Post-Disney: Sequels

Have you ever had a favorite movie, one where you've bought the t-shirts, you've seen the directors cut and watched it with commentary? One of those movies where you've literally seen it more times than you can remember?

I hope you have. I think most people have seen a movie that they just love. Personally, one of mine is The Jungle Book. I love the music, the animation, and the transformation of the story from that of the original.

If you don't know, I'm not very old. I'll give you a hint in fact: I was born the same year The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released. Anyway, I obviously wasn't around for the original release of the Jungle Book, but I do distinctly remember being incredibly excited for the release of The Jungle Book 2.

I was so excited, and I remember thinking 'I can't wait to see Baloo and Bagheera, they were so funny!'. To my chagrin, that movie was a sequel. Which means, true to the stereotype, it was awful.

Now there are sequels that I like, but I generally think it's a good rule of thumb to not do sequels. And the leader of animation agrees with me:

So why are sequels awful? Personally, I think that it's because they're working with a now unoriginal idea, and it's almost always directed or produced by someone else than who did the original. And of course, it's almost always because they want to make an easy buck.

I realize that they are a business, and that they need to make money, but it's the quality issue that irritates me. I think that if you're going to continue a series that already has a fan base, that's just good business. But to make a significantly worse movie will end up hurting your business more than helping it.

Here are some sequels that I can't stand:

 

The Return of Jafar

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2

 

Atlantis: Milos Return

 

The Fox and the Hound 2

 

101 Dalmatians 2: Patch's London Adventure

 

 

So to me, these are all examples of films that should never have been produced, they exuded a lack of inspiration and little if any motivation other than pressure from the higher-ups to turn a quick dollar. I'm sure there are more, if you can think of any leave a comment below. 

During Disney: Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy, Dizzy

Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy, Dizzy,

Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy and Dizzy are the four vultures from the Disney Classics, 'The Jungle Book'. They make their entrance into the film after Mowgli has escaped Kaa, and befriend Mowgli in an attempt to cheer him up. The four vultures are based on the band, The Beatles, as maid fairly obvious by their Liverpool accents, their hairstyles and vocals.

 

There were original plans to have the Beatles come in and voice over for the vultures, but Lennon declined due to already having overscheduled.

 

Their feature song in this film is 'That's What Friends Are For', written by the Sherman Brothers and Terry Gilkyson, and composed by George Bruns.

 

The vultures are later featured in 'The House of Mouse' Disney Channel Show, and cameo in several other short films.

 

Disney Music: The Little Mermaid

First of all, the name of movie isn't 'Ariel', it's 'The Little Mermaid'. Let's all remember that. OK. Now we can talk about this album.

I am not a romantic. I've never enjoyed romance novels, or movies. The only chick flick I'll willingly subject myself to is 'Miss Congeniality'. But, I've always loved Disney movies. And two reasons why I do:

• Disney has romance, but the plot line is more intricate than a standard romance movie, there's depth.
• The composers and lyricists are incredible. They make the movie what it is.

Personally, I think that The Little Mermaid's Soundtrack is one of the best movie albums ever produced. It's consistent, clean sounding, and is interesting in both the orchestral sense for the scores, and the lyrics are compelling, and aren't junior.

I listen to music all day. If I'm not in class or working, there is a ninety-percent chance that I'll have my ear buds in. And if you mess with my ear buds, then God have mercy on your soul.

Below I've uploaded the full soundtrack from 'The Little Mermaid' for you to enjoy. My personal favorite is 'Jig'.

During Disney: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Who Was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was created by Walt Disney, as one of his first and featured characters. Unfortunately, Disney accidentally signed away the rights to Charles B. Mintz, who worked for Universal and had taken over his wife's company, Alice Comedies, who had produced and in collaboration with Ub Iwerks created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This was after Disney had continued to develop Oswald, after the cold reception of Trolley Troubles. So, Mintz essentially told Disney that he was taking Oswald, the artists who were working for Disney at the time, and there was nothing illegal about it.

Most of you probably know that Disney went on to create Mickey, and Mintz created his own worst enemy, but I'd rather talk about what happened to Oswald after Alice Comedies and Universal utilized him.

Believe it or not, Oswald didn't last very long on TV. His first appearance on screen was in Trolley Troubles on September 5, 1927 ( before Oswald was taken from Disney ). Most of his career with Universal and Alice Comedies relied on his appearances in comic books. He wasn't that popular on screen, since he had still been in development with Disney and had only been in one or two cartoons overall.

In February 2006, Disney CEO Bob Iger launched a trade with NBC Universal that involved receiving several minor assets in return for Al Michaels, a sportscaster.


Oswald had a girlfriend, much like Mickey had Minnie, called Ortensia. There really isn't much more depth to know about him, other than he would battle Pete or Homer the Cat as his arch enemies.

                                         1927

                                         1928

                                         1927

Disney Music: The Jungle Book

        

I love Ken Anderson, I love the Jungle Book, and I love the Sherman Brothers. So for me, the Jungle Book Soundtrack is a dream come true, and when I found out that there were songs released after the initial soundtrack, I was ecstatic.

 

After the release of the Jungle Book Soundtrack, there was a huge demand for more songs. So Walt called in the Sherman Brothers and told them to write songs that sounded like they could've been from the original movie. And when they did, this was their result:

 



From the Walt Disney Studio
MORE JUNGLE BOOK
Further Adventures of Baloo and Mowgli

Disneyland Records Storyteller Series ST-3960 (Mono) STER-3960 (Stereo) (12” LP with book)
Released in 1969. Executive Producer: Jimmy Johnson. Producer: Tutti Camarata. Story: Jimmy Johnson, Larry Clemmons, Phil Harris. Recorded at Sunset Sound, Hollywood. Running Time: 35 minutes.
Voices: Phil Harris (Baloo); Louis Prima (King Louie); Dal McKennon (Bagheera, Villagers); Ginny Tyler (Mowgli); Sam Edwards (Villager); Sam Butera and The Witnesses.
Songs: “Baloo’s Blues,” “It’s a Kick” by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman; “Jungle Fever” by Floyd Huddleston and Camarata; “If You Wanna See Some Strange Behavior (Take a Look at Man)” by Mel Leven; “The Bare Necessities (Finale)” by Terry Gilkyson.
Instrumental: “Adventureland Suite” by Camarata (from Disneyland Record WDL-4004, Walt Disney Takes You To Disneyland).Source:  http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/disney-sequels-with-sherman-brothers-songs/

 

 

 

 

During Disney: Peg Legged Pete

   

Who Was Peg Leg Pete?

Pete, believe it or not, is older than Mickey Mouse! He debuted three years prior to Mickey in the cartoon Alice Solves the Puzzle, he has appeared in more than 40 animated short films between 1925 and 1954, having been featured in the Alice Comedies and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, and later in the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy cartoons. Pete's final appearance during this era was The Lone Chipmunks (1954), which was the final installment of a three-part Chip an' Dale series. He also has been in both   Goofy Movies, and played the antagonists (as per usual) in 'The Prince in the Pauper', and 'The Three Musketeers', and my personal favorite, he played one of Christmas spirits in 'A Christmas Carol'. He has also been brought back into the 'House of Mouse' Disney Channel Show, and was featured in a new style of cartoon that Disney debuted recently (I saw it at the opening of Frozen).

His alternative names include Peg-Leg Pete, Big Bad Pete and Black Pete.

Pete appeared as a bear in Alice Comedies, but was changed to cat later in his Disney career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During Disney: Clarabelle Cow

Who Was Clarabelle Cow?

Honestly, there isn't much information about Clarabelle. She was created by Disney to be Minnie Mouse's and Daisy Duck's friend, she would later date Horace the Cow and in the late sixties and early-mid seventies date Goofy. She is a busy body and loves to gossip and stir the pot. She spends most of her time running around everyone's houses and gaining and spreading misinformation.

Like Mortimer Mouse, she was also retired as a prevalent Disney character, but was also brought back for the Disney Channel Show 'House of Mouse', where she assisted Minnie in running the shows, and played a major role in the revisal of 'The Three Musketeers'.