My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses: august 2020

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.

And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

Word :)

We are dressing up like Indiana
Jones for this flash mob :)

At least it´s not
Tuesday Afternoon :)

When people think of Disney, they usually label them for their full-length animated features or the characters who came from Walt´s shorts (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and co). But frankly, both of these mediums are entirely different entities.
While Disney are forever known for adapting classic stories (despite also having their own original content), the shorts are pretty much a departure in that regard how those characters are completely original. But while the squad from the shorts have actually starred in full-length features, the features they´ve starred in have been pretty remarkable.

The History of Ducktales and Goofy

It´s just the two of us on this
troop :) Don`t ask why :)

In fact, to summarize the features Mickey, Donald and co have starred in: First they´ve appeared in the Package Features that were in Walt´s time between the World War II. But they were exactly package features, being rather episodic and rather anacronistic. However, regarding the other forms they´ve appeared on the big screen, there was made big budget shorts with these characters (Mickey´s Christmas Carol, The Prince and the Pauper, Runaway Brain). But in terms of true full-length features which were dedicated to tell a cohesive story, the trend was officially broken with both Ducktales The Movie and A Goofy Movie.

Both were full-length features that were released theatrically. And both of them, being released within five years, happened to have their own anniversary last year (Ducktales turning 30 and Goofy turning 25). But regarding both of their histories, Goofy`s first appearance was in 1932 in Mickey's Revue as Dippy Dawg (who was older than Goofy came to be). Later that year, he was re-imagined as younger in the The Whoopee Party short (as Walt changed his name). But of course both A Goofy Movie and Ducktales The Movie were expansions of their series Ducktales and Goof Troop. Both starring on A Disney Afternoon program.

It should`ve been
FrankenMickey :)

But for the origins of Ducktales, it´s main character Scrooge McDuck differs from Goofy by not being a creation of Walt. Yet still coming from the same Universe. It originated from the comics of Carl Barks. While Scrooge was originally intended to be just used once as an nemesis for Donald, Scrooge became very popular (yet Barks wasn´t a stranger to Walt. As he was a Disney animator who in 1942 was asked to contribute to a line of comic books. The name Scrooge was, funny enough, taken from the 1947 Dickens parody Christmas on Bear Mountain. Which makes it a full circle, since Scrooge was after all featured in aforementioned Mickey´s Christmas Carol).

It`s not about
Scrooge
anymore :)

Tales of ducks are
dangerous, because
we look like food to
everyone :)

But while there`s been made full-length features starring the characters from Duckburg afterwards, none of them were released Theatrically (they´ve usually been direct-to-video properties). And while this is far from the first time which I´ve made an entry featuring two movies, it makes perfect sense to tie them together in this entry for their similarities. Perhaps it may be shallow to compare them for those aforementioned reasons alone. But let´s face it, both movies are comparable for being full-length expansions that were released theatrically.

Ducktales The Movie

You can`t catch us, nananana :)

First of this unofficial duo is Ducktales the Movie. Which happens to be a significant feature during my childhood. It happened to be the very first movie that I ever saw theatrically from Disney. With my kindergarden. Released to theaters August 3, 1990, it was the first animated film to be produced by Walt Disney Television Animation under Disney MovieToons. Veteran Hanna-Barbera producer Bob Hathcock produced and directed it. With a screenplay by HB writer Alan Burnett. It´s budget was about $20 million. Animated by Walt Disney Animation France S.A (having storyguys and brothers Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, who storyboarded The Hunchback of Notre Dame).

It´s white sauce that
comes out, but still
the Genie is not
covered with it :)

Movietoons was made to differentiate Disney's high quality theatrical fare from less expensive tv animation for theaters. Although pre- and post-production took place at Disney Television’s offices in Burbank (animator Larry Ruppel was the only American working at the Paris studio. As other members came from France, Denmark, Australia and Italy). Yet Ducktales ended up being important due to the many animation professionals who got their start on it. According to DuckTales´ creator/writer David Weimers, Disney wanted to see if they could do a film for less money. That´s why most of the work was done offshore. But Disney also wanted to see if their foreign animators could succeed. It was also the last film to use cel-animation.

It´s not lost
anymore :)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit`s success lead various animators to Disney's London studio. The opening and closing sequences was done there. Ink/paint/camera work was done in China, and additional work in Spain. An initial treatment for the film centered on the Philosopher's stone. Originally it was conceived as a five-part episode for the show. There´s no doubt that there´s an Indiana Jones-vibe to the tale (since president Gary Kriesel of Disney Television Animation was fascinated with Jones). Still the plot was also taken from Carl Barks Pyramid Scheme. Side characters like Gyro, Doofus, Bubba the Cave Duck, and Gismoduck are absent. Since the filmmakers didn't want to confuse those who´ve not seen the show. Which is also why none of the villains (Beagle Boys, Magica DeSpell, and Flintheart Glomgold) are present.

It`s should`ve been
horse duck :) Oh
nevermind :)

Voice actors veterans played the cast, as June Foray as Mrs. Featherby and Christopher Lloyd (Anastasia) as Merlock. Rip Taylor, (the Genie) even phoned in some of his lines. Which was six or seven pages, because they kept changing the dialogue. Washington Post´s Richard Harrington said that "Scrooge's burry voice (by Alan Young) sounded like Sean Connery as Dr. Henry Jones". But Young came by his Scots accent as a child (his English parents moved to Edinburgh soon after his birth. When he was six, he moved to West Vancouver ). David Newman (Anastasia) scored the film (and who considered it “like a dream experience”). The famous theme song appears at the end credits twice. Ducktales was also paired with the 1951 Donald short Dude Duck on it`s theartical release.

Similarities to Aladdin, My Own Personal History With Ducktales The Movie & Box Office Results

Please, I`ll behave after
I get all my wishes:)

Basically, Ducktales the Movie is pretty much a predecessor of Aladdin (preceeding two years). Since it basically has the same storyline. And sure, it´s quite tempting to compare the pivotal characters in both movies, which are the Genies (which both have a similar want). But believe it or not, Weimers actually wanted Robin Williams to voice the Genie, but they couldn´t get him. Due to how Ducktales is synonymous with adventure, it´s not strange that this movie relies on it (with a reference to Atlantis within it).

Which means I have to
sleep here all the time :)

As for my personal preferences, I was not completely in love with Ducktales the series nor it´s movie. However, I still liked the show well enough to watch it a lot during my childhood. The same could be said about the movie. I didn´t own it as a child, but I remember that my family rented it and I enjoyed watching it again.

I´m Scrooge Midas :)

Unfortunately the film was not the financial success Disney that hoped for. As it faced competition from other Summer releases (as another big screen adapation of a cartoon show, Jetsons: The Movie). The studio incurred a loss of $2 million. Ducktales just grossed $18,115,724 Domestically overall. It was released on VHS on March 15, 1991 and on Laserdisc on April 26, 1991. It was supposed to be the first in a series of DuckTales films. But all future ideas was scrapped after the underperformance.

A Goofy Movie

Don`t let us out, we smell
horrible because we`ve been
at the jungle :)

Far more remembered and cherished is A Goofy Movie (originally called The Goofy Movie). Released April 7th 1995, it was the directorial debut by Kevin Lima (who really wanted to direct and who later on become the director for Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians and Enchanted). Yet Lima´s role is a perfect match, as he was a part of a Sport Goofy special.
Also produced by MovieToons and Walt Disney Television Animation (despite having a smaller crew, Goofy took the same amount of time to make as Tarzan). It was originally developed as a direct-to-video property (producer Don Hahn called it a "C movie”). The directors came up with the idea when Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas special was done.

This is how a goof surfs :)
Not recommended :)

ince Goofy mostly plays a second-fiddle for Donald and Mickey, it´s nice that he got his own movie. But at least it takes the premise a step forward and depicts now Max (voiced by Step by Step´s Jason Mardsen, who would voice several Disney characters. And his voice was chosen for not being too cartoony) as an angst-ridden and lovesick adolescent

Brian Pimental who was story supervisor on Tarzan, was also the head of story for Goofy. Lima envisioned Goofy as a family comedy, wanting to make a John Hughes Movie in Animation. Goof Troop`s creator Michael Peraza pitched a concept that was pretty similar to what they ended up with. Lima wanted to expand out Goofy as a character and "give him an emotional side" (which for his voice actor, Bill Farmer, was the hardest part, And did various retakes). Farmer, who´s voiced Goofy since 1987, voiced his favorite character growing up. And cites that Movie was unlike any other project that he´s worked on, that people have approached him for it.

Never let a goof drive
a car ever again :)

Voice recording began in 1992. Many of the cast of the show´s cast reprised their roles, as Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs) as PJ, and Jim Cummings as Pete. While Dana Hill (Max) was replaced to the character's age difference. Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted to give Goofy a regular speaking voice. But Farmer insisted that audiences wanted to hear the Goofy they were familiar with, before the executives were convinced of his idea (But believe it or not, Katzenberg wanted Steve Martin as Goofy).

Farmer´s son said to his dad when Goofy fell over the waterfall that "I thought that was you" (still Farmer´s son was confused if he was Max´s brother or Goofy´s son). Pauly Shore (Robert "Bobby" Zimuruski) asked for his role to be uncredited. Because he didn't want Disney to market the movie on his name as they did with Williams on Aladdin. The voice of Lester at the Possum Park is by Lima. Who also voiced Roxanne's father and the guard at the concert who chases Max.

Behind the Scenes Information

We want you to look at our
eyes, not at our cartoony
bodies :)

While A Goofy Movie was given a far smaller budget compared to other films, it was jointly produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. And with outsourcing to Disney studios in France and Australia, along with Disney studios in Spain and Canada. Pre-production was done in Burbank, starting in mid-1993. The work in France was also lead by the Brizzi brothers. Originally planned for a Thanksgiving 1994 release, it was delayed due to the monitor they were using to capture the animation having a single dead pixel, forcing them to recapture three-quarters of the film with a non-defective monitor.

Screenwriter Jymm Magon said that the father-son dynamic was inspired by Jeffrey Katzenberg`s story, which he and his daughter (whom he had an estranged relationship with) went on a road trip together, which they bonded. It was also dedicated to Pat Buttram (who voiced the emcee at possum park), who died during the film's production.

What´s remarkable about Goofy is that´s allowed to be a musical (by Tom Snow, Jack Feldman, Patrick DeRemer and Roy Freeland). Perhaps it would be easy to blame the pattern of their canon features being musicals (and therefore making Goofy akin to them, as Max is somewhat an outcast at first). Yet it´s not a bad thing, sine Goofy is remembered for it´s song (Feldman thought it was meaty to write a song for the contrasts of Goofy and Max).

It`s the fist and clap with your
feet dance :) It`s gonna be
big ;)

No more Jack
Johnson for me :)

R&B artist Tevin Campbell voiced Powerline, which was heavily inspired by pop stars as Michael Jackson, Prince and Bobby Brown. And yes, Brown was originally set to voice Powerline and had recorded some songs for him, but was fired due to substance abuse issues. Some of the songs Bobby did was revamped and ended up on his Forever album. Though songs were still recorded at Prince's studio in Paisley Park. I 2 I`s title was inspired by Prince's ones as I Would Die 4 U. Campell did his first voice gig for Disney (which was a synergy, since he loved Goofy as a kid). Magon gave Powerline his name due to having seen powerline at the window (though he was first called Deep Freeze).

Bigfoots are dumber than
advertised :) They think
they`re fish ;)

And yes, Bee Gee`s Stayin´ Alive appears briefly on Goofy. The reason was both for comedic purposes and because Katzenberg loved the song. Although Marsden`s a talented singer, he didn`t perform Max`s songs. Disney's thought that a Broadway-style musical actor should provide Max's singing instead. Which was actor Aaron Lohr, a close friend of Mardsen's (though funny enough, Lohr told Mardsen that he was replacing an actor who couldn´t sing, without knowing that it was actually Mardsen).

More Behind the Scenes Information, Deleted Storylines & Cameos

Half of A Goofy Movie was shot on 35mm film, and the other half was edited digitally on Avid. Early drafts had different destinations for Goofy and Max, as Hawaii. Another had them getting on the game show America's Funniest Gladiators. Magon watched various Road Trip Movies to get ideas of different tropes. Like the National Lampoon's Vacation series. An scrapped subplot included the big woman (Treeny) and nebbish man (Wendell) from the On the Open Road song to show up throughout the trip. There was a running gag where Treeny would get beaten up through Goofy's antics. But it was dropped for being unfunny and misogynistic (Pat Carroll, who voiced Ursula from The Little Mermaid, was originally the voice of Treeny and as Powerline`s solo singer. She is credited in a list of additional voices, though).

He`s just a distant
relative :) Not my dad or
anything, despite how we
look alike :)

We are not dogs, we`re hybrids
of... what the Warner siblings
are :)

Another scene had Goofy accidentally getting hooked onto their car and dragged through a bridge and other things. Early drafts of the script had much broader humor. One storyline was to have Goofy take Max to a family reunion full of Goofy´s. And another where Max thinks he and Goofy are going to a water park (but it´s the possum park). There was also going to be an opponent to Max, who would compete for Roxanne. According to a demo of On the Open Road, Roxanne's name was originally Dolores. Magon named Principal Mazur after his own school principal from when he was in high school.

Carrying the bags makes me
less mad, so appreciate it
while you can:)

And yes, Goofy features a cameo from Donald and Mickey. Donald originally had a larger role where he played a travel agent. Goofy asks "What do you think I should do?" Donald responds incoherently, while Goofy responds, "What did you say? Is there someone else I can talk to?" But both Donald and Walt himself are referenced in this movie. In UK, Goofy was released with the aforementioned Mickey Mouse short Runaway Brain.

My Own Personal History With A Goofy Movie, Premiere & Tributes

It should´ve been Goofy and
Bigfoot movie :) Despite how
Bigfoots` part is a gimmick to
draw people to this movie :)

Unlike Ducktales the Movie, I never saw A Goofy Movie as a kid (despite wanting to, since I happened to like Goof Troop a lot as a child). In fact, I didn´t get to see it until my teenage years (and yes, even then I was obsessed by Disney).
Perhaps I wasn´t gaga for Goofy back then, but I did like it enough. And I can see why it still strucks a chord with people. It`s a fun and breezy romp. And it´s definitively easy to see the Kevin Lima-influence on Tarzan. Since both are happy-go-lucky and light films. And now I happen to like it more than ever.

Goofy´s world premiere took place on April 5th, 1995. At AMC Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World. It was held from the #1 spot because of Bad Boys opening the same weekend. But it ultimately ended at the US Box Office with $35.3 million. Originally Goofy was going to have a stronger advertising. But since Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg was leaving, those plans were halted. The reviewers weren`t exactly ecstatic for Goofy. However, it started to gain success on its release to home media (September 6th, 1995). And now it has gained a cult following, particularly among those who grew up with it. Since 2015 it`s become a more visible property in Disney. Goofy merchandise has become a hot ticket at several retailers. And led to more new merchandise to be sold at major retailers.

Yes, a goof can read a map :)
Regardless of the
aforementioned incident :)

At least I can make him
cool for a second :)

But perhaps the most memorable tribute to Goofy was the live-action video for After Today. Made in 2009 by then-student Ted Sowards who loved the film, it`s drawn more than 7 million views on YouTube to date. Last July another scene from the movie, Lester`s Possum Park, got the shot-for-shot remake treatment! With voice actors Farmer and Mardsen, alongside with Lima. On August 14, 2015, a 20th-Anniversary Reunion for Goofy was held at D23 Expo. Unexpectedly, it ended up with the largest attended, with around 1,000 fans, forcing expo to turn away some due to lack of seating. Disney has since embraced the fandom's love of Goofy in recent promotions/works.

Don`t worry, it will be
much longer soon :)

While many have asked of Max’s mom, there’s never been any explanation from Disney of it at all (still Farmer jokes that Goofy married to Jessica Rabbit before Roger, and it didn’t work out). But ironically enough, Goof and Max appeared in the 2017 reboot of Ducktales where Goofy Movie is referenced and it shows that Max and Roxanne are still together (which makes it full circle). Max and Roxanne has also appeared on House of Mouse, in Max's Embarrassing Date (aired on January 19, 2002).

We`ll not going to eat
like Lady and Tramp :)

The father/son plotline is mostly a reason why this movie has struck a chord with people. Lima used the film as therapy for when his father left when he was 12 (and didn't see him again until 20 years later after directing Tarzan). As for other full-length features based on TV shows, there were plans to have films based on Chip`N`Dale`s Rescue Rangers, but they were scrapped.

Epilogue

It`s going to be less messier
when we`re sober :)

Yes, I`m trying to occupy
space to make myself bigger
than you :)

Regarding how both Ducktales the Movie and A Goofy Movie are big screen-adaptations of TV show, there`s a clear difference between movies that are spinoff of series and other types of movies. Mostly because the former types of films tends to be fluffier, lighter and truth to be told, often regarded as vanity projects. So regardless of there being a stigma of movies based on TV shows versus other types of movies, at least both Ducktales and Goofy are fine examples of adaptations of TV show that have been done right.

Regardless of what could´ve been said about the series they´ve been based of, both movies are features that honors their TV show counterparts (despite that Goofy has less references to Goof Troop than Ducktales). And both are honorable additions to Disney´s evergrowing catalog of movies. Regardless that Ducktales happens to be less mentioned than Goofy, at least both of them are comparable for aforementioned reason. Nonetheless, Happy Anniversary to both Ducktales the Movie and A Goofy Movie and may you continue to have many more.

We haven´t found the treasure yet :)
Otherwise there wouldn`t
been a story, duuh :)

It´s a Goofy Movie and Co :)

Goof and Quack on my updates on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035703494050 and https://twitter.com/NerdyLunada.

My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses

søndag 16. august 2020

"A Goofy Movie" and "Ducktales the Movie" - Two Theactrical Full-Length Features of Two Disney Afternoon Series That Starred Famous Disney Characters

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.

And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize