The Lion King's Last-Minute Fixes and Animation Industry News

Box Office and Oscar Buzz

• ❄️ A massive snowstorm significantly impacted the North American box office, causing over 400 theaters to shut down and resulting in the lowest total box office weekend of the year ($58 million).
• 👑 "Mercy" starring Chris Pratt took the number one spot with $11.2 million, unseating James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire & Ash," which grossed $7 million.
• 🏆 Nominations for the Best Animated Feature Oscar were announced, with "K-Pop Demon Hunters" from Netflix considered the front-runner, having already won Golden Globe and Critics' Choice awards.
• 🎬 The nominees for Best Animated Feature include "Arco," "Elio," "K-Pop Demon Hunters," "Little Amily," and "Zootopia 2."
• 🌟 "Zootopia 2" surpassed $400 million domestically and will be available for digital purchase on January 27th, with physical media releases on March 3rd.

Animation Industry Reflections

• 💔 The episode mourns the passing of animation restoration legend Ron Stark of S/R Laboratories, highlighting his crucial work in preserving painted celluloid and the concerns about artwork left with his lab.
• 🎨 Roger Allers, a key figure in "The Lion King," is remembered for his contributions, including his role in reshaping the film in its final weeks and his work on the stage musical adaptation.
• 💡 Discussions touch upon the challenges and changes within Disney Animation, referencing the difficult periods following "Sleeping Beauty's" underperformance and the relocation of artists in the late '80s.
• 🎬 The film "Kingdom of the Sun" is mentioned as an example of a project that was significantly altered, eventually becoming "The Emperor's New Groove."

Upcoming Releases and Animation History

• 🚀 A first look at Yoshi was revealed for "The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie," which has moved its release date to April 1st.
• 🐾 A special 65th-anniversary screening of "101 Dalmatians" will feature legendary animator Floyd Norman, who will discuss the film's production during a challenging time for Disney Animation.
• 🏰 The upcoming "Villains Land" at Magic Kingdom is mentioned, with speculation that Andreas Deja is consulting on the project, aiming for a 2031 opening, possibly tied to Disney World's 60th anniversary.
• 📺 The podcast also promotes other shows from Jim Hill Media, including "Light the Fuse" (Mission Impossible podcast), "Disney Dish with Lenna," "The Epic Universal Podcast," and "Disney Unpack."