Conference koolit::disney

    Just for the record, there is a VAXNotes conference on
    animation in general, QARRY::ANIMATION.
    
    Hit the KP7 or SELECT key to add it to your notebook.
    
    --- jerry

    For those of you that are interested, Disney will be re-releasing (to
    the theatres) "Fantasia" in 1990 in celebration of the film's 50th 
    anniversary.  Purists will be happy to hear that the original score (as
    well as narrator/host Deems Taylor's voiceovers) will be restored for
    the re-release.
    
    As an aside, this summer Disney will re-release "Peter Pan" and the
    winter will bring a new animated film, "The Little Mermaid".
    
    - Skip

    According to the current issue of TV Guide, the next Disney classic to
    hit the video stores will be "Bambi".  It's due in October.  There was
    no mention of how much it would cost, though I imagine it would follow
    precedent and be in the $25-$30 range.
    
    Also, Disney is planning to release "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" to video
    this September.  Again, no mention of cost.
    
    - Skip

    According to the fall issue of Disney News,
    
    Comming this Thanksgiving to theatres near you will be Disney's
    28th full-lenght animated feature 'The Little Mermaid', tells the
    story of Ariel, a mermaid who longs to be part of the human world,
    especially after she falls in love with a human prince.
    
    Home Video
    
    	Bambi available September 28 (limited release) $26.99 plus a
    		$3 refund good through November 30
    	Who Framed Roger Rabbit available October 12, $22.99
                                                  
    Claude

    While in BJ's here  in  Salem  NH., I noticed they had Roger Rabbit for
    $14.67 and Bambi for $17.+ (Yes  I  do  have  a copy of RR :^), plan to
    rent/dupe Bambi)
    
    Claude

    Claude,
           That's three strikes against you. No Disney Channel, No Mickey
    Mouse Watch and now planning to eat into the profits by illegal
    copying. You've really shaken my confidence, next you'll be telling us 
    you don't even have any ears!!! ;-)
    
    /\/\ike_who_only_has_48_days_to_wait.

rep to <<< Note 15.6 by WARDER::BATTY "So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish!" >>>

>                           -< Strike Three and OUT! >-
>           That's three strikes against you. No Disney Channel, No Mickey
>    Mouse Watch and now planning to eat into the profits by illegal
>    copying. 
    
    You mean  my  copy  of Dumbo off the Magical World of Disney is illegal
    too? ;^)

>   You've really shaken my confidence, next you'll be telling us 
>   you don't even have any ears!!! ;-)
    
    Maybe I'd better shut up while I'm ahead? ;^)
    
    Actually I did  own  a pair (from my Honeymoon) but lost it in the move
    from my apartment to my house. My son still has a pair somewhere.
    
    I do own 2 Mickey Mouse Club  House  shirts,  Mickey Mouse Baseball cap
    (MM in Golfing atire), Epcot Baseball Cap (Dark Blue with Silver trim),
    Epcot  sweatshirt,  several  Disney  statues/plates, Epcot camera strap
    etc.
    
    Claude

    Wow! I'm impressed! Done here near Washington I've seen both tapes, but
    generally in the $20+ range. Must have something to do with all the
    politicians here or something ;^)
    

    I  meant to put this in earlier.  I went to see 'The  Little  Princess'
    over  the  weekend,  I  you haven't seen it yet and enjoyed the clasics
    like Snow  White  and Bambi you'll love this one.  Disney is definitely
    back on track  with this one.  I won't go into details on this so as to
    note spoil it for you, but this one had the wife teary eyed, and even I
    felt a tear coming one at one time or another.
    
    CLaude
    

    The Little Princess or The Little Mermaid?
    

>    The Little Princess or The Little Mermaid?
    
    The Little Mermaid, what was I thinking of when I typed that in?
    
    CLaude

    
     I saw the film on Saturday with my niece, I thought it was excellent.
     She loved every minute of it, falling in love with Sebastian and
     Flounder. I don't live close to any Disney Stores, but I was wondering
     if they have any stuffed animals of the Little Mermaid characters?
     I have seen a Mcdonalds comercial where they are offering small
     X-mas ornaments of two characters but I was hoping for something
     a little larger.
     
    
                          -Rob
    
    

rep to <<< Note 15.12 by STRATA::ROBROSE >>>

>     I don't live close to any Disney Stores, but I was wondering
>     if they have any stuffed animals of the Little Mermaid characters?

    Yup, been  out  for  a  couple of months now.  Don't remember which one
    they have but there are several of the characters.
    
    Claude
        
    

I've also heard from other people that it is a real classic. 
I also heard that the "baby-boom" animators went back and studied
the work of the "masters" and then applied the same techniques.
Sounds lika good one. I guess I'll have to beg the kids to take
me.

    RE: 12
            Thanks, Claude. I guess I will have to make a trip to Nashua
      this weekend........Christmas time is here.
    
        -Rob
    

    
    
    Well, has anyone seen "The Little Mermaid" yet? Is it "completly,
    wonderfully awesome "? (quote courtesey of a nine year old friend)
    Some one that has seen it , tell us the plot! I'm sure there are lots
    of other noters out there that want to hear about the film!
    

    "The Little Mermaid" is one of King Neptune's daughters. He has
    forbidden them to go to the surface, the world of the humans. However
    being young, she decides to investigate the surfacr anyway. She has a
    secret chamber full of all the treasures she has found on the surface.
    One time while she is investigating the surface, she sees a sailing
    ship and falls in love with the hansome prince. A storm brews up rather
    quickly and she ends up saving the life of the prince. When her father
    finds out about it he forbids her to ever return to the surface. He
    asks the lobster Sebastian to keep an eye on her. One of the treasures
    she now has in her secret hideaway is a statue of the prince, which her
    sea creature friends salvaged from the ship wreck. The evil sea witch,
    Ursala, spies on her and plots to ruin the king. She plans to capture
    Ariel (the little mermais) and bring her father under her power. She
    entices Ariel to sing a pack whereby Ariel will become a human for
    three days. In that time she must get the prince to kiss her or she
    will return to Ursala and be trapped in her garden of slaves. The price
    Ariel has to pay for this favor is that she must give her voice to
    Ursala. The prince will recognize her by her voice more than how she
    looks. Ariel signs the contract, looses her voice and then searches for
    the prince at his seaside castle. When the prince finds her he thinks
    he recognizes her but is not sure. Ursala's spies foil several attempts
    by the prince to kiss Ariel. Ursala then disquises herself as a
    beutiful maiden with Ariel's voice. She then casts a spell on the
    prince so that he will marry her. In the mean time Neptune finds out
    about all this and surrenders to Ursala. She now has his crown and
    magic trident. The wedding is about to take place on the wedding barge
    when Arile's sea friends delay the ceremony by attacking Ursala. They
    get Ariel to the barge and she gets her voice back but it's to late the
    three days are over. Ursala's disquise dissappears and everyone sees
    her as she really is. A battle ensues in which Ursala gets killed,
    Neptune is released from the garden and the prince is saved once again.
    Neptune realizes that he can not keep Arile under the sea and allows
    her to marry the prince.
    
    I think it was a well done 	animated feature with lots of singing and
    dancing and cute sea creatures. My five year old daughter loved it.

    
    In response to .16, I took my daughter and wife to see The Little
    Mermaid.

    It is "wicked ausome" and any other superlative you want to throw at
    it. 

    The story, animation and characters are first class just like - maybe
    better than the old classics. The thing that most impressed me was the
    color.

    I want to see it again.

    David.

I'm just wondering...

	Seeing that 1990 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Fantasia, 
does Disney have any plans of re-releasing it in the theater?

	Stephen

                <<< INDMKT::DUA0:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DISNEY.NOTE;2 >>>
                       -< The Disneyphile's Disney File >-
================================================================================
Note 15.2                       Disney Animation                         2 of 18
CADSE::SWILLIAMS "An' a catfish shall lead 'em..."   10 lines   7-APR-1989 09:42
                            -< "Fantasia" in 1990 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For those of you that are interested, Disney will be re-releasing (to
    the theatres) "Fantasia" in 1990 in celebration of the film's 50th 
    anniversary.  Purists will be happy to hear that the original score (as
    well as narrator/host Deems Taylor's voiceovers) will be restored for
    the re-release.
    
    As an aside, this summer Disney will re-release "Peter Pan" and the
    winter will bring a new animated film, "The Little Mermaid".
    
    - Skip

    According to the 1989 annual report of the Walt Disney Company, this
    year should be another good one for fans of Disney animation.
    
    "The Jungle Book" will be re-released this summer.  
    
    In the fall, "Fantasia" will hit the screen once again with a restored 
    print and soundtrack for its 50th anniversary.  
    
    In keeping with its promise of a new animated feature every year, for
    Christmas, Disney will release "The Resucuers Down Under", the further 
    adventures of Bianca and Bernard as they travel to Australia.  Paired
    with it will be a new animated featurette, "The Prince and the Pauper",
    featuring Mickey Mouse in the title dual role.
    
    And under the new Funny Flickers label, "The DuckTales Movie" will be
    released.  In the future , Funny Flickers will release up to one new
    film each year, with many of the films based on the Disney animated
    television characters.
    
    And speaking of television, "The Disney Afternoon" will debut in
    syndication next fall.  It's a two-hour block of animated shows.  In
    addition to the already popular "DuckTales" and "Chip 'n Dale's Rescue
    Rangers", "The Adventures of the Gummi Bears" will move from Saturday 
    mornings and a new show called "Talespin" will debut.  "Talespin" will
    feature the characters of Baloo the Bear and King Louie from "The 
    Jungle Book".
    
    Phew!!  That's it, but that's enough...
    
    - Skip

    Well  The   Little  Mermaid  was  nominator  for  the  following  two Oscar
    music catergories,
    
        - Original Score
    
        - Original Song "Kiss the Girl" and "Under the Sea"

    As you can  see,  the  Little  Mermaid has a double chance for Original
    song (2 out of 5 songs nominated)
    
    Claude

    Rep to <<< Note 15.22 by ATE012::BERUBE "I'm Thumping on a Green-Flagged.." >>>

>    Well  The   Little  Mermaid  was  nominator  for  the  following  two Oscar
>    music catergories,
>    
>        - Original Score
>        - Original Song "Kiss the Girl" and "Under the Sea"

    Well  in  case  you  haven't  heard,  'The  Little  Mermaid'  won  both
    nominations last night,  Original Score and Best Song catagories (Under
    The Sea).
    
    I only wished they  have someone else preferably a female singing the 2
    songs last night, other than  Jefrey  ?,  althought  I  did think Paula
    Abdul's cheorography of the Under the Sea number was kinda cute.
    
    Claude

�   I only wished they  have someone else preferably a female singing the 2
�   songs last night, other than  Jefrey  ?,  although  I  did think Paula
�   Abdul's choreography of the Under the Sea number was kinda cute.

    I agree.  Jeffery Holder did a terrible job singing both songs.  He is
    getting old and fat.  In the movie the songs were sung by Sebastian,
    the calypso crab, so it was appropriate to have someone like Holder
    sing them.  He just did a lousy job IMHO.  Maybe they should have
    gotten Harry Belefonte.  Who was Sebastian's voice in the movie?

    I liked the choreography too.  Unfortunately I thought the director did
    a rotten job shooting it and I couldn't see enough of the dance, and I
    have a large TV.
    
    (I re-read what I just wrote, and boy am I grumpy this morning.  I
    guess I shouldn't have stayed up till the end of the show last night.)

    |-0   <--- sleepy face
    

    
     I think the Voice of Sebastian was done by Sam Wright. It does
    sound like him,but I could be wrong.
    
                              -Rob
    
    

    Rep to <<< Note 15.21 by CADSE::AWILLIAMS "An' a catfish shall lead 'em..." >>>

>    "The Jungle Book" will be re-released this summer.  
    
    July 13th, according to the Summer '90 issue of Disney News.
    
    Claude

    Hi. I'm a temp at LJO1 and one of these great men that I work with got
    me into NOTES.  Well, I LOVE Disney...and was thrilled to find out that
    this was a topic.
    
    I am looking for a home video of Robin Hood.  I think it has been 
    discontinued for public sale.  Does anyone know where I could get it or
    someone who may be willing to sell me their copy?? It would be greatly
    appreciated...Robin Hood and his story are my favorite.
    
    Reply here are send me mail (?) at BOARDS::DIETRICH ... can you tell
    I'm new at this??
    
    Thanks....
    
    Gretchen

    "Fantasia" is scheduled to be re-released October 5th.  Only five weeks
    from today...
    
    - Skip

    
    
    Does anyone know when the video for Peter Pan will be out...sometime
    this fall I know but when *presicely*?
    
    -Gretchen

    re: "Peter Pan" video release
    
    I don't know the exact date but it will be out in about 10 days to 2
    weeks...  Is that precise enough??
    
    - Skip

    re: Peter Pan video
    
    It will be released Sept 18th (maybe the 17th if stores start selling
    it early).  You can order it now at The Disney Store at a reduced
    price.  If you take advantage of this offer you also get a free
    Tinkerbell watch with the tape.
    
    One thing to beware of is the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan has
    been released already.  Be careful not to confuse it with the Disney
    tape.  I've already seen on video store that is displaying it in the
    middle of the Disney display.

    
    Thanks!!
    
    Confirmed!!  I was just at The Disney Store @ Quincy Market...they
    said it would be on sale 17 Sept!! (I'm so excited...only one week
    to go!)
    
    ALSO, learned a bit of "trivia" ... when Disney "shelves" a video,
    it will not be released again for 7 years. *I* thought it meant
    the video would be PERMANENTLY shelved. Sooo, there's hope for everyone
    who wants one of those movies (like me with Robin Hood  (^: )
    
    
    --Gretchen

    FWIW, if you're going down to WDW soon and don't want a discount with
    MKC card, it was in many of the shops (especially at MGM) when we were
    down the last week of August.  I had to curb my nephew to keep him from
    buying it.  Fortunately, he's frugal and when I explained that I could
    get a discount at home and not pay taxes, he understood!
    
    Susan

    
    only 3 more days til Peter Pan!!

    ok fess up,
    
    how many watched peter pan last night?
    
    john

My wife and I watched it last night.  I hadn't seen it in many, many
years.  I had forgotten about sooooo much of it.  It was great!

peter

    I watched it in bits and pieces while getting ready for work 
    the past two mornings. I had forgotten lots of it, too.
    It's terrific -- Captain Hook certainly is a great villain. I
    missed the song "Never Smile At A Crocodile". Was that only in 
    the Mary Martin TV version?
    
    By the way, for anyone who hasn't purchased his copy, Purity Supreme
    has them for $16.43 BEFORE rebate. I thought I had a deal for $19.99
    with 10% off at the Disney store. 

    
    Or buy it at Video Signals for the regular price of 24.95 BUT you
    get 3 free movie rentals with it plus the rebate...ends up cutting
    the price in half!
    
    Tonight I will be off to nethernether land! (didn't have time to
    see it last night....)
    
    -Gretchen
    

    CVS has the tape on sale for $16.99 before rebate.  I bought my copy
    last night but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.  Hopefully
    tonight will be the night!

    
    
    	I'm not sure if this is exactly the place to post this note, but
    ....
    	Have you folks heard about the brouhaha surrounding " The Little 
    Mermaid " ? Well, it seems that the studio is spending mega-bucks to 
    recall all the copies currently on the market of this film's original
    poster. They've also got a design team working overtime to create a 
    new cover for the video version of " The Little Mermaid." And --
    earlier this month -- Disney's promotional department threw out every
    photo or press release that used the artwork from the film's original
    poster.
    	Why all the fuss ? Well, if you've got a copy of the " Little 
    Mermaid " video, look closely at the front cover and you'll see what's
    giving Michael Eisner and his Mouska-flunkies heart failure. Notice
    something peculiar about the turrets on Triton's castle ?  Yep, that's
    right ! They look just like .... ( What's a polite way of saying this ?
    Oh yeah ! ) phallic symbols.
    	No one is exactly sure why it took people almost a year to notice
    that there was somewhat obscene imagery used in this G rated film's 
    poster -- but it was really a lucky break for Disney. Can you imagine
    the impact this would have had on the " Little Mermaid " 's box-office
    if word had leaked out about this back in November ? 
    	Well, no matter that it took people this long to notice, Disney
    isn't feeling very lucky about this now. They're expected to spend well
    over $ 1.5 million to buy back all the posters, video covers, and other 
    " Little Mermaid " promotion items that have this Freudian imagery. 
    Needless to say, the artist who created the poster is now looking for 
    work.
    	Was this done deliberately to embarass the Walt Disney Company or
    were this very male castle added to the poster as some twisted joke for
    studio insiders ?  No one can say for sure. ( If it turns out to be an 
    inside joke, it won't be the first time. Disney's animators have
    regularly slipped inside jokes into the cartoon they've churned out --
    and some of these jokes are surprisingly blue. The most recent example
    of this was in " Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? " Never mind Jessica's 
    outrageous figure, did you know -- in the original version of the 
    film -- Betty Boop appeared topless ? Yep, in the print of the film 
    that was sent to theaters all over the world in 1988, Betty let it all
    hang out. Why didn't you notice it ? Because Betty was only topless for
    a single frame of film, which flew by in less than a tenth of a second.
    Only after a sharp eyed projectionist in Atlanta noticed the topless
    toon did the animators for Disney fess up to the prank. Of course, 
    Disney fired him and ordered the single frame clipped from all existing
    pribts of the film. And -- yes, they did remember to clip out Betty's
    x-rated cameo when " Roger Rabbit " got transferred to video. So don't
    bother looking it with your " pause " button tonight. Betty keeps her 
    clothes throughout the video. ... I've heard that blow-ups of the
    individual frame of film that featured Betty topless with Eddy Valiant
    at the Ink and Paint Club can be purchased on the Disneyana black
    market. I have yet to see one myself ... But I keep looking ! ) But
    Michael and his minions are really made and they're talking about suing
    the illustrator who created the poster for besmirching Disney's squeaky 
    clean image.
    	Will Disney risk the glare of even more negative publicity
    concerning its " Little Mermaid " poster by going to court or will they
    prefer just to buy back the posters, change the video covers and pray 
    that the national press ignores the matter? No one knows for sure right
    now -- but I'll be sure to keep you posted.
    	And remember what Freud said : " Sometimes a cigar is just a
    cigar." Look carefully at the castle -- and you tell me what you see.
    
    	What do I see. I see it's time for me to close.
    
    			Take care, Disney dweebs
    
    			       Robespierre
    

    
    I heard about this 2 months ago.  A local radio station told a story
    about a Disney animator who "got screwed" (I wish I could remember the
    story).  They did say he decided to "get even" when drawing the castle.  
    
    Anyway, they were having people call in and tell what they saw.  Even
    a four year old girl could recognize the one particular "offending"
    spire.  She said it looked like her brother when he was naked.
    
    When I got home that evening I took out my copy of LM.  Guess what! it
    is very obvious that one spire is quite different from the others.
    
    +- Sharon
    p.s. If you're not looking for it you probably wouldn't ever notice tho.

    Yeah I checked it out in one of my Disney mags and while in the video
    store the other day. There are not so subtle differences between the
    spires. 
    
    YOu wouldn't notice unless you really looked or really knew.
    
    Mike

    
    has anybody heard rumors if another Disney video will be released
    at Christmas time...the past couple of years there has been i.e.
    Bambi, Cinderella....  ??       

    The employees at the Disney store in the Pheasant Lane Mall told me
    that "Peter Pan" is the last release for this calender year.  She
    didn't have or wouldn't reveal what would be released in '91.
    
    Tony
    

    re: .43
    
    Well, just to pick nits...
    
    "Bambi" was released to video in September last year, like "Peter Pan"
    was this year.  And I believe "Cinderella" and "Lady and the Tramp"
    were released later in the fall of their respective years, but still
    much earlier than, say, December.  So what I'm trying to get at is that
    most likely "Peter Pan" is it for Christmas this year.
    
    But then, Disney caught me completely by surprise when they released
    "The Little Mermaid" to video only six months after it hit the
    theatres...
    
    - Skip

    The next Disney animated feature will be their first sequel, "The
    Rescuers Down Under", with "The Prince and the Pauper" featurette.  Any
    of you who went on the animation tour at the Disney-MGM Studios this
    past summer, this is what the animators were working on, but sssshhhhh,
    it's supposed to be a secret... sort of... :-)
    
    But does anyone have a release date??  My best guess would be Nov.
    15th, the Friday before Thanksgiving, but does anyone know the real
    scoop??
    
    In the meantime, I'll have appease my Disney fix with the very-soon-to-
    be-re-released "Fantasia"...  Awww, shucks... :-)
    
    - Skip

    I rented Peter Pan last night and before the film begins there was some
    advertising about The Rescuers...?  Maybe this will be out on video
    soon?
    
    

    Rep to <<< Note 15.46 by CURIE::AWILLIAMS "Not this hare, cueball!!" >>>

>    But does anyone have a release date??  My best guess would be Nov.
>    15th, the Friday before Thanksgiving, but does anyone know the real
>    scoop??

    My guess  would  be  the  week  of Thanksgiving, last poster I saw said
    coming in Nov?
        
>    In the meantime, I'll have appease my Disney fix with the very-soon-to-
>    be-re-released "Fantasia"...  Awww, shucks... :-)
    
    Yeah comes out  Oct  5th,  the  weekend I go with my son on a Boy Scout
    Camporee ;^(.
    
    Claude

    Rep to <<< Note 15.47 by USCTR1::JTRAVERS >>>

>    I rented Peter Pan last night and before the film begins there was some
>    advertising about The Rescuers...?  Maybe this will be out on video
>    soon?

    Sure this wasn't an add for the sequel 'The Rescuers Down Under' coming
    to a theater near you this November?
    
    I know before  you  guys get on my case for not having my copy of Peter
    Pan and all, I  just bought it at lunch today and will probably view it
    tonight.
    
    Claude

    So any guesses (or wishes) as to what would be next??  The pattern
    Disney's been using (re-release in the summer, followed by a fall video
    release the next year) would indicate that "The Jungle Book" will be
    out next fall (if we can wait that long).  But with the brisk sales and
    high demand of "The Little Mermaid", Eisner and Co. may speed things
    along a bit and release more than one Disney "classic" a year.  What do
    you folks think??
    
    And as much as I'd like to have my own copy on tape, I can't see them
    releasing "Fantasia" to video any time soon... but then I've been wrong
    before...
    
    - Skip

RE the "Rescuers" ad on the "Peter Pan" video - yes, it's for the upcoming "The
Rescuers Down Under."  (film, that is, not video - at least, not yet...)

						- Nina
						(who hasn't yet checked whether
						 her Tinkerbell watch really
						 does glow in the dark!)

    RE: .51
    
      FYI............
    
      The Tinkerbell watch really does glow in the dark !!!!
    
      My wife told me......
    
    Tony
    

    I told you I've been wrong before...
    
    It was "reported" in the MOVIES notesfile (by Steve Kallis, I believe)
    that "Fantasia" may/will be released to video in the winter/spring of
    1991.  He was told this by the folks at the video store he frequents.
    
    So we'll just have to wait and see...
    
    - Skip

    re: "Rescuers Down Under"
    
    I just picked up my copy of "Peter Pan" the other night and although I
    haven't found the time to sit down and watch it yet, my curiosity to
    see the "Rescuers Down Under" promo got the better of me so I plugged
    the tape in to check it out.  And is it just me or was anyone else out
    there surprised to see the animated pencil sketches and scenes from the
    original "Rescuers" as the bulk of material for this promo??  I would've
    thought they'd have some scenes completed to include in the trailer but
    they seemed to have left them out for whatever reason.  It makes me
    wonder if the film isn't as far along as Disney would like and whether
    or not it'll be ready for its Christmastime release (which would be a
    shame because I've been getting spoiled with a new Disney feature every
    year)...
    
    Any other speculation or better yet, details??
    
    - Skip

    
    
    Skip,
    
    When we were down to the World in August and did the ani tour. We were
    told that all the cells for the Rescuers that they were working on had
    gone back to the left coast to be merged with their piece and then go
    to the cameras so it may be that when PP went into video duping there
    was not a good enough piece available on film yet to use as a trailer.
    They were still in the coloring stage of Mickey's short for the
    Rescuers release so I'd think their on the schedule pretty much.
    
    fwiw
    
    Steve

    Skip,
    
    I meant  to  put  this  in  a few days ago but forgot.  If you had seen
    Fantasia in the  last  few  days,  then  you should of seen a much more
    robust  preview  of the Rescuer's Down Under, than the one supplied  on
    the PP tape.  

    The  preview  I  saw  was  at  the General Cinema in Bedford NH.    The
    animation looked rather crisp (ala TLM), and  the  new character's Jake
    (sp) looked rather good as well.  The  best  part of the promo was when
    the  music stopped and the SeaGull (forget his name, from the original)
    turned  around  and  faced  the  audience  and said 'Who Turned off the
    music'.  Anyway the promo still says coming this November at a theather
    near you, my  guess  would be Nov 16th, week before Thanksgiving or Nov
    23rd Day after.
    
    Claude

    Saw a commercial last night for "The Rescuers Down Under" and it's
    definitely being released on Nov. 16th, a week from this Friday.
    
    The commercial was only 30 or so seconds long but it looked really
    good.  Any fears I had that it wouldn't be completed on time have
    thankfully been put to rest.  Now I just want it to hurry up and be
    released already... :-)
    
    I'm really looking forward to this one (as if you haven't been able to
    tell)...
    
    - Skip

    Well, I got to see 'The Rescuers Down Under' over the weekend and all I
    can say is that the Disney Animators  are  back on track.  Since Eisner
    took  over,  we've had 3 new animated features 'Oliver and Co', which I
    though was average Disney, 'The Little Mermaid' which was  SUPERB,  and
    now  'The  Rescuers  Down Under' which I feel was just  below  TLM,  in
    overall  story  telling/animation    and  definitely  better  than  the
    original.
    
    I won't give any spoliers, but I will say I  felt  the  first  half was
    slightly better than the  second  half,  which  I  felt could've been a
    little stronger (Story), if it had been  than  I  would  of rated it as
    good as TLM.  The animator were able to  capture  George  C Scott voice
    and manerism in drawing the villian McLeash.
    
    As to 'The Prince and the Pauper', it  was  nice  to  see  the old gang
    again as well as some of the newer characters (The Weasels) from WFRR.
    
    Claude

    I can't remember which note mentions the upcoming auction of "Little
    Mermaid" cels so I'll put this here...
    
    I popped into the Disney Store in Burlington, MA last night and they
    had a number of the auction catalogs for sale.  Titled "The Art of the
    Little Mermaid", the catalog lists the cels that will be on the auction
    block and gives an indication of what Sotheby's thinks each item will
    sell for.  The book does an excellent job reproducing the cels on the
    printed page and is a must for any TLM fan.  It sells for $19.95.
    
    And speaking of books on animation, it looks like Ollie Johnston and
    Frank Thomas (two of the original "Nine Old Men") have another book out
    on Disney animation.  This one seems to cover the making of "Bambi". 
    Any one have more details??  I just quickly looked at it the other
    night...
    
    - Skip

    The next project the Disney Animators are working on is "Beauty and The
    Beast". I am not sure when this is slated for release.
    
    Mike

>    The next project the Disney Animators are working on is "Beauty and The
>    Beast". I am not sure when this is slated for release.

Ask and ye shall receive!  :-)
						-- Nina


               <<< MEIS::NOTES$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]THEATRE.NOTE;11 >>>
                             All the world's a stage
Created:  9-FEB-1986 08:35         643 topics         Updated: 27-NOV-1990 17:13
     -< You 'audition' for a play - you 'try out' for a football team... >-
================================================================================
Note 583.27                Miscellaneous Broadway News                  27 of 27
MARLIN::WRESINSKI                                    37 lines  27-NOV-1990 09:48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             -< 19 November 1990 >-

[non-Disney-related news omitted. -Nina]

Paige O'Hara will be the voice of Belle, Robby Benson that of the Beast, and
Richard White that of Belle's lover Gaston, in the Disney animated musical
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.  With a score by LITTLE MERMAID's Alan Menken and
Howard Ashman, the film is scheduled for release at Christmas, 1991.

    
    I saw the little rescuers down under last night (after buying the
    ornaments at McD.) with my mom...what a *wonderful* movie!!  The
    animation and story were so well done.  I think I liked it BETTER
    than little mermaid.
    
    Note: there were 8 people in the theatre for a 7pm show...only 2
    were children!  I thought that was great!
    
    The previews showed a new Malt Disney movie coming out in 1991 about
    "The great Mouse Detective"
    
    
    
    -gretchen

    re: "Beauty and the Beast"
    
    Thanks for the info, Nina and Mike!!  Even though I haven't seen
    "Rescuers" yet (too busy with Christmas shopping), I was curious as to
    what we could expect next year.  And you bothj answered my question
    before I could ask it...
    
    I'm really psyched that Menken and Ashman will continued to be involved
    with Disney's animated projects.  I hope they pull off another success
    like "The Little Mermaid" (though I have a couple of doubts about Robby
    Benson as the Beast). 
    
    re: "The Great Mouse Detective"
    
    Actually, this isn't a new film.  It was released a few years back
    (86??) and was a moderate success.  Personally, I really enjoyed it and
    I'm looking forward to seeing it again and again and again... (well,
    you get the idea)...
    
    - Skip

    From 234.13
        
>    PS 2.  If any of you know  someone  who  gets 'Mature Outlook' magazine
>    from AARP (My Parents in my Case), there was  a good article in the Oct
>    '90?  issue on animation at Disney, forgot to bring it in.  It mentions
>    the various Animation features upcoming from Disney as well as Sullivan
>    Bluth  (Ex  Disney  animator).    Next from Disney as Mike mentioned is
>    Beaty and  the  Beast scheduled for Dec '91, followed by Alladin in Dec
>    '92 and forget  the  Dec  '93  from  Disney,  From  Sullivan  Bluth, it
>    mentioned Hansel and Gretel and a original story among some others.
>    

    Actually it was the Modern Maturity magazine from AARP and it was thier
    Dec '90-Jan '91  edition.    On  page  52 it list for upcoming animated
    features
    
    Disney              Beauty and the Beast, 1991
                        Aladdin, 1992
                        King of the Jungle, 1993
                        Roger Rabbit Sequel, 199?
    
    Sullivan Bluth      Rock-A-Doodle, 1991 (early)
                        Troll in Central Park, 1991 (late)
                        Thumbelina, 199?
                        The Peguin Story, 199?
                        Hansel and Gretel, 199?
    
    Others              An American Tail II, 1991
                        The Thief, (Rich Williams, Animation Director of WFRR)
                        Rover Dangerfield 
                        Ferngurney
                        The Endangered
    
    

    re: "Rescuers Down Under"
    
    Well, I finally got to see this.  My wife and I went to a matinee the
    day after Christmas and the theatre was jam-packed with kids.  In fact,
    we were probably the only adults there without children (well, my wife
    was there a big kid, but that's different).  Anyways, all the kids were
    extremely well-behaved and were really "into" the movie (they cheered
    and laughed at all the right places, etc.).
    
    Anyways, onto the movie itself.  I thought it was great.  The animation
    was rich and the characters were a lot of fun.  I've got to admit that
    when I first heard they were making this sequel, I had my doubts
    because the original wasn't quite up to regular Disney standards.  But
    this one is quite good.  The animation is superb (the sequences with
    the great golden eagle are the best I've ever seen) and it's a rousing
    adventure.  It's a lot of fun.  If you haven't seen it, find it and see
    it!!
    
    And "The Prince and the Pauper" featurette is a lot of fun.  Like
    someone said in an earlier reply, it's nice to see the old gang back
    together again...
    
    Now onto a few other things.  "The Great Mouse Detective" is being
    re-released (as mentioned before) around March, probably in time for
    Easter vacations and the like.  It's funny though, they're releasing it
    as "The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective", rather than the
    original TGMD title.  I don't see what "The Adventures of..." really
    adds though...
    
    So if TGMD will be out in the Spring, does anyone know what the Summer
    will bring??  "101 Dalmatians"??  (I hope, I hope, I hope...)
    
    And can anyone who has recently returned from the animation tour at the
    Disney/MGM Studios report what they're working on these days??  "Beauty
    and the Beast", most likely.  But maybe a new Roger Rabbit short too?? 
    Any reports??
    
    TTFN,
    - Skip

    Heard on the radio this morning that "The Jungle Book" will be released
    on video May 3rd!!
    
    I imagine you should be able to reserve your copy at the Disney Store
    some time real soon...
    
    - Skip

    I just heard on the radio this morning that the man who was the voice
    of Mickey Mouse passed away.  Sorry, I forget his name.
    
    -Colleen

    Jimmy Macdonald...I believe he was 84.
    
    Mike

    Disney's DuckTales movie, "The Treasure of the Lost Lamp", will hit the
    shelves next week (March 15) retailing for $22.99.
    
    Has anyone seen this??  It came out this past summer but I don't recall
    seeing any reviews (here or in the MOVIES notesfile).  just curious as
    to what it's like...
    
    - Skip

    I took my 6 and 4 year old sons to see DuckTales and they loved
    it due to the great animation, story and non-stop action. I enjoyed
    it also!

    
      I have just finished a fine book on Walt Disney called
      Walt Disney, An American Original. I enjoyed the book and only
      wish it had been longer. The book mentions much of Disney's early
      work and peaked my curiosity. Are cartoons like "Flowers and Trees"
      and "Skeleton Dance" as well as the other early studio works 
      available on video anywhere?
      I must admit, I have not checked at a video store I was just
      wondering if anyone knew.
    
                                Thanks,
    
                                      -Rob
    
    
    
    

    OK Rob, here's the deal - We'll tell you about the videos if you 
    post a report on your cruise! 8-} 8-}
    
    Seriously though, I've spent some time in our local video shop 
    going through the 'fiche of what's available, and there ain't much 
    by legal methods. Our best source of older material is from arts 
    and cartoon shows on TV. Watch out though, some of the classic 
    stuff has been -- say it quietly -- colorised!!
    
    Mike_with_93_days_to_go.

    
       Ok Mike, I can handle that. Check note 237.4.
    
                             -Rob
    
    
        I could have written a longer trip report if I took some kind of
       notes during my trip!!!
    
    

    re: .71-.73
    
    Rob,
    
    Some of the older "classic" Disney shorts were released at one time on
    video but it was quite a while ago and these early tapes are no longer
    available for sale.  But if you have a really good video store, you
    might be able to dig them up.  
    
    I don't know where you live, but for example, I know that Video Signals
    in Acton had several of these older tapes with collections of some of
    the classics.  One tape contained "The Old Mill" which is a change-of-
    pace short for Disney but demonstrates some great effects animation as
    well as what the multi-plane camera was invented for.
    
    I suggest you check out your local video store because it is likely
    that some of these tapes are still available for rent.
    
    - Skip

    re: .70
    
    Thanks for the recommendation on the DuckTales movie.  I rented it last
    week and really enjoyed it.  The animation was quite good (done by
    Disney's French unit... didn't know they had one) and the story was
    fun.  DEfinitely a future addition for the collection...
    
    re: .65
    
    Does anyone know whatever happened to the release of "The Great Mouse
    Detective"??  I thought the trailer I saw Christmastime said around
    March but then, the theatre was full of enthusiastic children...
    
    And it looks like I called it right about the future re-release for the
    summer.  According to Entertainment Tonight and the Disney Easter
    Parade, "101 Dalmatians" will be re-released this summer.  I guess 101
    of the pups were on hand as part of the parade.  I hope this means it's
    coming to video for 1992...
    
    - Skip

    [Two articles I found about Disney distributing computer animated films
    produced by Steve Job's Pixar company.]
    
    
    
    Copyright � 1991 Dow Jones & Co., Inc., All Rights Reserved
    
    The following is output of the DowVision (TM) test system under
    development, contact SDSVAX::SWEENEY for more information.



Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1991
Source: Wall Street Journal
Headline: Disney Agrees To Distribute  Film By Steven Jobs' Pixar
Time: JUL 12 1991 0954

Story:

  Walt Disney Co. said a new film to be produced by Pixar, a small 
computer-animation venture funded by computer guru Steven P. Jobs, will be the 
first full-length animated feature to bear Disney's banner without being 
created at its studio.

  Disney's Buena Vista Pictures Distribution unit said that under an exclusive 
arrangement between the companies, it will distribute "one or more" Pixar 
animated films under the Walt Disney Pictures nameplate. Pixar, based in 
Richmond, Calif., said that Disney will finance and distribute one film and 
has an option on two more.

  "Our dream has been to make the first fully computer-animated feature film. 
Our dream has been to do this with Disney, the company that represents 
animation to most people," said Jobs, Pixar chairman and co-owner with most of 
the company's 45 employees. Jobs also founded Next Inc.

  Pixar is one of a handful of companies using three-dimensional models and 
computers to create a new kind of animation that has become increasingly 
popular in television commercials and short films. This approach gives 
drawings an entirely different, more realistic look than those rendered in the 
traditional hand-drawn style perfected by the Disney animation studio.

  "It's a new art form that has grown out of the science of computer 
graphics," said John Lasseter, a Pixar executive who will write and direct 
what he says will be the first feature-length film using this technology. It's 
not a "cost-saving technology," Lasseter said. However, Jobs suggested that it 
can "leverage artists" so that "the total number of people required to produce 
a feature film will be substantially less."

  Peter Schneider, Walt Disney Studios' senior vice president-animation, said 
the entertainment concern is venturing into "a different field of animation. 
The challenge will be "making you believe these are real characters." 
Schneider doesn't foresee that computerized characters will replace hand-drawn 
ones. "They are two distinctly different art forms."

  Pixar, founded by filmmaker George Lucas as part of his Lucasfilm Ltd., was 
purchased by Jobs and Pixar's employees in 1986.

  Since 1986, Pixar has been co-developing proprietary software with Disney's 
film production unit. Schneider declined to elaborate except to say that the 
software is used in the "technical process rather than the character side" of 
animation.

categoryIndustry I/CPR I/ENT I/REC
categoryMarketSector M/CYC M/TEC
categoryGeographic R/CA R/NME R/PRM R/US
categoryCompany DIS



Subject: Pixar and Disney Announce Computer Animated Film Venture
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 91 18:04:19 EDT
 
Pixar and Disney Announce Venture to Produce the First Full-Length, 
Computer Animated Film
 
Disney's Buena Vista Pictures to Distribute Feature-Length Animated 
Films Produced by Pixar
 
Pt. Richmond, CA (July 11, 1991) -- Pixar, producer of the Academy
Award-winning animated short film "Tin Toy," has signed an exclusive
distribution agreement with Buena Vista Pictures Distribution to
distribute, under the Walt Disney Pictures banner, one or more
feature-length animated films to be produced by Pixar, the northern
California-based animation and software company that has pioneered
computer-generated character animation.
 
The agreement was made in a joint announcement today by Jeffrey
Katzenberg, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios; Richard Cook,
president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; Dr. Edwin E. Catmull,
president of Pixar; and Steven P. Jobs, chairman of Pixar.  Specific
terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
 
Pixar's Oscar-winning resident director and animator John Lasseter will write  
and direct the first feature, which will be produced by Ralph Guggenheim,  
director of animation production for Pixar.  William Reeves, Pixar's director  
of animation research and development, will serve as technical director.
 
Originally formed in 1979 as the Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Division, Pixar  
was acquired by Mr. Jobs and the employees of Pixar in 1986. Since then Pixar  
has continued its industry leadership in the field of computer-generated  
character animation and 3-D computer graphics software with such innovative  
short films as "Luxo Jr.," "Red's  Dream," "Knickknack" and "Tin Toy."  The  
latter received the first Academy Award ever bestowed on an entirely  
computer-generated film.  Collectively, Pixar short films have won nearly every  
U.S. and international animation award.  Pixar has also been co-developing
proprietary software with Disney's film production unit since 1986.
 
Disney's Jeffrey Katzenberg said, "The Walt Disney Studios have always been  
interested in all forms of animation and remains committed to innovation within  
this unique art form.  Pixar is without a doubt the leading creative and  
technological force in the field of computer generated character animation and  
this co-venture will give us the mutual opportunity to explore new areas of the  
entertainment spectrum. We are extremely excited by the prospects of a  
feature-length film utilizing this advanced technology and believe that good  
storytelling can be enhanced by this process.  John Lasseter is an excellent  
film maker and we look forward to our association with him and all his fellow  
wizards at Pixar."
 
Buena Vista's Richard Cook said, "There is a growing appetite among
moviegoers for quality animation and Pixar's innovative approach will
help to expand the audience."
 
"To work with Disney to make the first, full-length, computer animated film has  
been a dream of ours since we founded the company in 1986," said Pixar's Steven  
Jobs.  "Now our dream is being realized and we couldn't be more excited."
 
"We are delighted that Buena Vista will be distributing our first
feature-length production," said Pixar's Edwin Catmull.  "Disney is the  
undisputed pioneer and leader in animation, so it's natural that it is taking a  
leadership position in expanding the art form even further."
 
"Having worked as a Disney animator for five year, I have a tremendous respect  
and admiration for the Studio and the tremendous things Disney has done for  
animation," said Mr. Lasseter.  "Computer animation is not an art form unto  
itself, but a medium like cel or clay animation to create entertaining  
characters and situations which the audience can enjoy.  If we do our job well,  
the technology will be invisible and simply help to create a film classic.   
We're all looking forward to doing our most creative work yet."
 
Lasseter and William Reeves won the 1988 Academy Award for best
animated short film for "Tin Toy."  They have helped create a 
number of short films and television commercials at Pixar:  "Luxo, Jr."  (a  
1986 Oscar nominee), "Red's Dream" (1987), "Tin Toy" (1988 
Oscar) and "Knickknack" (1989), which was produced as a 3-D 
stereoscopic film.  They also designed and animated the Stained Glass 
Knight in the 1985 Steven Spielberg production, "Young Sherlock 
Holmes."
 
Pixar will continue its existing relationship with Colossal Pictures in the  
production of television commercials and broadcast graphics.
 
The company's animation and computer software business groups 
are based on Pixar's software technology, called RenderMan(, that 
enables animators, product designers and artists to create 
photograph-quality pictures on computers.  Pixar also markets 
desktop RenderMan-based software, including MacRenderMan*, 
which was introduced in 1990, and Showplace*, 3-D picture-making 
software for the Macintosh scheduled to be shipped in July 1991.
 
###
 
RenderMan is a registered trademark of Pixar.  MacRenderMan and
Showplace are trademarks of Pixar.
 
 
 
-- 
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  Michael Steele		[email protected] or [email protected]
  Data General Corporation -- Building the finest Workstations in Industry
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    All I can say is....  WOW.
    
    - Skip

From: [email protected] (the Rev. Mom)
Subject: Re: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Summary: Disney's animated: looks *good*!
Keywords: Disney, Ashman, Menken, Perrault, castlist.
Date: 15 Jul 91 21:30:41 GMT
Organization: FPS Computing Inc., San Diego CA
 
 

> [email protected] (Kay Schlumpf) writes:
>
>...I can tell you that Beauty and the
>Beast is coming out at Thanksgiving.  We went
>on the Animation Studio Tour and got to see 
>the animators working on Beauty and the
>Beast.  I don't know about voices or anything,
>because they didn't tell us.
 
Belle		Paige O'Hara (B'way show experience)
Beast		Robby Benson
Gaston		Richard White (NY Opera scene)
Leroux		Jesse Korty (sp?) [he was in LES MISERABLES]
Mrs. Potts	Angela Lansbury
Lumiere		Jerry Orbach
Cogsworth	David Ogden Stiers
 
I went to the San Diego Comic Convention.  :-)
 
Disney was there with bells on, with Dave Stevens giving a panel
on THE ROCKETEER movie (can you believe they filmed a scene where
Neville Sinclair coded a message with a *real* Enigma machine,
and it got cut?), and the director of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST,
showing us clips (combination of pencilled art, completed
animation and storyboards with the soundtrack) and having a
Q&A session afterwards.
 
The opening of the intro-number clip had some narration--I came in
late, so all I can make out on my audio tape is:
 
    ...and the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful
    enchantress.  The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late,
    for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as
    punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed
    a powerful spell upon the castle, and all who lived there.
 
    Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside
    his castle, with his magic mirror as his only link to the outside
    world.  The rose he had plucked was truly an enchanted rose which
    would bloom until his twentieth year.  If he could love another,
    and earn another's love before the last petal fell, the spell
    would be broken.
 
    If not, he would be dooomed to remain a Beast for all time.
 
    As the years passed,  he fell into despair and lost all hope, for
    who could learn to love a Beast?
 
         [segue into opening music]
 
 
The story *has* been changed (following in the grand tradition of
all Disney animated features. :-).  I think Belle's siblings have been
removed, and there's the addition of Gaston--a real Capt.  Stern-like
figure: big jaw, big chest, big jerk.  He wants to marry Belle, and is
the heavy in the story, and later gets drawn into mortal combat with
the Beast.  As a character-setter, the first time you see him on screen
he kills something. :-)  Leroux is his obnoxious little sidekick.  All
the servants at the Beast's castle have been turned into household
objects: therefore you get Mrs. Potts (a teapot), Lumiere (a candlestick)
and Cogsworth (a mantle clock).  Belle's father is a "crackpot
inventor."
 
The score is again done by Ashman and Menken (as is the score for
ALADDIN, which has (so far) a 1992 release date.)  The music is as
good as LITTLE MERMAID's (although there's no calypso beat this
time, things being set firmly in France).  The flavor is very
showtune (like "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "Part of Your World"
in LITTLE MERMAID), with one number down in the kitchen (Beauty has
met the Beast for the first time, and fought with him, and later sneaks
into the kitchen for something to eat) turning into a big Busby
Berkeley/Esther Williams type number with overhead shots of
geometric arrangements of the silverware. :-)  Lumiere [Jerry Orbach]
does a *great* Maurice Chevalier imitation.  The tune is very
reminiscent of "Les Poissons" (in the same way "Part of Your
World" was a lot like "Somewhere That's Green" from LITTLE SHOP
OF HORRORS.)  The title song is sung by Angela Lansbury as
background for a dinner scene with Belle and the Beast, and it's
lovely.
 
The opening number establishes Belle as a character rather similar
to Ariel: wishing for a larger world, and a chance to prove herself,
and also a little out of step with everyone around her.  Paige O'Hara's
voice is similar to Jodi Benson's, too.
 
As for Robby Benson--well, they assiduously kept the Beast out of
the clips that I saw, so I couldn't say.  But when the director
told us he was doing the voice of the Beast, everybody sort of
groaned/gaped, and he said, "Yeah, we were just as surprised when
we heard."  But he also went on to say that out of all the actors
who auditioned, Benson was the only one who brought a humor and
depth to the character; that everybody else was sort of flat,
basic baritone.  Considering the success of the casting of Prince
Eric in LITTLE MERMAID, I'm hoping for the best.
 
And no, the Beast looks absolutely nothing Vincent. :-)
>From few snippets that showed glimpses of the Beast, he's a
composite of a lot of different animals, with a head that's more
wolflike than anything else.  There was also a shot of an
animator leaping about with a big cloak for some reference
footage.
 
The animation is wonderfully deft.  Even in the unfinished
state in which we saw it, the audience was constantly moved to
laughter by exquisitely timed gags.  The director also mentioned
that computer animation *was* being used (the Beast's horsedrawn
carriage being cited).
 
Looks like it's gonna definitely be worth the price of the
ticket.
 
--Kathy Li aka the Rev. Mom
--
  [email protected]         |  Tale as old as time/ Song as old as rhyme:
 ..ucsd.edu!celit!kathy |  Beauty and the Beast.
 DO NOT USE hanff!!!    |     --Title song, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
 Standard disclaimer    |     score by Ashman & Menken, sung by Angela Lansbury

    "Who Discovered Roger Rabbit?", a prequel to "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"
    is slated for release in 1993.
    
    Heard this on the radio.
    
    Mike

    You can now buy animation cels from "The Little Mermaid" through the
    Disney Store.  I was up in the Nashua store last night and they have a
    catalog of available cels from which to choose your purchase.  The
    catalog is also available for sale for $6.95.
    
    Now, the nitty-gritty.  Most of the cels are very expensive, in the
    neighborhood of $1500-$3000.  They are some for "only" $850, but the
    ones of the main characters like Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, Ursula,
    etc., are the more expensive ones.
    
    So if you're a big fan of TLM and have a few grand lying around that
    you don't know what to do with, head on up to the Disney Store.
    
    BTW, "Rescuers Down Under" on Sept. 20, be there or be square.
    
    - Skip

    I went to my local Disney Store the other day and pre-purchased both
    Rescuer's and Fantasia. As usual you will receive a watch with each.
    There is also a special Fantasia commemorative offer for $89.95 where
    you receive the video. an extra video on the making of Fantasia, the
    watch, a litho, and a CD. Rescuer's will be available on 9/17 and
    Fantasia 10/29. Happy Shopping 

re:  .-1
    
>   I went to my local Disney Store the other day and pre-purchased both
>   Rescuer's and Fantasia. As usual you will receive a watch with each.
>   There is also a special Fantasia commemorative offer for $89.95 where
>   you receive the video. an extra video on the making of Fantasia, the
>   watch, a litho, and a CD. Rescuer's will be available on 9/17 and
    Fantasia 10/29. 
    
    
    I've already mentioned elsewhere that Disney Stores only will be
    carrying it in VHS.  I ordered it in Beta from the BETA STORE on 7th
    Street in Phoenix, but now I'm going to have to finagle to get the
    watch.
    
    tom
    

    The Disney stores usually have some of the watches for sale after all
    of the pre-purchased videos have been distributed. Price is minimal.
    
    Linda

    I was in BJ's (Westboro) at lunchtime and they had "Rescuers Down
    Under" (boxes of 'em) for $14.49, but like a bonehead, I didn't pick
    one up.  I think I'll have to make a return trip after work... because
    unlike *some* people, I'm not leaving for WDW this weekend or will be
    on the radio doing live trip reports or will be celebrating my birthday
    at the Hoop De Doo next summer... so I guess I have to get my Disney
    fix from other sources.
    
    - Skip

Article: 3931
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney,rec.arts.animation
Subject: Beauty and the Beast
Date: 24 Sep 91 20:49:59 GMT
Organization: CIT, Cornell University
 
 
Just to stir up some more interest in Disney's latest movie, I'm posting an
excerpt from the October issue of Premiere Magazine.  The article is
"Premiere's Ultimate Fall Preview".
 
    
                   BEAUTY     AND   THE   BEAST
 
    "Animated; Written by Linda Woolverton; original score by Alan
     Menken; songs by Menken and Howard Ashman; directed by Gary Trou-
     sdale and Kirk Wise; starring the voices of Paige O'Hara, Angela
     Lansbury, and Jerry Orbach; from Walt Disney Pictures.
 
     IN A NUTSHELL: Iconoclastic Belle spurns the advances of Gaston for
     the interspecies charm of the Beast.
    
     ON THE SPOT: Jeffery Katzenberg, who finally found actors that he
     could paint into a corner.
 
     UPSIDE: The Ashman-Menken team made 'The Little Mermaid' a smash,
     and Disney animation is not to be sneezed at.
 
     DOWNSIDE: Animation tends to top out at around $80 million.  Robby
     Benson is the voice of the Beast--do they know something we don't?
 
     OSCAR CHANCES: Excellent for Best Song nomination.
 
     WORDS FROM THE WISE: Disney was feverishly perfectionist, and Kat-
     zenberg--who tells everyone that animation is now his favorite film
     medium--was intimately involved in the project, even to the point
     of turning from mogul to ink-stained wretch.  'He rewrote the last
     scene with the writers,' says Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle.  'He
     wanted it to be longer and more dramatic, to make them cry a little
     more.' "
 
 
Let's hope Katzenburg didn't overdo it.  "Divine intervention" has occurred
before: in "The Little Mermaid", the original ending was supposed to be the
wedding barge sailing away under the rainbow.  A person who had more of a
Katzenburg line of employment suggested the kiss as the concluding scene. 
It worked just fine, in my opinion.  Can any of you trivia buffs name this
person?  I can't--I just remember reading the article.
 
 
-Brian Soriano

    Warning below contains some spoiler info on Beauty and the Beast, press
    next unseen (,) now if you don't want to know.
    
    Claude
    
    
Article: 4322
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
From: [email protected]
Subject: Potential spoilers!  Beauty and the Beast
Sender: [email protected] (USENET News System)
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1991 21:55:28 GMT
 
	On October 16, a special Disney presentation was made at the University
of Houston.  The presentation involved a slide show and a half hour video, the
entire presentation lasting about one and a half hours.  In the slide show, we
were shown stills from many Disney movies, a long series of sketches and stills
from Beauty and the Beast and photographs of those involved with the movie. 
Also, in the narration of the slide show, we were given a summary of the story, 
(everything but the climax--ARGH!), although we were assured that the story
ended (surprise) happily ever after.  The video featured three songs from 
Beauty and the Beast in addition to many other clips from the film and showed
the artists and actors/actresses in action in producing the movie.  Then, after
the presentation, everyone got a free Beauty and the Beast button (featuring
Belle, the beauty), and there were many posters to be had.  (There are two
different posters, one with a silhouette of Beauty and the Beast and another
with Beauty and all the delightful characters of the castle, the former being
aimed at adults and the latter at children.)  That was the conclusion of the
special Disney presentation.
	For those who don't know, Beauty and the Beast is coming out on
November 22, evidently to get a running start for the holiday season.
	Now, if you're super sensitive and don't want to know a single thing
about Beauty and the Beast stop reading here.  If you're not so sensitive, read
on as what follows is mild spoiler material.
 
	The video opened just as the movie will, narrating the history of the
prince turned beast.  What I remember best right now of this opening sequence
is the "stained glass window" effect as each part of the narrative is
illustrated by what looks like stained glass.  Then we saw the sequence with
"Belle's Song." This song is an intricate and beautiful piece, and the 
animation was delightful, full of sight gags.  I thought "Belle's Song" was 
good, but in no way did it compare to the next song we heard, "Gaston's Song." 
It seems to me that "Belle's Song" was simply good music whereas "Gaston's Song"
was music_made_ to be animated.  "Gaston's Song" was absolutely hilarious and 
because of the combined effect of the song and animation, I was doubled over 
with laughter.  I have honestly never laughed so long and loud because of one 
song.  Yet, as good as "Gaston's Song" was "Be Our Guest" was the song sequence
that sent chills up my spine.  I suppose that was largely due to the incredible,
computer-enhanced animation.  This song sequence was an animation spectacular,
reminding me of many other Disney movies (Alice in Wonderland and Little
Mermaid in particular).  As memory-invoking as the song sequence was, it went
beyond anything that I recall, featuring smooth and quick "camera" movement,
changing the perspective to make the whole sequence come alive.  The characters
dance and sing, of course, and I just sat in a state of total happiness as I
sat and watched.
	The film accompanying "Belle's Song" had Belle singing and reading (her
favorite book) as she walked blindly but effortlessly through the busy village.
The sequence demonstrates Belle's love for books and her weariness of the 
"provincial life."  As I've said, there are numerous sight gags in this 
sequence, as well as in the other sequences, so many sight gags and brilliant
lines that I can't (and shouldn't) detail them all.  As for "Gaston's Song," 
though, it's set in an innocent tavern, Gaston's obsequious sidekick sings 
Gaston's praises, and, being vain to no end, Gaston sings his own praises. 
Among the lesser of the hilarious lines I recall, Gaston sings, "I've got a
bicep to spare" as he easily lifts three lovesick blondes into the air.  This
sequence concludes with the entrance of Beauty's father, Francis, who asks
Gaston for help, and Gaston does indeed help him out.  Then in "Be Our Guest,"
Belle is serenaded by all of the enchanted and delightful servants.  The forks,
spoons, plates, cups, chairs and whatnot, all accompany the clock, teapot and
candlabra.
 
	The entire presentation was simply tremendous, and I am VERY excited
about seeing the whole movie.  I expect that Beauty and the Beast will break
The Little Mermaid's box office record rather easily.
 
	Davidius
 

Article: 4332
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney,rec.arts.movies
From: [email protected]
Subject: Upcoming Disney attractions
Sender: [email protected] (USENET News System)
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1991 01:53:35 GMT
 
	During a special Disney presentation I attended, I learned of Disney's
upcoming animated attractions.
	Of course, scheduled for theatrical release on November 22 is Beauty 
and the Beast; the speculative video release date (speculative because video
release depends on market demand) is some time in June of 1992.  I anticipate
a video release because the segments I've seen of Beauty and the Beast are 
tremendous, and, IMHO, Beauty and the Beast will likely break the box office 
records of The Little Mermaid.
	The two next animated attractions from Disney will be Aladdin (1992) 
and King of the Jungle (1993).  After that, there's a Tim Burton (the former 
Disney artist who directed Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Batman) project with a 
dark title that I managed to forget.  Then, watch for Fantasia Continued, Swan 
Lake and Who Discovered Roger Rabbit (the last partly animation and partly live
action like its predecessor).  Naturally, all of them sounded good
conceptually, and the synopses we heard for Aladdin and King of the Jungle make
the movies sound like the usual high quality of Disney animated attractions. 
In fact, we were shown the poster for Aladdin which was quite striking.
	I know I'm looking forward to these upcoming attractions.
 
	Davidius

    
    	The tentative title of the upcoming Tim Burton - Walt Disney
    project is " The Nightmare Before Christmas. " Dialogue recordings are
    already being done in Burbank for this film. Among the folks contributing
    their vocal talents to the project is Burton's old pal, Paul Reubens
    ( AKA Pee Herman ).
    	By the way, this won't be the first time Burton's worked for Uncle
    Walt. During the early '80s, he was an animator for the company and 
    created two wonderfully weird little films, " Vincent " and " Franken-
    weenie. " ( Though -- on second thought -- maybe they were a little
    * TOO * weird for Walt. Disney never really released these two to
    theaters. The only time I've ever seen them have been at animation 
    festivals )
    	Anyway, expect this film -- reportedly Disney's first feature
    length * STOP MOTION * animated motion picture -- to appear in theaters
    just before Halloween 1994.

Article: 5009
From: [email protected] (Krishnan P Viswanath)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Aladdin  - Genie's voice
Date: 21 Nov 91 16:01:22 GMT
Sender: [email protected] (USENET News System)
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
 
 
 Just came back from WDW. Hotnews is that Robin Williams is doing the
voice for the genie and from the initial drawings of the genie, it looks
like another Disney superstar in the making.
 
Nov 6th 1992, Splash Mountain is scheduled to open in Magic K.
Little Mermaid tour in Disney-MGM is scheduled to open in Dec 1991.
And in 1994, they are planning a 'Twilight Zone' ride at Disney-MGM.
 
With so many Dinosaurs abound, one would guess that a 'Jurassic Park' is
in the making.
 
Crowd slast week was minimal. No tour guides necessary. 
Of what I saw, space mountain at Magic K and Star Tours at Disney-MGM
were the
best they offer, besides those jamborees etc..
And, just do not worry about any passes etc. You can get any combination
of tickets anywhere in Orlado. Illegal or not, there is abig business
going on there..

    Well, I was amused to see a coming attraction for "The Adventures of
    the Great Mouse Detective" with "Beauty and the Beast" Friday night. 
    It felt like deja vu because we saw the same thing last year with
    "Rescuers Down Under" (see 15.65).
    
    Anyways, *maybe* it'll come out this time.  Springtime, the trailer
    said.  And I was glad to see that they cut out one scene from the
    trailer which gave away part of the ending...
    
    - Skip

    From "Entertainment Weekly" (3/27/92):
    
    "MOVIES:  That's definitely not all, folks, for Roger Rabbit:  The
    furry star of the 1988 smash "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" will grace yet
    another cartoon short, appearing this time with the irascible Baby
    Herman in a tale about a trip to the country that runs amok.  Roger's
    third short, following "Rollercoaster Rabbit" (1990) and "Tummy
    Trouble" (1989), will get "double billing" with a movie to be named
    later..."
    
    Cool.  My guess is that it will be released this summer with "Honey. I
    Blew Up the Baby", the sequel to "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids".
    
    - Skip

    
    	According to friends at the studio, the tenative title for the
    forthcoming Roger Rabbit short is " Trail Mix Up. " And -- while it
    would truly be snazzy if Disney tacked this new 'toon onto the front
    of " Honey, I Blew Up the Kid " ( Just as " Tummy Trouble " was 
    shown in front of " Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." Disney executives now
    feel that having the Roger Rabbit short in front of the original 
    " Honey, I ... " film added $ 20 - $ 30 million to that film's box 
    office take. So -- this time around -- they're hoping a new RR 'toon
    adds similiar mileage to the upcoming sequel's theatrical run ... Quick
    side note. Based on that assumption, " The Rocketeer " might have
    actually made a profit last summer if Disney had gone ahead with its
    plan to put a Roger Rabbit cartoon in front of that flick. They had
    even begin animation on the short -- which would have been called 
    " Hare in My Soup " -- when Spielberg pulled the plug on production.
    Why for ? Some say he was still sore that Disney opted to put the 
    second Roger Rabbit short, " Rollercoaster Rabbit, " in front of 
    " Dick Tracy " instead of the Amblin/Hollywood Picture production
    of " Aracniphobia. " So -- seeing as Disney and Spielberg share
    the copywright on the Roger Rabbit characters -- Steve waited 'til
    Disney had actually begun production on the new short before
    announcing that he did * NOT * give * HIS * permission to go forward
    this short. Eisner and crew objected strongly, but -- in the end --
    reluctantly stopped production on the film. Why for ? They still 
    have hopes on producing one or two sequels to the original " Roger
    Rabbit " feature films, which -- they hope -- will generate jillions
    of bucks for the Disney company. So -- 'til those get made -- Disney
    always tries to make nice with Uncle Steve .... Whew ! So much for
    the short aside .... ) --- Now where were we ?  Oh yeah ..
    
    	ANYWAY -- Disney would love to tack " Trail Mix Up " on to the
    front of " Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, " but -- according to folks in
    Disney's animation department -- there's just not enough time 'til
    " Honey, I Blew ... " is scheduled to be released to complete work
    on the short.
    
    	The word out of " Burbank " is that Disney's animation department
    is so clogged up -- due to the frantic finished work that's being done
    on this year's animated feature, " Aladdin, " as well as the start-up 
    of production of * NEXT * year's animated feature, " King of the
    Jungle " -- that Disney doesn't have any animators to spare for " Trail
    Mix Up. " There is talk that Disney might " farm out " production of 
    the forthcoming RR short. What with the new boom in animation, there 
    are suddenly a lot of talented little studios out there with artists
    on staff that could easily churn out a high quality Roger Rabbit 'toon.
    	
    	In a month or so, we'll know better whether or not Roger Rabbit
    will be returning to " a theater near you " this summer or this fall.
    Til then ... 
    				stay 'tooned ... 

    
    	Here's an update on next year's animated feature from Disney, 
    " King of the Jungle " :
    
     After a long and involved development period, production is finally
    getting underway on this project. Linda Wolverton, the writer credited
    for " Beauty & the Beast " 's screenplay, also does those honors here.
    The film's story -- about a young lion who is cheated out his rightful
    role as leader of his pride by his scheming brother -- will be a throw-
    back to " Bambi, " a story about animals done in a deliberately
    naturalistic manner. Music and songs for the film have been created by
    Elton John and Tim ( " Jesus Christ Superstar " ) Rice -- but don't
    expect any of the animals in this film to break into song. Again, the 
    accent is animals behaving like animals.
    
    	Though Disney has been auditioning actors for months now to voice 
    various parts in the film, to date only one performer has been
    officially cast : Robert Guilluame of TV's " Benson. " What character
    he'll be doing voice work for ... Hard to say. Disney -- knowing that
    this film will be a much harder " sell " to audiences than more
    traditional fare like " Little Mermaid, " " Beauty & the Beast, " and 
    " Aladdin " -- is playing this one very close to the vest. They don't
    want too much info to leak to soon about this particular project.
    
    	Even so, animators working on this project talk about the numbers
    of additional drawing classes they're taking to brush up their skills
    at created animated animals that really look and move like * REAL *
    * LIVE * animals. They also talk about how the backgrounds being 
    created for the film are striving to capture the real rough beauty of
    the plains of Africa.
    
    	Intriguing sounding, yes ? Hopefully -- as Disney wraps up
    work on " Aladdin " over the next few months and moves most of the 
    animation staff over to work on " King of the Jungle " -- we'll get
    additional info on this project. But -- right up front -- I should 
    warn you that this one is * NOT * gonna be cute. Disney's going to
    try to push the edges of animation a little further again, to 
    challenge their new generation of animtors to top the artistry of
    " Bambi. " ( A lot of the staff considers this film a training 
    exercise for the new sequences currently being planned for " Fantasia
    Continued. " )
    
    	People who are fans of more traditional Disney animated features
    shouldn't get too put out though. If they don't like " King of the
    Jungle " ( Tenative release date : November 1993 ), they just have
    to wait 'til November 1994, when Disney unveils its version of 
    " Swan Lake. " I'm told that the team that produced " Beauty & the 
    Beast " will perform similiar chores on this project, so expected a
    sweeping romantic funny adventurous film stuffed in your Christmas
    stocking come 1994.
    
    	Beyond that ... Well, the sequel to " Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? "
    is back on the shelf. Disney's now on its 12th draft of a proposed
    prequel, but they and Spielberg ( The producer of the original film,
    also co-owner of the character copywright ) can't agree on what
    should be going on in the second film. Should it be a prequel to the
    first film -- covering Roger's early days in Hollywood ? Or should it
    a follow-up to the original film, with Roger and Eddie Valiant teaming
    up for another adventure ? All that's certain now is that it'll be 
    at least two years before we'll see a new " Roger Rabbit " feature 
    film in " a theater near you. "
    
    	On the upside of this, Spielberg & Disney * HAVE * agreed that
    there'll be at least one more " Roger Rabbit " short subject. Look
    for an announcement about this following the release of the now-in-
    production short, " Trail Mix-Up."
    	
                                      

    
    >Here's an update on next year's animated feature from Disney, 
    >"King of the Jungle" :
    
    >The film's story -- about a young lion who is cheated out his rightful
    >role as leader of his pride by his scheming brother -- will be a throw-
    >back to "Bambi," a story about animals done in a deliberately
    >naturalistic manner.
    
    Not _too_ naturalistic, apparently, since lions don't live in the
    jungle.  (It's far too wet a climate for lions).
    
    - David
    

    
    RE : - 1
    
    	Yeah, so lions don't live in the jungle. Mice also don't have three
    fingers and wear red pants. This is * DISNEY * we're talking about, David.
    Entertainment, not rocket science. While the title may be technically 
    incorrect, I'm sure that 99.999 % of the general viewing public gets 
    the idea / intent of the studio choosing that title.
    
    	Any other minor points you want to quibble about ?
    
    				      jrh

    
    >Yeah, so lions don't live in the jungle. Mice also don't have three
    >fingers and wear red pants. This is * DISNEY * we're talking about, David.
    
    This is true, but I don't think Disney ever made any claims about
    Mickey Mouse cartoons being naturalistic.
    
    >While the title may be technically incorrect, I'm sure that 99.999 % of 
    >the general viewing public gets the idea / intent of the studio choosing 
    >that title.
    
    Yes, I'm sure they will, as lions have been called "King of the
    Jungle" since long before I was around.  (Lions are also called "King
    of the Desert in many parts of the world, even though they don't live
    in deserts, either.  And, of course, the Cowardly lion wanted to be
    "King of the Forest" . . .)
    
    - David
    
    
    

Article 8366 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: [email protected] (snopes)
Subject: 'Pinocchio' Restoration
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Sender: [email protected] (News)
Organization: Salivation Army
Date: 12 JUN 92 08:01:39    
Lines: 48


   When Walt Disney's "Pinocchio" opened in February, 1940, Saturday Review 
critic Thomas Burton praised Disney as an "artist of astringent perfection who 
mixes his colors into the right proportions of wit, fantasy, art and texture."
   When the film opens in its seventh reissue on June 26, viewers will have the 
chance to see its colors and contrasts at "the standards set by Walt Disney 
himself," according to studio spokesmen.  Disney's second and, arguably, most 
technically perfect animated feature has been extensively restored, as 
"Fantasia" was before its 50th anniversary re-release in 1990.
   Restoration supervisor Pete Comandini of YCM labs explains that his team 
reinforced splices and repaired tears in the original nitrate camera negative.
Dirt or dust particles that remained after the film had been cleaned were 
physically removed from the individual frames with a razor blade.  Comandini, 
who has overseen work on most of the Disney films of the '30s and '40s, says 
"Pinocchio" was easier to restore than "Fantasia."
   "'Fantasia' was very fatiguing because there was so much of it: There were 
only 10 reels of 'Pinocchio,' and the material wasn't in such bad shape.  
'Fantasia' had been used for a lot of promotional material over the years -- TV 
shows, trailers, etc. -- and all that handling did a lot of damage to it.  Most 
labs are not set up to deal with something than shrunken or brittle."
   After cleaning, a new master positive was struck using a "liquid gate" 
contact printer that removes superficial scratches and abrasions: YCM received 
a technical Academy Award for the process earlier this year.
   While Comandini was at work on the visuals, a crew at the Disney sound 
department headed by recording mixer Terry Porter and chief engineer Steve Boze 
were preserving and repairing the soundtrack.  The original magnetic composite 
tracks were given a "sonic bath" to remove surface noise and correct the 
equalization for modern playback equipment.  The monaural tracks then converted 
to Dolby stereo.
   The restored film will be screened in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio at 
the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.  New prints shown elsewhere will have 
special black masking to ensure the image appears in the correct proportions, 
even when shown in the modern 1.85 format.
   Industry observers will be watching the box-office tallies with special 
interest: "Pinocchio" is the first film to receive a major theatrical 
re-release after appearing on videocassette.  "Pinocchio" became the first of 
the classic Disney features to be issued on cassette in July, 1985.  Eight 
months later, the studio stopped making cassettes, and the film went out of 
circulation as the stock in video stores was exhausted.
   "It's our belief that 'Pinocchio' is an evergreen that will continue to 
entertain families for generations to come," says Dick Cook, president, Buena 
Vista Pictures Distribution.  "The restoration process has brought the film 
back to its original beauty, and we think it will be a big hit for families 
this summer.  There's something about the communal effect of watching a film on 
a big screen with an audience in a darkened theatre that really makes you 
suspend disbelief: Something magical happens, and each new generation should be 
able to enjoy that experience."

Article 8545 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: [email protected] (Robert Cook)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Upcoming features
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 1 Sep 92 13:56:13 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
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Nntp-Posting-Host: sdcc13.ucsd.edu

Just in case anyone's interested, here is a list of the next eight
animation features to be released by Disney:

Aladdin  (a surprise, I'm sure)
King of the Jungle
Pocahontas
Swan Lake
Sinbad Tales
Silly Hillbillies on Mars
Song of the Sea
Fantasia Continued


I'm not sure if this is the order they'll appear in.  This is how
they are listed in Variety, June 29 1992:5.  The word comes directly
from Jeff Katzenberg himself, I think.

I dunno, they don't really impress me that much as a whole.  If I saw
something like The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast in that
lineup, I'd be on pins and needles waiting for it.  They sound good,
that's all, not spectacular--I'd love to be proved wrong.  My bet
for the still-rumored all computer animated feature would be
Silly Hillbillies on Mars.

Any additions/corrections/reactions?

- Robert Cook

    
    RE : Listing of Upcoming Disney Animated Features
    
     My advice is one should take definitive lists like this with a grain 
    of salt. Given the up-and-down, feast-and-famine nature of the film 
    industry, there are no guarantees that all of the proposed projects on
    that list will make it off the drawing board.
    
     CASE IN POINT : A year ago, Disney -- as part of the pre-opening hype
    for " Beauty & the Beast " -- released a similiar list. Among the
    projects listed * THEN * were " Tiny the Alligator " ( Remember all
    the stories you heard as a kid about baby alligators that got flushed
    down the toilet which grew to be huge monsters lurking in the sewers ?
    Well, this film would have been about one such 'gator -- a benign kind
    of guy called Tiny -- who decides to come out of the sewers one day and
    tour 1950's Manhattan. I know it doesn't sound like much of a story, 
    but -- this time last year -- the folks at Disney were quite
    enthusiastic about this project ) and " Humphrey the Whale " ( This
    story some of you folks might remember from the news a few years back,
    about that whale that got confused in San Francisco Bay and started 
    swimming up river ? This film would have presented the humorous story-
    behind-the-story about that event. Again, it sounds kind of dry now --
    but Disney animators really were gung-ho about this story last fall ).
    
    	Anywho, you get the idea. Just 'cause a project's announced doesn't
    mean that it'll actually get done. Looking over that list, the five films
    that you can be reasonably sure will make it to the silver screen are : 
    
    	* " Aladdin " ( Again, what a surprise )
    
    	* " King of the Jungle " ( Already in production )
    
    	* " Pocahontas " ( Currently in pre-production. Supposedly, this
    will be the first Disney feature that will be fully animated at their
    Disney-MGM Studio facility. )
    
    	* " Swan Lake " ( This one's a lock. After the last two features
    -- which will admittedly be dramatic departures from the usual Disney
    fare -- this film will be a welcome return to the " Happily Ever After "
    form that Disney does so well. )
    
    	* " Fantasia Continued " ( Again, a lock. But do keep in mind that
    we're only talking about 30 new minutes of animation this time. Disney
    animators will be working over-time to insure that any new sequences to
    be placed in this film are of equal quality to the sequences they 
    replace, you can be sure. But still, we're only talking about 30
    minutes of new footage ... Of course, when the 2001 edition of " Fantasia
    Continued " comes out with 30 additional minutes of new footage, and
    then the 2006 edition comes out with 30 minutes of new footage, * THEN * 
    we'll be talking about a brand new feature ... But that's some fifteen
    years or so down the line )
    
    	Beyond that, well ... " Sinbad Tales " is possible, but you have 
    to understand that director John ( " Animal House, " " An American
    Werewolf in London " and the forthcoming " Innocent Blood " ) Landis
    is supposedly currently in pre-production on an animated feature based
    on the ' Sinbad ' stories. If that feature makes it off the ground,
    you can be sure Disney won't got forward with its version. 
    	As for the other two ... " Silly Hillbillies on Mars " is supposedly
    based on an intriguing childern's book that Disney will soon be
    publishing through its publishing division, Hyperion Press. " Song of
    the Sea " ... I have to admit I've haven't heard anything about. I
    guess I'll have to give my friends at the studio a call and see what
    gives.
    	As for Disney's rumored completely-computer-generated-animated-film
    ... Well, it's * NOT * a rumor. It's in production now and it's based 
    -- in part -- on the 1990 Academy Award winning Short Subject, " Tin 
    Toy. " Produced by Pixar ( The firm that Disney signed its deal with 
    a year or so back to produced computer-generated-animation for the 
    company a year or so back ), the short dealt with a tiny tin soldier 
    and a * HUGE * baby and how the ' Tin Toy ' tried to escape being 
    mangled by the baby ... Well, that short could sort of be considered
    the leaping off point for the feature. There's no word yet on when
    this completely-computer-animated-feature-film will be released to
    theaters, though I have heard that -- due to the somewhat questionable
    commercial prospects of " King of the Jungle " and " Pocahontas " --
    Eisner would like the studio's computer projects in theaters for the
    summer of 1994. Of course, this is the same time period Uncle Mike
    wants the long-awaited " Roger Rabbit " sequel in theaters too ... So
    I guess we'll have to wait and see who wins out in the end.
    
    	Any other questions ?
    						jrh

    Caught and ad last night on CBS, Seems Disney is doing a Little Mermaid
    Special this Friday  (Sept.    11th)  at  either  8:00 or 8:30pm (sorry
    forgot the time mention,  but  I  did  remember  the  date  ;^)).  It's
    apparently a new 30 minute  feature starring Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder
    and a new Whale character that Ariel finds and adopts or something.
    
    Anyway check your local listing for times etc.
    
    Claude

    Actually, Claude, there's a little more to it than just the show on
    Friday night, which is more or less a sneak preview.  Disney's "The
    Little Mermaid" will now be part of the CBS Saturday morning line-up,
    starting on the 12th.  The series will be a prequel to the events of
    the movie and feature most of the same underwater cast, as well as some
    musical numbers.
    
    - Skip

    A couple more things on Disney Saturday morning 'toons...
    
    Jodi Benson and Sam Wright will be supplying the voices of Ariel and
    Sebastion in the "Little Mermaid" show.
    
    CBS also has "Raw Toonage" from Disney, which is a cartoon variety show
    of sorts with different hosts each week, like Sebastian, Ludwig Von
    Drake and some new characters as well.
    
    "Goof Troop" debuts on ABC with Goofy as a single parent, raising his
    son, Max.  Pete and family are his next-door neighbors.  This show is
    also a new addition to the Disney Afternoon.
    
    And "Darkwing Duck" and "Winnie the Pooh" return to ABC as part of
    their Saturday morning.
    
    The best part of all this is that none of them have conflicting time
    slots!!  :-)
    
    "Sorry, honey, I can't do the lawn this morning; I have to settle down
    in front of the tv with my bowl of cereal and a big glass of chocolate
    milk instead..."
    
    - Skip

    	Goof Troop!!!  That sounds great.  I hope it stands up to the old
    Goofy cartoons, those are the absolute best!  Those ones on driving,
    skiing etc are my favorites.  I hope the animation is up to snuff and
    not that cheapo stuff that most Saturday morning stuff has.  It would
    be a shame to have these characters, who are after all the founding
    fathers of animation characters, treated like any other Saturday
    morning cartoons.
    
    Tom

    Caught an  episode  of  Goof  Troop over the weekend on Channel 38, not
    bad, but I  noticed  a  new  appearence  in  the  annimation  of Goofy.
    Instead of the normal  fleshtone  for  his  mouth/nose,  he had a light
    brown coloring (maybe a Suntan ;^)).    I don't know but he just didn't
    seem like Goofy to me with the darker tone.
    
    Claude

    Well I  taped  Friday TLM special and thought it was rather well   done
    for a Saturday Morning  Cartoon  show.    It  had  a  couple cute songs
    (although  I thought that Jodi Benson's voice faltered here and  there,
    maybe  because Ariel is supposed to be 14 in this?), had  most  of  the
    favorite supporting cast, Flounder, Sebastian, Triton (but no Scuttle).
    If Disney can continue with the quality of the special in the reaminder
    of the series this one  will  be  a winner for Saturday morning cartoon
    fare.
    
    Claude

    I also got the impression that this was a younger, more impulsive
    Ariel. I wonder if all the shows will have a song or two. I just caught
    a small bit of Goof Troop and I thought that the animation seemed a bit
    "off" from what I'm used to seeing from Disney. I just couldn't put my
    finger on it.
    
    Mike

    I was also disappointed in the --  gawersh, how do I describe  the 
    Goofy yell -- you know the "ya hoo hoo hoo hooey" call that he does when
    he goes over a cliff or whatever in the classic cartoons.
    
    Who ever was doing Goofy's voice could not do the Goofy yell very well.
    
    I also was expecting better animation, it was more like the typical
    Saturday cartoons than like Disney animation.
    

Article 9168 of rec.arts.disney:
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!pa.dec.com!oct17.dfe.dec.com!club33@stlth.enet.dec.com!mikkelson
From: snopes%[email protected] (snopes)
Subject: Rare Disney silents found
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Sender: [email protected] (Usenet News Account)
Organization: Will work for food, but not for DEC.
Date:  7 OCT 92 07:35:44    


                        Rare Disney silents found


   AMSTERDAM -- The Dutch Film Museum has unearthed what it believes are the 
only surviving copies of six early Walt Disney films, silents made between 1923 
and 1927, spokesman Rene Wolf said Tuesday.
   The films, each lasting five to ten minutes, are among 15 short Disney films 
discovered recently in the museum's Amsterdam archives where they apparently 
lay unnoticed for decades, Wolf said.
   "As far as we've been able to ascertain, no one, not even the Disney 
archives in Los Angeles, has these six titles, he added.
   Walt Disney Co. spokesman Frank Lomento said Tuesday the Burbank-based 
company was unaware of the find and had no comment.
   Wolf said Disney worked personally on the films as part of an "Alice in 
Cartoonland" series intended as a sequel to his earlier "Alice in Wonderland," 
based on the book by Lewis Carroll.
   Four more of the 15 titles are valuable finds as they appear to be more 
complete copies than any held elsewhere, Wolf said.
   The 35mm black-and-white films, with titles like "Alice in the Big League," 
"Alice the Firefighter" and "Alice's Day at Sea," are captioned in Dutch.
   They are an early example of combined live action and animation, featuring a 
young actress playing Alice superimposed on a cartoon background.
   The films will be shown at next month's Pordenone silent film festival in 
Italy, the spokesman reported.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|"On January 5, 23-year-old Jay Fosdick died, only to be cut up and boiled    |
| by Mrs. Foster over the protests of Mrs. Fosdick.  Soon after, the frenzied |
| Mr. Foster chased down, shot, and killed two Indians to eat them."          |
|                                                                             |
|                          Jayred Diamond - "Living Through the Donner Party" |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  David P. Mikkelson   Digital Equipment Corporation   Culver City, CA  USA  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

    
    Here's an update on the animated films currently has in the pipeline :
    
    	In the summer of 1993, look for " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "
    to make a return to your local theater. Expect Disney to promote the
    heck out this film and -- though they've sworn up and down that this
    film will * NEVER * be released on video -- look for Ms. White and her
    seven short friends to turn up on home video in 1994.
    
    	That fall, look for Disney's first ever feature length stop-motion
    animated film to turn up in theaters. Now called " The Nightmare Before
    Christmas, " this project comes from the warped imagination of former-
    Disney-animator-now-hot-feature-film-director Tim Burton, so expect
    something pretty crazed. The storyline ? Well, it's about this skeleton
    who gets jealous because Halloween is only celebrated once a year,
    while Christmas stretches out over weeks and weeks ... So he kidnaps 
    Santa Claus. As for the rest of the story ... Well, if you liked 
    " Edward Scissorhand, " I'm sure you'll * LOVE * " Nightmare. " ( By
    the way, Paul Reubens AKA Pee Wee Herman is doing the voice of the
    skeleton. )
    
    	Then -- in the summer of 1994 -- look for " The Lion King " 
    ( Formerly known as " King of the Jungle " ) to roll into theaters.
    Disney's already hard at work on this project, which -- or so I'm 
    told -- will be the '90's version of " Bambi. " Pop Star Elton John
    has written several songs for the film, while " Beauty & the Beast " 
    screenwriter Linda Woolverton is handling the script -- so the 
    project seems in pretty good hands. To date, Disney's only admitted
    to having signed Robert ( TV's " Benson " ) Guilluame to do voice
    work on the project. However, just recently, they also convinced 
    Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons to come on board to provide the
    villian's voice.
    
    	Now -- come the fall of 1994 -- Disney's going to try to do
    something it hasn't done since the late 1930s / early 1940s : Release
    * TWO * new animated features within one year. That's right ! Just in 
    time for Thanksgiving, Disney hopes to have " Pocohantas " ready for
    release. Based on the conceptual art currently on display in the
    pre-show area of Disney-MGM's " Magic of Disney Animation " attraction,
    this project shows a lot of promise. Best of all, master animator Glen
    Keane -- best known for his wonderful work on Ratigan in " The Great 
    Mouse Detective, " Ariel in " The Little Mermaid, " Marihoutes in " The
    Rescuers Down Under, " the Beast in " Beauty & the Beast, " and the 
    title character in " Aladdin " -- has agreed to take on the title
    character in " Pocohantas. " His work alone should make this a film
    will worth seeing.
    
    	After that ... Well, for the fall of 1995, look for Disney to
    return to the world of fairy tale romance on its 35th animated feature,
    " Swan Lake. " There's been no decision yet as to whether Disney -- as
    it did with its animated version of " Sleeping Beauty " -- will use 
    music based on the classic ballet. I do know that Disney has approached
    Alan ( " The Little Mermaid, " " Beauty & the Beast " & " Aladdin " )
    Menken about writing a few new songs for the movie as well as handling
    the arduous task of adapting the ballet's score for the film. Whether 
    Menken will accept the job -- and whether he'll invite his new
    collaborator / lyricist, Tim ( " Jesus Christ Superstar " ) Rice to
    work on the project -- remains to be seen.
    
    	Beyond that ... Well, there's the long promised " Roger Rabbit " 
    feature film sequel as well as " Fantasia Continued " ... But neither
    of these projects has anything resembling a release date. As for the 
    other titles you may have heard bandied about ( " Songs of the Sea, " 
    " Sinbad Tales, " even " The Silly Hillbillies from Mars " ) ... Well, 
    let's wait and see if any of these projects makes it out of the 
    development phase.
    
    	That's pretty much it for now. Any questions ?
    
    					jrh

    Is it possible to get Steamboat Willie or other older Mickey Mouse 
    cartoons on video?  If not, is it possible to get them in any format?
    I know that there are cartoon collections available but I'm looking
    forthe real old stuff.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    George
    

    
    	Someone gave my daughter a copy of "Steamboat Willie" on
    videotape for Christmas.  The whole thing is just seven minutes
    long.  I dont know if there are any other classic Mickey shorts
    available.

    Before I go nuts trying to chase this down at a vodeo store, can you tell 
    me if this was something that was a commercially available videotape or 
    did someone take an 8mm or some such short and transfer it to video?
    
    Thanks,
    
    George

Our local Disney Store was selling a boxed special edition of "BatB" for 
Christmas.  The box contained
	- Beauty and the Beast videotape
	- Soundtrack CD
	- some sort of lithograph
	- *A video of the `making of Beauty and the Beast, including raw footage'
	- a coloring book


Does anybody kow whether you can buy the "Making of..." video separtately from 
the package?  The girl (no, not a sexist comment, she looked about 15 years old)
in the store didn't know, and seemed to have no way of finding out.  Failing that,
does anyone out there have the video who wants to sell it? to me?

				Nigel

    Nigel,
    
    I believe the "Making of ..." video is the same special that aired on
    the Disney Channel last year around the time of BatB's release.  It's
    hosted by David Ogden Steirs (the vocie of Cogsworth and the narrator).
    They're running a similar special now these days for "Aladdin".
    
    The Disney Channel is likely to run it again.  Of course, it helps to
    have the Disney Channel.  :-)  But they do frequently have free preview
    weekends, which is how I got it on tape.  Unfortunately, I've since
    taped over it... by accident, of course.
    
    - Skip

Ahh!   OK, well I've got the Disney Channel so I'll wait and see if BatB 
comes around again.

			Thanks
			N

    I keep forgetting to post this but this time I remembered...
    
    The new Roger Rabbit short is coming!!
    The new Roger Rabbit short is coming!!
    
    It's called "Trail Mix-Up" and hits theatres on March 12th and will be
    shown with "A Far-Off Place" (or is it "Far-Away..."??).  The ads have
    been hitting TV lately and it looks to be pretty funny, like I would
    expect anything less.
    
    - Skip

    Here's an event of note for Disney animations fans in the MA/NH area:
    
                              The Disney Store &
                          Disney Art Editions, Inc.
                                   Presents
                              THE ART OF DISNEY
                                      
                              The Disney Store,
                in cooperation with Disney Art Editions, Inc.
                       will exhibit and offer for sale
                          Collectible Animation Art
                                      
                            Sunday, April 25, 1993
                               The Disney Store
                           The Mall Rockingham Park
                               7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
                                      
               We hope you are able to attend this unique show.
                         Framed images of the beloved
                 Disney family of characters will be featured
           in various types of animation art created by artists at
                           The Walt Disney Studios.

                         Feature Film Production Cels
                          Television Production Cels
                               Comic Strip Art
                     Hand-Inked-Line Limited-Edition Cels
                    Xerographic-Line Limited-Edition Cels

                  This special event will include the latest
              Xerographic-Line Limited-Edition Cel releases from
                           "Beauty and the Beast."
    
    I asked one of the Disney Store castmembers for a few more details. 
    Basically, they let you into the store in groups and you can peruse the
    cels at your leisure.  This castemember stressed that it's probably a
    good idea to get there early because past shows like these in other
    locales have been very, very popular.
    
    If you don't know where the Mall at Rockingham Park is, it's really
    easy.  It's right off RT 93 at exit 1 in NH.  The Disney Store is
    closer to the Filene's end of the mall.
    
    And don't forget your MKC card and that Disney Store credit card for
    those big purchases.... :-)
    
    - Skip

   Note 15.4 mentions that "The Little Mermaid" was Disney's 28th animated 
   feature. An old Disney catalog also said that there were 30 full-length 
   animated features released before "Aladdin".

   Would anyone know if the list below is accurate? 

   Thanks,

   michele

    ----------------------------------------------
   | Year |        Title                          |
   |----------------------------------------------|
   | 1928 | Steamboat Willie                      |
   | 1932 | Flowers and Trees                     |
   | 1933 | Three Little Pigs                     |
   | 1937 | The Old Mill                          |
   | 1937 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs       |
   | 1940 | Pinocchio                             |
   | 1940 | Fantasia                              |
   | 1942 | Bambi                                 |
   | 1945 | The Three Caballeros                  |
   | 1953 | Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom         |
   |      | Dumbo                                 |
   |      | Cinderella                            |
   |      | Lady and the Tramp                    |
   | 1959 | Sleeping Beauty                       |
   |      | Jungle Book                           |
   | 1961 | 101 Dalmations                        |
   |      | Peter Pan                             |
   | 1968 | Winnie-the-Pooh and the Blustery Day  |
   | 1969 | It's Tough to be a Bird               |
   |      | The Black Cauldron                    |
   |      | The Sword in the Stone                |
   |      | Alice in Wonderland                   |
   |      | The Aristocats                        |
   |      | Robin Hood                            |
   |      | The Prince and the Pauper             |
   | 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective             |
   |      | The Rescuers                          |
   | 1989 | The Little Mermaid                    |
   | 1990 | The Rescuers Down Under               |
   | 1991 | Beauty and the Beast                  |
   | 1992 | Aladdin                               |
   | 1993 | The Fox and the Hound                 |
   | 1994 | The Return of Jafar                   |
   | 1994 | The Lion King                         |
    ----------------------------------------------

I'm no expert at this stuff, but I noticed two things with a quick
glance :

1) The Fox and the Hound was made long before 1993.  I'd guess it was
   the early eighties.

2) The list may not be complete because I saw only one Winnie-the-Pooh
   listed, and there are at least four of them.

						Tracy

    ----------------------------------------------
   | Year |        Title                          |
   |----------------------------------------------|
   | 1928 | Steamboat Willie                      |
   | 1932 | Flowers and Trees                     |
   | 1933 | Three Little Pigs                     |
   | 1937 | The Old Mill                          |
   | 1937 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs       |
   | 1940 | Pinocchio                             |
   | 1940 | Fantasia                              |
   | 1941 | Dumbo                                 |
   | 1942 | Bambi                                 |
   | 1945 | The Three Caballeros                  |
   | 1950 | Cinderella                            |
   | 1951 | Alice in Wonderland                   |
   | 1953 | Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom         |
   | 1953 | Peter Pan                             |
   | 1955 | Lady and the Tramp                    |
   | 1959 | Sleeping Beauty                       |
   | 1961 | 101 Dalmations                        |
   | 1967 | Jungle Book                           |
   | 1968 | Winnie-the-Pooh and the Blustery Day  |
   | 1969 | It's Tough to be a Bird               |
   |      | The Sword in the Stone                |
   | 1970 | The Aristocats                        |
   | 1973 | Robin Hood                            |
   |      | The Prince and the Pauper             |
   | 1981 | The Fox and The Hound                 |
   | 1985 | The Black Cauldron                    |
   | 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective             |
   |      | The Rescuers                          |
   | 1989 | The Little Mermaid                    |
   | 1990 | The Rescuers Down Under               |
   | 1991 | Beauty and the Beast                  |
   | 1992 | Aladdin                               |
   | 1993 | The Fox and the Hound                 |
   | 1994 | The Return of Jafar                   |
   | 1994 | The Lion King                         |
    ----------------------------------------------

From my "Disney Video Catalog '94 / Disney Classic Product List" in Japan.
    ----------------------------------------------
   | Year |        Title                          |
   |----------------------------------------------|
   | 1937 | Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs       |
   | 1940 | Pinocchio                             |
   |      | Fantasia                              |
   | 1941 | Dumbo                                 |
   | 1942 | Bambi                                 |
   |      | Saludos Amigos                        |
   | 1944 | The Three Cabaleros                   |
   | 1946 | Make Mine Music                       |
   | 1947 | Fun And Fancy Free                    |
   | 1948 | Melody Time                           |
   | 1949 | The Adventure If Ichabod and Mr.Toad  |
   | 1950 | Cinderella                            |
   | 1951 | Alice In Wonderland                   |
   | 1953 | Peter Pan                             |
   | 1955 | Lady and the Tramp                    |
   | 1959 | Sleeping Beauty                       |
   | 1961 | 101 Dalmations                        |
   | 1963 | The Sword In The Stone                |
   | 1967 | Jungle Book                           |
   | 1970 | The Aristocat                         |
   | 1973 | Robin Hood                            |
   | 1977 | The Many Adventure Of Winnie The Pooh |
   |      | The Rescures                          |
   | 1981 | The Fox and The Hound                 |
   | 1985 | The Black Cauldron                    |
   | 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective             |
   | 1988 | Oliver And Company                    |
   | 1989 | The Little Mermaid                    |
   | 1990 | The Rescuers Down Under               |
   | 1991 | Beauty and the Beast                  |
   | 1992 | Aladdin                               |
   | 1994 | The Lion King                         |
    ----------------------------------------------

    re .123/.126
    
    What about _Oliver and Company_ and _Mickey's Christmas Carol_?
    
    todd///

    oops .126 has _Oliver and Company_ in the list...

   | 1949 | The Adventure If Ichabod and Mr.Toad  |
                          ~~
                          Of
Sorry. [Rie]