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Author
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Topic: Animated Movies this year's big looser?
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Joe Tracy
Artist Posts: 595
From:Carpinteria, CA
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted August 28, 2000 08:48 AM
  
The Salt Lake City Tribune has published an article (see Monday's Animation Artist Magazine news update) that claims that animation is this summer's (and year's) big looser and that even "Dinosaur" failed to meet expectations. The only exception, according to the article, is "Chicken Run."Do you agree with this take? How do you think these perceptions will effect the industry? The Tigger Movie
($45.5 Million) The Road to El Dorado
($50.8 Million) Dinosaur
($133.8 Million) Fantasia 2000
($8 Million in Widescreen Release) Titan A.E.
($22.6 Million) Chicken Run
($101.7 Million) The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
($25 Million) Pokemon 2000
($41.9 Million) Thomas and the Magic Railroad
($14.5 Million) -- Your thoughts? Joe Tracy IP: Logged |
Gordg
Artist Posts: 709
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted August 28, 2000 11:37 AM
The numbers...Box office total for 2000 $443.8 million Box office total for 1999 $438 million an increase of 5.8 million over 1999's box office total. This was achieved without a major Disney release...pretty impressive. ...and 1999 was a stellar year for animation, with the release of Toy Story II (#2 all time highest grossing animated film), Tarzan (#6 all time highest grossing animated film) and The Iron Giant.(no comment) If total box office is an indication of the state of the industry...it's not bad at all. If you also consider the movie "The Lion King" which represents the apogee in animation only made $313 million when it had the Box office "pie" all to itself...it's not so bad. The animation pie has grown by over 30% since the release of The Lion King. I'm an optimist  [This message has been edited by Gordg (edited August 28, 2000).] IP: Logged |
Mike2D
Artist Posts: 564
From:Valley Glen, Ca., U.S.A
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted August 28, 2000 11:43 AM
I think I would have to agree that this has been a bad year for animated films. Each of these films has it's own grudge against it. -Pokemon is getting worn and tired, and the fad is slowly fading. -Dinosaur, while it did have a great marketing campaign in the beginning, totally lacked in storytelling. Had the movie been given a much more intesting and original story, it would have done very well for repeat viewings of the movie. -El Dorado didn't have enough of a marketing campaign. And I'm also sure that when they we're trying to go for a "mature story", I'm sure the s*exual situations, not to mention the bad guy slicing his hand with a knife did not go over well with many parents. -With Fantasia, while it does have many beautiful moments, I've heard that my kids who saw it were pretty bored. And considering most people saw it on the IMAX anyway, they probably weren't interested on seeing in widescreen - unless of course your an animation freak like me, along with most of the people on this board -Titan A.E. Problem #1. Don Bluth. Problem #2. Foolishly thinking you will have a successful movie geared to a narrow range audience of 14 to 16 year old boys. Problem #3 Don Bluth. Any Questions? -The remaining Tigger Movie, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Thomas are all based on previously developed franchises (Pokemon too, but I already talked about that) There was a point years ago where Disney's Winnie the Pooh became extreamly popular for a long while. If the movie was made when Pooh was a really hot franchise, it would probably have been a much bigger success. Rocky and Bullwinkle, while I won't say it didn't have a marketing campaign behind it, it was a pretty cheesy campaign at best. Also, I think Chicken Run pretty much stole most of the Bullwinkle audience.
And finally, Thomas the Magic Railroad. I could sum up the problem like this: What kid or adult would be caught dead watching this movie. It's pretty much aimed towards pre-school\kindergarden kids, and many of them are more interested in Pokemon anyway. Well, at least the one good thing about this is that the studio's who produce crap for animation anyway will probably steer clear for a little while, at least until there's another animation boom. And don't forget, the year's not over yet. We still have The Digimon Movie and the upcoming Emperor's New Groove. So we'll see. IP: Logged |
Marvlicius
Artist Posts: 171
From:Orlando, Fl. USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted August 28, 2000 01:00 PM
As Joe subtly pointed out, there were seven
animated movie releases last year. {R&B and Thomas I count as "hybrids")SEVEN!!!!! That hasn't happened in a long movie going experience (maybe never)Some of it good , some of it pure dreck. How many are we going to see in 2001? I've been having a great time at the movies. No one lost, not the audience, they had variety, choices! Only the movies that didn't do well, and stole
that irreplacable 90 minutes, are the losers, but that's a personal issue.IP: Logged |
sterfish
Artist Posts: 440
From:Chicago IL, USA
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted August 28, 2000 01:04 PM
I agree with pretty much everything said. But some of the analysis is a little misleading. Pokemon is a fad in its waning days and even though it made about half (?) what it made first time out, it was enough to warrant WB bringing out the third film. Also, as said Fantasia 2000 did not make an impression at Widescreen theaters. Fantasia 2000 lost its "novelty" when it went to regular theaters. It was an event on IMAX but became a dud when it wasn't. I think it would have benefitted from a release when an older audience could have appreciated it like fall or spring. Rocky and Bullwinkle suffered more from being lost in the shuffle than any other movie. It really should have been released at Thanksgiving (I think Joe said that). Everything else was just bad. At least one thing, Chicken Run proved that people will still embrace animation even if it isn't well known (as much as Aardman is known, I wonder if the average person has ever heard of Wallace & Gromit) if it's done well.IP: Logged |
natalie
Fan Posts: 4
From:
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted August 28, 2000 02:56 PM
Calling Pokemon a fad is ridiculous. It's a franchise, yes, but so is Digimon and any other entity that wants to make a buck. I rather like this show, and calling it a fad is so belittling. IP: Logged |
Mike2D
Artist Posts: 564
From:Valley Glen, Ca., U.S.A
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted August 28, 2000 06:05 PM
Well, at least it's not like Live Action doesn't have their losers. Battlefield Earth anyone?  IP: Logged |
Samus Aran
Artist Posts: 739
From:Syracuse, NY
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted August 28, 2000 07:48 PM
The animated films all brought in widely varying amounts of money at the box office... wow, just like live action films! Could anyone really expect movies like Thomas and the Magic Railroad to bring in massive amounts of cash? I think Chicken Run's success shows that people are still interested in seeing a good animated story. However with the large selection, the public can afford to be more choosy.
I predict Digimon the Movie could make around $30-$40 million... maybe less but not higher. Emperor's New Groove just looks cornball but it will probably make $100+ million like every other Disney animated flick.IP: Logged |
RZetlin
Artist Posts: 774
From:State of Influx
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted August 29, 2000 05:15 AM
This year was a disppointment for animated movies. There was not any breakthrough animated movies. There was no animated movie that proved anything to the public.The year 1999 was more promising. There was Iron Giant and Princess Mononoke. The Iron Giant "tried" to prove that you did not need talking parrots and songs in an animated movie. Princess Mononoke "tried" to prove that there was such a thing as mature animated movies. Of course if the public were not so hung up on Disney and went out to see these two movies...well I will not get into this issue. I hope next year of animated movies will show more promise. IP: Logged |
Washuu's Sister
Artist Posts: 99
From:
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted August 29, 2000 02:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by RZetlin:
I hope next year of animated movies will show more promise.
Sure it will! Atlantis, Shrek, Final Fantasy, Osmosis Jones, and Monsters Inc. are coming out next year. It will be a great year for animation! Think Positive!!
IP: Logged |
Leigh
Artist Posts: 77
From:Gainesville, Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted August 29, 2000 06:12 PM
Those movies hopefully will get the public more interested in animated films...if Atlantis doesn't turn out to be your typical disney move(PLEASE DON'T MESS IT UP!) and if all the other movies are marketed well enough. I really think trailers have to be neat in order to get people to see the movie. Disney seems to be really good at putting one together but the other companies should really enforce them. When I saw the preview for the Iron Giant I thought "boy, some kid has his very own robot...and it can fly." Big deal, but when I saw the actual movie it was great all on its own. The thing I liked most about it was its charm and heart not all the cool weapons the Giant wore. Tarzan and Atlantis both have very neat trailers, I guess other companies just have to find a way to sell the audience their picture with only small clips. I realized I'm being too critical I suppose I just want animated movies to do better- who doesn't?  IP: Logged |
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