain stupid), but what happened to their great musicals? I grew up with movies like Pochantas, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tarzan (I'm only 14) and on. . . these were some of the best movies ever created for Disney. But I don't even know when the last musical was. Cars and Finding Nemo, two huge hits, no music. I'm afraid they're gonna leave that part of the Disney company in the past. Does anyone else agree? We want musicals Disney!!!!!!!!

 

[Disneybag]

I couldn't agree with you more. If you look at the dry spells for Feature Animation, you'll see that trend. Look at the drought around the Rescuers, the Black Cauldron, etc in the late 70's through the 80's. Mermaid came out around '89 with Menken holding the baton and BOOM. They brought singing characters back and kept it going through Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, etc. It started dropping again right around New Groove. They get artists (Sting, Phil Collins...) to perform songs in the background instead of letting the characters sing. I know I'm one of maybe 15 people that loved Atlantis, but no music. The story was great. Music would have made it better and brought people to the theatre. They made a half-*ssed effort with Home on the Range and brought back Menken, but it was too late. I've always thought that if you get the squirrels and birds to sing, you'll get people back in the seats for "cartoons."

 

[Rence]

I was reading recently that the upcoming movie Enchanted will require a segment to be done in traditional animation (Plot is that a character from an animated movie gets transported to modern day New York). This means at the very least a small return to traditional animation at Disney.

There was some speculation that it could lead to more traditional animation. Remember it was Eisner who banished traditional animation.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney is getting back into the hand drawn animation business. The first feature will be called the "Frog Princess" and Alan Meken who was the composer of the music from Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, and other films is slated to compose music for this one.

Here is a link for a discussion on the topic earlier in the year: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1044940

 

[OKW Lover]

There is no reason that Disney couldn't do a computer animated musical. The technology wouldn't prevent it. Its just a entertainment decision.

 

[Mickey1122]

I strongly recomend The Three Musketeers, starring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Clarabelle, and Pete. VERY witty and clever. It had music (new Disney lyrics to classical music) It was fantastic, and you can enjoy it at any age.

 

[KingofKamelot]

Hooray! I'm so happy Menken is coming back! I think he produced the best music in Disney history. Especially with . .. .well, everything. I'm so excited!

 

[hniki234]

I've loved Disney even through the "dark" years. I actually love the Rescuers and Sword in the Stone! I admit they aren't Lion King or Aladdin, but I still love them.

I can't wait until Disney puts out more musicals! I love the Pixar movies, but they aren't the same...

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I love the musicals too!!! B&B was my absolute favorite!!

 

[disneyigr]

My DD and I were just discussing that. It occurred to me when we were picking which Disney movie to watch the other night. I suggested Finding Nemo (to which she commented BORING) and then she enthusiastically suggested Mary Poppins. I then realized that her favorites are the musicals and the Disney films of late are not musicals. It was a light bulb moment for us too. Although I have enjoyed all the Disney movies, it's true the musical ones are the ones my family and I love to watch over and over again.
Hopefully more musicals are in the making.

 

[Disneybag]

Hooray! I'm so happy Menken is coming back! I think he produced the best music in Disney history. Especially with . .. .well, everything. I'm so excited!

He is phenomenal, but it takes a lot more than him to carry the movie. I present Exhibit A: Home on the Range.

 

[xbatman]

I strongly recomend The Three Musketeers, starring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Clarabelle, and Pete. VERY witty and clever. It had music (new Disney lyrics to classical music) It was fantastic, and you can enjoy it at any age.

My DD3 loves this movie!! We rented it, and she watched it every day. Thank goodness you don't get charged late fees on older movies at Blockbuster until after 2 weeks! It was definitely the most bang we ever got out of our rental bucks!

 

[mattsdragon]

Nemo had music. . .

"just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

I think they sometimes drop music because it's not such a big hit with boys (101 Dalmations was one of my faves as a kid). While I knew and liked the Disney musicals, I preferred less music, and a bit more action.

They had music in "home on the range" (boy, that was a stinkpot though)

 

[minijeanie]

Hooray! I'm so happy Menken is coming back! I think he produced the best music in Disney history. Especially with . .. .well, everything. I'm so excited!

I so totally agree.. B&Bm Lil mermaid, Lion King...there could be nothing better.

Last 5-7 yrs Disney movies a bomb in theaters.
Used to be that they always put out a #1 hit Thanksgiving weekend. I know because we took our kids every year.

Last great one I remember was toy story,



Not crazy about Stitch or Nemo...don't see the hype there.

bring back the original down to earth stories..they sell,,are priceless and everyone can relate..

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Lately, I've been thinking about the movies I grew up with, The Lion King, Pocohontas, etc. (I'm also 14.) I'd absoultely faint if they came out with another fairy-tale type movie that's kind of like the ones they came out with a decade ago.