Fine Tuning Episode 79: Disney's Mulan 2 Plans & Canceled DreamWorks Projects

Prop Culture and Disney+

• 💡 Drew Taylor and Jim Hill are enjoying Dan Lanigan's "Prop Culture" on Disney+, with Taylor having watched episodes on "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Nightmare Before Christmas," and "Tron."
• 🔑 Jim Hill shares a personal anecdote about acquiring a piece of plywood cut-out used for the Ink and Paint Club sequence in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
• 📌 Dan Lanigan's "Prop Culture" is praised for its well-produced documentaries, even prompting Hill to reconsider his negative view of "The Chronicles of Narnia" films.

Animation News and Cancellations

• 🚀 The discussion touches on the upcoming animated Transformers prequel directed by Josh Cooley and the potential for ILM to handle animation.
• ⚠️ Laika is highlighted for paying its employees in full with benefits during a studio closure, despite "Missing Link" being a financial loss.
• 💔 The cancellation of DreamWorks Animation's "Monkeys of Mumbai" is a major topic, with Kevin Lima expressing he was "screwed over twice" by Jeffrey Katzenberg, first with "Goofy Movie" and then with "Monkeys of Mumbai."
• 🎨 Concept art for "Monkeys of Mumbai" is described as visually striking, featuring a Bollywood musical style with music by A.R. Rahman and songs by Stephen Schwartz.
• 💰 The cancellation of "Monkeys of Mumbai" was due to Universal's acquisition of DreamWorks, with Universal primarily interested in existing IP, and the cost of the government tax write-off preventing other studios from picking up the project.

Film Releases and Industry Shifts

• 🎬 Brad Bird is taking over hosting duties for Turner Classic Movies' "Essentials" series, featuring films like "Singin' in the Rain" and "Ace in the Hole."
• 🍿 The debate between Universal and AMC Theaters over premium video on demand (PVOD) releases is discussed, with AMC threatening to boycott Universal films.
• 📱 The short-lived streaming service Quibby is analyzed as a failure, attributed to its timing during the pandemic and a perceived lack of quality content.
• 🌟 Future Disney projects like a live-action "Hercules" produced by the Russo Brothers and early development on "Mulan 2" are mentioned.
• 🎬 "Space Jam: A New Legacy" is discussed, with the animation being handled by ILM and Tony Bancroft involved.

Adventure Time and Other Series

• 🗺️ "Adventure Time: Distant Lands" is announced as a series of four hour-long specials premiering on HBO Max.
• ⚔️ "Crossing Swords," a stop-motion animated series with adult humor set in a medieval fantasy world, is coming to Hulu.
• 🐒 The Disney Nature film "Monkey Kingdom" is recommended as a visual reference for the potential style of "Monkeys of Mumbai."