The Art of Onward, Ice Age's Impact on Disney Animation, and Disney+ Strategy

The Art of Onward Book

• 💡 Drew Taylor discusses the rapid process of writing "The Art of Pixar's Onward," highlighting that Pixar suggested him after the original author left, leading to a tight deadline.
• ✍️ Taylor emphasizes that he had more writing input than usual for an "Art of" book, contributing chapters and captions, and that the book was a fascinating and wonderful experience.
• 📚 He shares the surreal feeling of holding his first published "Art of" book, comparing it to childhood favorites like "The Art of Toy Story."

Disney Animation's Downsizing and Ice Age's Role

• 📉 The success of the original "Ice Age" film in 2002, exceeding its projected box office by $16 million, caught Disney's attention but also coincided with a wave of layoffs.
• 📉 Disney Feature Animation saw significant downsizing, reducing headcount from 2,200 to 1,000 employees by March 2002, with further cuts in 2003.
• 💔 The closure of the Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida studio in 2003 by David Stainton marked a shift towards a single production unit based in Burbank.
• 🎬 The film "Treasure Planet," released the same year as "Ice Age," was a significant financial disappointment for Disney, contributing to the studio's reassessment of its animation strategy.
• 🔄 By October 2005, with "Chicken Little," Disney shifted exclusively to CG films to compete with DreamWorks Animation and Blue Sky, a strategy that changed after the acquisition of Pixar in 2006.

Disney's Streaming and Content Strategy

• 🚀 Bob Iger stepped down as CEO, handing the reins to Bob Chapek, who has a background in home video and played a role in the launch of Disney+.
• 📺 Disney is leveraging its animation assets, including those from 20th Century Fox, with "The Simpsons" short "Play Date with Destiny" preceding "Onward" in theaters.
• 🧊 Despite past challenges, Disney is reportedly re-engaging with the "Ice Age" franchise, with potential new films and consumer products.
• 🎬 The discussion touches on the shift from hand-drawn to CG animation, the challenges of differentiating Disney's CG films from Pixar's, and Disney's eventual return to hand-drawn animation with films like "The Princess and the Frog."

Animation Industry News and Trends

• 🎬 "Onward" is the first original Pixar film since 2017, and its release is notable for not having a Pixar short precede it, with "The Simpsons" short taking its place.
• 📺 The conversation highlights various animated series and films, including Guillermo del Toro's "Wizards of Arcadia," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," and "Star Trek: Picard," discussing their release strategies and audience reception.
• 🌟 The revival of "The Proud Family" for Disney+ and the potential impact of the Coronavirus on upcoming film and park projects are also mentioned.
• 🎂 The episode concludes with birthday wishes for Drew Taylor and a reminder to purchase his book, "The Art of Onward."