My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses: august 2021

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

With the release of Space Jam A New Legacy, it would be a perfect time to synergize with discussing it`s predecessor.

Yes, it contains a jam that is
fleeting :)

At least it`s not The Bourne
Legacy :)

My eyes tries to
match your head,
Wee One :)

Animation and live action are pretty much different entities in filmmaking. Therefore it`s noteworthy when both mediums collide. The notion of having a blend of both mediums have existed since the dawn of filmmaking (as early as in 1900 with The Enchanted Drawing), even when animation looked entirely different. However, Disney have blended both mediums since Walt`s time and have managed to be successful with it. Regarding how other studios have done it, while there have been various examples, one noteworthy suggestion have been Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Which was a vehicle for various cartoon characters ever made. But regarding the Looney Tunes characters, the first time where our beloved squad truly graced the screen in form of this blend in a full-length feature, was in 1996`s Space Jam. Which happened to have it`s Silver Anniversary the fall this entry was written.

Space Jam`s Trademarks, Reputation & Soundtrack

I`m a alien version of
Hercules :)

Yes, since we`re aliens, we`ll
have to learn to read the
human language :) Don`t
blame us :)

Released November 15th 1996, Space Jam was part gimmick, part vanity project and part sport movie. But first and foremost also a commercial romp. It was pretty much (let`s face it) a vehicle for Michael Jordan and a fictionalized depiction of the timeline between his retirement from the NBA in 1993 to 1995. Space Jam was meant to be nothing than pure, unpretentious fluff.

Don`t try this at home, kids :)

But Space

Don`t worry, I`ll let ya
down... After many
hours :)

Jam was also released in a World where animation was different: Hand drawn animation was still making a profit, CGI had recently been introduced to the World and Disney was still the head of animation. Space Jam was the first film to be produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation, under their Family Entertainment banner. While Space Jam was mostly shunned by critics, it seems to be appreciated by the public. Cause it was a success, grossing over $250 million Worldwide. And becoming the highest-grossing Basketball Film of all time. Merchandising brought in more than $1 billion in retail sales.

For those who grew up with Space Jam have a certain nostalgia for it. Which is the reason why Space Jam has gained a legacy, despite how it was shunned criticially. A notable thing about Space Jam is how it was an opportunity to give the squad from Looney Tunes a full-length feature. Which was a gift for the fans who wanted it (and yes, there were apprehensions of giving them one, due to how they worked better in shorts).

However, Space Jam could be perceived as a full circle for Jordan, as he had starred in commercials with the gang before in Super Bowl commercials in 1991 (which were well received. And wanting to do something different for the Super Bowl, the director couldn’t think of a greater star than Bugs Bunny). Which makes it a synergy. The soundtrack became also a sensation, certified as 6-times Platinum. And garnering many unforgettable hits as Seal`s Fly Like an Eagle, Busta Rhymes/LL Cool J and Coolio`s Hit `Em High, Monica`s For You I Will, Quad City DJ`s Space Jam, Salt-N-Pepa`s Upside Down. And last, but not least R. Kelly`s I Believe I Can Fly. James Newton Howard provided the score.

Behind the Scenes Information

I know that it`s rude to point,
but I wanted to show that I`m
real ;)

Even I can represent the
Lakers :)

Space Jam happened to be Michael Jordan`s very first movie. And while he had been offered some cameos before, the idea for Space Jam happened to make a movie out of him. Yet it was always decided that Michael should simply play himself (which was the reason for his manager, David Falk, turned his previous offers down). Northern Lights Entertainment Company became the production partner. Director Joe Pytka (who was best known for directing commercials) had worked with Michael previously on various commercials (and directed only the live action parts).

I don`t know why I`m using
this bone :) I thought it was a
honk :)

Don`t worry, this ball is
less dangerous than my
teeth :)

Yet the challenge was to not compromise the schedule with Michael`s training for the 1995/96 season. So the studio built an incredible workout facility: A regulation basketball court, state-of-the-art weight room and more, which was dubbed the "Jordan Dome". Actors, executives and others on the lot would show up to watch Jordan’s pickup games. Regarding the interactions with Bugs Bunny, it`s not just a sheer coincidence for Michael: Bugs happened to be his favorite and his childhood hero (but says that he doesn`t like carrots). But Michael thought the process was a lot of fun.

While there were rumors about a Looney Tunes movie starring Michael Jordan, nobody was taking it seriously. Falk pitched the idea to several major studios, without a story or script written. Yet the studio initially turned them down. But Falk's called the consumer products division leader, Dan Romanelli, who reacted in surprise that the studio would turn down a project having potential of high-selling merchandise. But for producer Ivan Reitman it was a dream come true: For being a fan of both Looney Tunes and basketball. The challenge was to make a movie that captured the spirit of Tunes and work as a large scale entertainment. While the Warner Brothers studio were supportive of the idea, they still couldn`t put their arms around it, until Reitman managed to put his spin on it. Lucy Fisher, Warner Bros. executive vice president of production, saw the movie’s potential among people who didn’t care much about sports.

Yet the idea was always to make something fantasy-based. When the story was created, the top animators were moved from the studios classic animation department and temporarely installed in a stripped-down editor`s room at Reitman`s Northern Lights studios. Warner Bros tried to create more "adult, sophisticated material" that deviated from the Disney formula. Pytka was informed about the project only months before the start of principal photography. It was difficult to get most actors involved with Space Jam due to its odd premise. Before Wayne Knight was cast as Stan, his initial choices were Michael J. Fox and Chevy Chase. But Warner Bros. rejected both actors. There were also attempts to replace Jordan's character with a more experienced actor, but "we couldn't find anyone better."

Behind the Scenes Information Part II

Yes, I`m trying to melt you
with my adorable look :) But
at least it`s better than a
smolder ;)

Yes, believe it or not, but the filmmakers noted how much Bugs and Michael had in common. It was the screenwriters who decided that the baseball angle, which Michael had began playing at the time. But were concerned if Michael was going to be relevant when the movie was finished.

Yes, I know that I don`t look
scary :) But just pretend that I
am, huh? :)

Yet it

was when Michael returned when the property gained priority. It took a year for the studio to actually gain faith in the project (as it did for supervising animator Bruce Woodside, who honestly thought the characters could make the transition to the big screen). The filming ended in 1995 and animators from Canada and the UK joined the team. The special effects were provided by Cinesite. The designs of the characters are a blend of old and new. But at least Bugs looks more like he looked in the 1940`s. But it was a deliberate choice to have their personality traits from their earlier days.

Space Jam was also the first Looney Tunes picture where
dimensions and angles were stretched to the limits. Which forced a new way of rethinking the way the Looney Tunes characters were drawn. Bruce Smith, an animator who later on came to Disney to supervise Kerchak in Tarzan and Pacha in The Emperor`s New Groove, was a directing animator on Space Jam.

The animators were encouraged to come up with so many gags as possible. Writers Steve Rudnick and Leo Benvenuti were from standup background, but weren`t influenced by any particular Looney Tunes directors along the way. They were inspired by Woody Allen, Albert Brooks and Monty Python. And yeah, when Michael acted to the animated characters, he acted to people in green suits (which was uncomfortable for those people, due to the heat). The hospital scenes were shot in CIGNA Hospital, Los Angeles.

We could all afford
to look happy on
this blanket :) For a
while :)

When Space Jam was greenlit, Ivan Reitman phoned Robert Zemeckis (who directed Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and asked for advice. Which he replied "Don't do it, it nearly killed me". The Classic Animation faction of Warner Bros. in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, which animated the commercials, was originally the only company chosen to make Space Jam. However, after a week, the animation was so hard that Warner Bros. contacted more studios, including reassigning the Feature Animation division in Glendale from Quest for Camelot. But when production actually started, they only had around 8 months to do about 52 minutes of animation". The process started off as a string of gags with no structure.

Space Jam`s Plot, Michael Jordan`s Presence, The Other Cast, The Looney Tunes Characters & Time Setting

The hoop in the middle is our
jam :) And don`t worry, it`s
delicious, despite being from
Space :)

I should be renamed to
BasketBugs :)

As for the plot, there`s no denial that the storyline for Space Jam is somewhat slim and silly (no offense to the screenwriters): A basketball case that would save the world from stupid aliens. Yet due to how Looney Tunes are essentially meant to be pure, trashy fun, it`s acceptable to have it within their world. And since the story is essentially a typical sports story, it follows that path and (predictable) elements.

While Michael Jordan was of course was the main star of Space Jam, he wasn`t the only famous star. As aforementioned Wayne Knight, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd (who gets referred to in a meta-comment) and Danny DeVito, who`s voiced some characters. Of course one of the scrutinies against Space Jam has revolved about Jordan`s acting.

Which is unfortuantely understandable enough. Due to having him in a movie fuels corporate decisions (Jordan said how acting was about emotions and basketball was about talent. Yet Jordan said that it was harder to play himself). Still, while Jordan is far from an actor, he still makes a adequate and formidable job, in my opinion. Some reviewers have praised how his charisma makes up for his acting. And sure, having an African-American star makes it easy to label it as a movie made for that audience. Despite that it`s a shallow reading.

I (Daffy) had to
wait for 48 hours
straight for Taz :)
Lucky me :)

What has been praised, though, have been our cartoony friends. And while this project is a valentine for many devoted Looney Tunes fans, it would be easy to compare Space Jam as a low-rent Roger Rabbit for that lone reason (despite how it`s an outrage to even do that. Since Rabbit`s reputation is superior than Space Jam`s. And yes, there have been various theories of them existing in the same Universe, despite how the creators didn`t wanted to have that comparison). But at least the Looney Tunes characters have been one of the good things about the project. And at least their segments are done in a true Looney Tunes flair. Playing into each strength and characteristic to each character. But at least Space Jam introduces a entirely new character, Lola Rabbit. Being deliberately meant as a love interest for Bugs (and was originally going to be a lot more tomboyish).

Well, since this jam was from
space, we had to prove it with
my fellow alien :)

I look good
as a purse,
don`t I? :)

And sure, since Space Jam was made for the moment, there`s no doubt that the product is dated. Which was a deliberate choice. But sure, it`s tempting to say that it applies to Looney Tunes in general due to how pop culture driven they`ve been. As for the animation itself, while it may not be the very best (no offense), it`s still good enough to make it appealing. Even reviewers were praising it`s look at the time, as it was done with flair.

Space Jam A New Legacy

Yes, it`s inevitable to go into
the new medium :) Blame the
trend, not us :)

While 25 long years have passed since the first Space Jam hit the
screens, it`s remarkable to think that it`s taken so long to make a sequel. While Joe Pytka was originally going to return, the project was discarded since Michael Jordan's refused to return. Several spin-offs with other athletes (like Jeff Gordon, Tiger Woods, and Tony Hawk) were also discussed, but never made. So after several years in development hell, a LeBron James-led sequel was officially announced in 2014 (with filming taking place from June to September 2019 in Los Angeles).

Yes, there`s a reason for why
my mouth has been stitched :)

So it may be perceived as a synergy that the sequel was released 25 years later. Considering that we live in a time of remakes and reboots, it was perfectly time for it. But the plans for one was also canceled cause the underperformance of Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Released theatrically in the United States on July 16, 2021, Space Jam A New Legacy was also released on HBO Max. Available for subscribers of the ad-free plan.

Right, Linkin Park? :)

Just as it`s predecessor, Legacy is a breezy and lightweight romp that
is just to be pure, cheesy fun. And yeah, it`s just as much of a vanity project that it`s made for it`s time. While the story may not be identical to it`s predecessor, at least it`s still similar. The lead is at odds with his youngest son who dreams of being a video game developer instead of a basketball star. While visiting Warner Bros.′ lot to see the new system called Warner 3000 (a new technology that can copy James and insert him into different movies and TV), Dom is kidnapped by an evil A.I. by the name of Al-G Rhythm. While gives James a more personal reason to fulfill his mission.

Just like Shakira, my
hips don`t lie either :)

However, Legacy is a rare chance to see some hand drawn animation again. Regardless of how the quality of the animation is, at least it`s a good opportunity to see it. Mulan`s director/Pumbaa`s animator Tony Bancroft worked on the animation. However, predictably there are some CGI animation as well (and yes, it has an overt change between the two mediums). And Legacy is a valentine for the Warner Bros company as a whole, since various characters from their different features makes a cameo. And yes, the presence of Michael Jordan gets a meta-joke in this movie (which Warner Bros. wanted really badly to use it in marketing, and couldn`t do that. Because the joke was too good to sacrifice).

Yes, just pretend that my butt
is a plate :)

As for myself, I happened to like the movie when I saw it. While it wasn`t particularly well received criticially, it was still an enjoyable romp for me. Bill Murray makes a photographic cameo alongside Bugs in the credits. Other appearances (via archive footage) include Mike Myers, Seth Green, Robert Wagner and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic was hired for the visual effects. The production had largely been unaffected by COVID-19, despite having it`s delays. Lola is voiced by Zendaya after Kath Soucie stopped voicing her in 2020. The film cost $150 million to produce. LeBron happened to love Space Jam growing up. And calls it "the biggest game, he`s ever played in," And ever since James was a teenager, he's heard the Jordan comparisons. The crew said that James did "more acting" than Jordan and had an acting coach. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler was the producer. But for Box Office Numbers, it has grossed over $163,692,228 Worldwide.

Epilogue

Yes, I wanted to
show that I can lift a
ball :) Despite being
a diva ;)

So at the end, both Space Jam`s are pure, relentless fun and made for commercial purposes. But the big remaining question is whether they`re truly good and deserves to be panned? Yes and no. While there are some silly moments on them, they`re still both enjoyable flicks, nonetheless. And while the critics haven`t been particularly fond of them, at least the first one has gained a fanbase, anyways. Perhaps mostly based on nostalgia, but it`s a fanbase, nonetheless. As for the sequel, it haven`t been regarded as being superior to it`s predecessor. But at least it`s a worthy follower, in my opinion. So at the end, Happy Past 25th Anniversary Space Jam and may you continue to have many more.