Earlier in 2004, Disney had announced that it would be producing another Toy Story sequel, Toy Story 3, which was rumored to be about the character of Buzz Lightyear being recalled to Taiwan to repair a defect. As one can imagine, writers at Disney were struggling with the script. The decision to make Toy Story 3 came about after Disney’s initial split with Pixar Animation. Though Pixar wasn’t directly involved, Disney had the rights to produce sequels to any Pixar generated films, which was a source of consternation for the animators at Pixar.
Now, as John Lasseter takes over as the new Chief Creative Officer (and is, ironically enough, the director of both Toy Story and Toy Story 2), he has halted pre-production on Toy Story 3, considered by many to be one of the smartest moves Disney has made in years regarding their animation department.
Another positive remark made by Lasseter? He states that only sequels that are required by the story will be made. So, finally, we may see and end to titles such as “Cinderella II” and “Bambi II.” Many Disney animation fans have complained about the lack of original animation coming forth from Disney, the company who had originally pioneered feature animation. The original animation that Disney has produced hasn’t been all that well received by critics or audiences, either. Films such as Treasure Planet, Home on the Range, and Brother Bear have struggled to find their place with movie-goers. As such, Disney Animation had seemed to settle with making sequels to Disney Classics in order to make a decent bottom line.
So, who is this John Lasseter that is stirring up Disney? According to a quote by Kevin Koch, president of Animation Guild Local 839, in the New York Times, “John Lasseter is probably the most respected single person in American animation. He’s a creative leader without being overbearing or over-controlling.”
Personally, many of the comments I’ve read about Mr. Lasseter awaken a hope that we’ll see Disney return to the days when characters would come alive that would forever live in our hearts. Will he bring back 2-D animation or stay primarily within the realm of 3-D animation that Pixar has pioneered? Those who have worked with Lasseter have commented that John’s love of the Disney Classics is well known and that he shares, with Pixar animators, an enthusiasm the 2-D work of Japanese director, Hayao Miyazaki, the talent behind the beautiful and stunning film, “Spirited Away.” These statements speak volumes for the integrity that Lasseter will, hopefully, work to bring back to the Disney Animation Department.
It seems as though the Disney Corporation is being taken by storm currently and we’ll all be hanging from the edge of our chair to see what new and, again hopefully, exciting developments comes from this new era of Disney Magic.