DuckTales Reboot Ends, Robin Hood's Southern Setting, and Animation News

DuckTales Reboot Concludes

• 🦆 The popular "DuckTales" reboot has officially ceased production after three seasons and 75 episodes.
• 📢 Drew Taylor's reporting on the show's end trended on Twitter, surprising many, including himself.
• 📝 The creators confirmed the show was produced with the understanding that each season could be the last, focusing on legacy and future storylines.
• 🌟 While physical production has wrapped, the series will continue to be available on Disney Channel and Disney Plus, with an "epic season finale" planned for 2021.

The Unmade Southern Robin Hood

• 🌳 Walt Disney Animation Studios considered setting the 1973 animated "Robin Hood" in the American South instead of Merrie Olde England.
• 🎶 This concept was influenced by the success and happy atmosphere of the animators during the production of "Song of the South" in 1945.
• 🎨 Mark Davis's designs for "Chanticleer" (1960-61) and "Song of the South" influenced characters that later appeared in "Robin Hood."
• 🎬 The idea of a Southern setting was eventually shelved, with "Robin Hood" ultimately being produced with a more traditional medieval English setting.

Animation Production and Industry Insights

• 📚 The discussion touches on the value and collectibility of "Art of" books, with "The Art of Onward" and "The Art of Soul" being highlighted.
• 📺 A complaint is raised about "Prep & Landing" having scenes cut for commercials on ABC, contrasting with its availability on Disney Plus.
• 🎬 The box office performance of "Croods: A New Age" is discussed, offering hope for the recovery of movie theaters, with a projected return to normalcy around April-May 2021 due to vaccine rollouts.
• 🇯🇵 The animated feature "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" surpassing "Titanic" at the Japanese box office is noted as a significant event.

Animation History and Creative Processes

• 🖌️ Walt Disney's strong reaction to the xerography process used in "101 Dalmatians" led to Ken Anderson stepping away and later taking on "The Jungle Book."
• 🦢 "The Aristocats" began as a potential two-part live-action episode for "The Wonderful World of Color" before transitioning to animation.
• 🦢 Reuse of animation is a recurring theme, with examples from "The Jungle Book," "Dumbo," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Robin Hood" (specifically the "Phony King of England" scene) being cited.
• 🎭 The casting of actors like Phil Harris, Monica Evans, and Carol Shelley in "Robin Hood" is discussed, highlighting a trend of casting TV Guide personalities.
• 🎢 "Robin Hood" was once planned to have a dedicated ride at Walt Disney World, but the lack of a distinct visual setting for an attraction led to its cancellation.