At this point in my life I have many questions for Disney: why do you keep making crappy live-action films? Where did all the magic go? And most of all, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?
Judging by the confusing narratives and poorly written dialogue from Disney’s most recent movies, it’s clear that there has been a push to rush the process from behind the scenes.
There’s always budget cuts, the classic tale of underpaying animators, deadline concerns and sticking to a formula that “works,” all for the sake of the cash grab. To franchise. To sell merchandise.
Corporate greed is effectively killing the magic that put Disney in business, and the studio is losing the credibility it once had.
It’s apparent from how repetitive their films have become that they are frightened to try anything new.
For example, every other movie features an adorkable main character who’s goofy, clumsy, and trying to fit in with the world around them. It started with Rapunzel (Tangled), then it went on to Anna (Frozen), Mirabelle (Encanto), and Asha (Wish), and likely others that I’m forgetting.
After a while, the trope simply loses its appeal.
Disney also has the habit these days of crowding their movies. For example, in Encanto there is just far too much going on. I came out of the movie theater disappointed, because the plot of the film had become rushed and obscured by all the characters we barely get a chance to know.
Furthermore, when Disney makes an unclear movie, they often spoon-feed their audience the plot. The writers should know that when they have to do that it means that the story is too busy, and it can lose its impact on the audience.
The voices that they put in their movies is an issue of it’s own, as they keep hiring celebrities rather than genuine voice actors.
While some celebrities like Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel (who play Anna and Elsa in Frozen) are capable of thriving in a voice acting role, some celebrities just don’t have the training. Often it feels like they cast people based off of their name and not their talent.
And when the studio isn’t putting out ‘just okay’ animated movies, they instead release live-action films that are disappointing on the regular. No one asks for these films, but they rake in tons of money, so Disney keeps making them.
Many of these films, however, are highly criticized more often then praised. Check out this recent Lilo and Stitch review.
I miss when it wasn’t entirely about the money. I miss walking away from a film and feeling like my life is different now. And I wish that Disney cared that we notice when their movies are uninspired.
They should instead be making films that will inevitably offend some people, rather than movies that will sell tickets but will overall disappoint the masses.
The reason why I care so much is because Disney is responsible for giving me a deep love and lifelong passion for animation. To me, there is nothing more magical than bringing a drawn picture to life. That’s why what they have become within the last 15 years has saddened me greatly.
But I still have hope for animation. I truly see these upcoming years as the age for passionate, independent animation studios and animators.
For example, there is an animation studio called Glitch Productions, who has been producing popular series like Murder Drones, The Amazing Digital Circus, and recently, Knights of Guinevere, for more mature audiences.
Independent animation studios are the future, and they will bring back the heart and soul into the medium, especially if Disney continues to go down the path they are on.
