Sequels and spinoffs are all the rage on the big screen these days, but the news that Disney is moving forward with a Frozen 2 still comes as something of a surprise considering the studio has been reticent to pump out theatrically-released follow-ups to its biggest hits - only The Three Caballeros, The Rescuers Down Under, Fantasia 2000 and Winnie the Pooh are part of the Disney Animated Canon.
However, throughout the '90s and '00s Disney had a lucrative side-business in direct-to-video sequels that were turned around quickly and cheaply and made the studio a fast buck. Many execs felt that these cheapened the originals and John Lasseter put the brakes on them, although the recent Tinker Bell films (branching out from Peter Pan) have their roots in this release model.
Digital Spy revisits 13 of Disney's most unnecessary straight-to-video sequels below:
Aladdin: The Return of Jafar (1994)
The very first...
However, throughout the '90s and '00s Disney had a lucrative side-business in direct-to-video sequels that were turned around quickly and cheaply and made the studio a fast buck. Many execs felt that these cheapened the originals and John Lasseter put the brakes on them, although the recent Tinker Bell films (branching out from Peter Pan) have their roots in this release model.
Digital Spy revisits 13 of Disney's most unnecessary straight-to-video sequels below:
Aladdin: The Return of Jafar (1994)
The very first...
- 3/14/2015
- Digital Spy
Angelina Jolie's iconic villain has gained a sympathetic origins story, signalling an increasing complexity to the studio's fare
Read Ben Child on Marvel's plans for world domination
Why Jj Abrams is our only hope for Star Wars
When it comes to Hollywood studios, it's fair to say that Disney attracts more than its fair share of sulky schadenfreude. During the 90s and early 2000s, the name alone became synonymous with a sort of plasticky "all-American" fakeness, and even to this day, a news story about Disney losing money on a major film project makes for major headlines. Weirdly, "Universal loses $200m" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
Some pretty decent movies – such as last year's John Carter – have perhaps suffered for their association with the Disney brand, and even genuine non-events such as this month's The Lone Ranger are probably given an extra kicking or two because...
Read Ben Child on Marvel's plans for world domination
Why Jj Abrams is our only hope for Star Wars
When it comes to Hollywood studios, it's fair to say that Disney attracts more than its fair share of sulky schadenfreude. During the 90s and early 2000s, the name alone became synonymous with a sort of plasticky "all-American" fakeness, and even to this day, a news story about Disney losing money on a major film project makes for major headlines. Weirdly, "Universal loses $200m" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
Some pretty decent movies – such as last year's John Carter – have perhaps suffered for their association with the Disney brand, and even genuine non-events such as this month's The Lone Ranger are probably given an extra kicking or two because...
- 8/15/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Many of the Disney Direct-to-dvd releases feel like they're stretching the source material way past what it was meant to be. Did we really need a sequel to Cinderella, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, and other classic movies that ended with the phrase "…and they lived happily ever after?" These sequels should carry a tag line reading "… But theeen…"
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure is one of those movies. Revisiting it because of the recent Blu-ray release reminded me how gratuitous it feels throughout a short 70-minute running time.
Lady and the Tramp are the proud parents of three female pups and a scrappy dog name Scamp who has inherited a wild streak from his father. When his chain breaks after being sent outside for tearing up the house, Scamp runs off and meets the Junkyard Dogs. Seeking their approval, he goes through the leader's initiation process...
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure is one of those movies. Revisiting it because of the recent Blu-ray release reminded me how gratuitous it feels throughout a short 70-minute running time.
Lady and the Tramp are the proud parents of three female pups and a scrappy dog name Scamp who has inherited a wild streak from his father. When his chain breaks after being sent outside for tearing up the house, Scamp runs off and meets the Junkyard Dogs. Seeking their approval, he goes through the leader's initiation process...
- 9/11/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Eric Shirey)
- Cinelinx
Moviefone's Pick of the Week "Bernie" What's It About? Jack Black re-teams with "School of Rock" director Richard Linklater for a twisted dark comedy about the true story of Bernie Tiede, an eccentric Texas community leader who murdered the town's rich widow Marjorie Nugent (played by Shirley MacLaine). See It Because: Linklater has always been a great actor's director. In addition to a hilariously icy MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey (who plays a big-headed Da), the director populates the film with eccentric personalities, including real neighbors of the actual Tiede. But this is Black's movie: his disappearance into the unique and flamboyant Bernie reminds you that beneath his trademark schtick is a gifted comedic actor. (Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray | Amazon Instant Video) New on DVD & Blu-ray "Chimpanzee" What's It About? Disney's latest documentary chronicles the true story of Oscar, a young baby who was orphaned and left to fend for himself in the wild.
- 8/21/2012
- by Eric Larnick
- Moviefone
Wip out your wallet for a bunch of new Blu-ray releases from the Disney vault. The Aristocats, The Tigger Movie, Pocahontas, Pocahontas II, The Lady and the Tramp II, The Rescuers 35th Anniversary Edition 2-Movie Collection from The Walt Disney Studios movie library are headed to your high-definition televisions August 21st.
The new Disney releases are part of the "New to Blu" series which introduces classic Disney films on Blu-ray for the first time. Animated fare such as The Aristocats, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Special Edition, and The Tigger Movie will be released as Blu-ray Combo Packs and digital formats with new and exclusive bonus features and un-seen footage, in addition, the classics come fully restored in high-definition digital versions. Extras on The Tigger Movie the Bounce-a-Riffic Special Edition include "Round My Family Tree" Sing-Along Song, Kenny
Read more...
The new Disney releases are part of the "New to Blu" series which introduces classic Disney films on Blu-ray for the first time. Animated fare such as The Aristocats, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Special Edition, and The Tigger Movie will be released as Blu-ray Combo Packs and digital formats with new and exclusive bonus features and un-seen footage, in addition, the classics come fully restored in high-definition digital versions. Extras on The Tigger Movie the Bounce-a-Riffic Special Edition include "Round My Family Tree" Sing-Along Song, Kenny
Read more...
- 8/20/2012
- CineMovie
Disney Toon Studios, behind such straight-to-DVD hits as The Lion King 1 1/2, Bambi II and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, will cease making sequels in order to focus on original stories.
Friday's decision coincided with the announcement that DisneyToon now will operate as a separate unit of Walt Disney Animation Studios under the supervision of Pixar impresarios Ed Catmull and John Lasseter.
Sharon Morrill, who helped found DisneyToon 13 years ago and has been its president since 2004, now will be charged with "special projects" at Walt Disney Studios, including animation and live-action, a spokeswoman said.
Pixar executives have made no secret of their disdain for most Disney-animated sequels; four years ago -- long before Disney's purchase of Pixar -- Steve Jobs called them "pretty embarrassing."
Pixar and Disney, though, will continue to work on Toy Story 3 for theatrical release in 2009. And DisneyToon will finish The Little Mermaid III for a straight-to-DVD release, making that the final sequel planned from DisneyToon, a spokeswoman said.
The first "original" nonsequel movie to come from the restructured DisneyToon is Tinker Bell. Although the character appeared in the 1953 Disney film Peter Pan, executives don't consider it a sequel or prequel to that film because it's about Tinker Bell in the fairy world independent of Peter Pan.
Friday's decision coincided with the announcement that DisneyToon now will operate as a separate unit of Walt Disney Animation Studios under the supervision of Pixar impresarios Ed Catmull and John Lasseter.
Sharon Morrill, who helped found DisneyToon 13 years ago and has been its president since 2004, now will be charged with "special projects" at Walt Disney Studios, including animation and live-action, a spokeswoman said.
Pixar executives have made no secret of their disdain for most Disney-animated sequels; four years ago -- long before Disney's purchase of Pixar -- Steve Jobs called them "pretty embarrassing."
Pixar and Disney, though, will continue to work on Toy Story 3 for theatrical release in 2009. And DisneyToon will finish The Little Mermaid III for a straight-to-DVD release, making that the final sequel planned from DisneyToon, a spokeswoman said.
The first "original" nonsequel movie to come from the restructured DisneyToon is Tinker Bell. Although the character appeared in the 1953 Disney film Peter Pan, executives don't consider it a sequel or prequel to that film because it's about Tinker Bell in the fairy world independent of Peter Pan.
- 6/25/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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