Fine Tuning with Drew Taylor: Disney+ Prequels, Pixar's 'Soul' & 'Luca', and Animation History Books

Disney+ and Theatrical Release Uncertainty

• ⚠️ The "unscheduling" of Mulan highlights the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on theatrical releases, creating uncertainty for films like Pixar's "Soul".
• 💡 A potential release strategy for "Soul" could mirror that of "Onward," involving a period of paid VOD followed by a Disney+ debut, boosting consumer products and home video.
• 🎬 The success of "Hamilton" on Disney+ demonstrates the platform's power, even for acquired content released ahead of its original schedule.
• 🌟 "Black is King" is praised as a reinvention of "The Lion King" story, infusing it with cultural elements and serving as a celebration of Blackness.

Pixar's Upcoming Projects

• 🌊 "Luca," a new Pixar film set on the Italian Riviera, is described as a coming-of-age story about a sea monster experiencing a summer of gelato, pasta, and scooter rides.
• 🎨 The film is helmed by Enrico Casarosa, director of the acclaimed Pixar short "La Luna," and is noted for its potential to offer a unique perspective as the first Pixar film set in a specific 20th-century time frame.
• ✨ Discussions around Pixar's "Onward" highlight the deep dives into its aesthetic and the positive shift in studio leadership, fostering new energy and attention to diverse viewpoints.

Animation History and Art Books

• 📚 The "They Drew As They Pleased" series by Didier Ghez, now concluding with its sixth volume, "The Hidden Art of Disney's New Golden Age," meticulously documents Disney's animation history from 1990-2020.
• 🔍 Ghez details his extensive research process, including years spent at the Animation Research Library, uncovering previously unseen artwork and stories about both produced and unproduced films.
• 🎨 Volume six focuses on living artists like Mike Gabriel, Michael Jamo, and Hans Baka, offering a different tone by allowing for direct interviews and deeper insights into their careers.
• 💡 The series is lauded for its honesty and depth, providing a balanced and respectful portrayal of Disney's history, including less successful projects and the evolution of animation techniques.
• 📖 Ghez's upcoming project, a monograph on the origins of Walt Disney's "True-Life Adventures," promises to reveal the real story behind their creation and feature never-before-seen illustrations.

Hollywood Production and Studio Dynamics

• 🎬 The conversation touches on the challenges of "Catcher in the Rye" being adapted for film, with numerous attempts and Salinger's consistent refusal.
• 🎭 Alan Menken achieving EGOT status is mentioned, alongside updates on his projects like "Spellbound" and the "Gaston and LeFou" prequel series.
• 🎭 The Broadway musical "Newsies" is discussed for its journey from a high school production to a Broadway hit, with a recording available on Disney+.
• 🌟 The Fleischer Studios' Superman cartoons are highlighted, with a YouTuber upscaling the 1941 cartoon to 4K, showcasing its stunning visual quality.
• 📺 The release of "Harley Quinn" episodes on HBO Max and a vintage Bugs Bunny collection for his 80th birthday are noted as recent animation-related releases.
• 🗺️ A critique is offered on the Disney book "Disney Maps," pointing out potential outdated terminology and the company's internal communication gaps, contrasting it with the thoroughness of Ghez's work.
• 🎬 Paramount's uncertain future and the potential absorption by tech companies are speculated upon, alongside the delay of "Top Gun 2."
• 💄 Kevin Yagher, a makeup effects legend, is interviewed about his work on films like "Child's Play," "Mission: Impossible 2," and "Bill & Ted Face the Music."