Hey folks, Harry here with that... drool drool... ohmygod she's a BAAAAAAABE!!!!! That's right, Junior Mintz! She's gonna be slinking around San Diego Comic Con looking for signs of life in all things cool, so if you see a 5'5" 105lb Blonde girl about 17ish, leave her be, she's working for AICN and she'll kick your ass so hard, you'll ask for more. Seriously... if you see her, ask "Are you Junior Mintz?" If you find her, she has something special to give ya... She won't tell me, but... well... She's creative. AS for this news... with the exception of the Three Musketeer deal with Mickey, Donald and Goofy.... I'm notably dispassionate. Personally I wanna see that animated Musketeer flick in theaters... That would rule! And I've got an odd "hmmmmmmm" question to put out there. You know how Walt Disney (the human being, not the monstrous corporation) used to always put Mickey in the latest advances. He was the first sound cartoon, he was amongst the first color cartoon characters, he even hit widescreen. How come then... How come we don't ever see him translated into CG? Is there anyone else out there that believes that Walt would have done this? Or do you think Mickey would always primarily exist in the realm of graphite? Just curious....
Hola Headgeek,
More proof positive that no one is running the show at Disney TV Animation:
The word went down officially on Friday that Dis. TV is scuttling their previously announced TEAM ATLANTIS animated series. Reports out of the Mouse House indicate that this was a troubled project from day one. Initially sold to both ABC Sat AM and Toon Disney, disgruntled production folks reported that neither net could agree on what the series should be. Toon Disney was in favor of a more adventure-driven show like the original GARGOYLES while ABC wanted more of the usual safe, touchy-feely ultra-PC crap they always run. A number of scripts were written and rumor has it that a few storyboards were actually shipped overseas for animation before the plug was pulled. 52 episodes down the crapper. The final stake in the TEAM ATLANTIS coffin was the film's lousy performance at the B.O., and even lousier performance as a toy and merch. concept at retail outlets like Toys R Us. One good thing from all this, ATLANTIS' failure hurried the expulsion of Peter "The Screamer" Schneider, the studio head apparently hated by just about all beneath him. Word has it his exit was widely celebrated by the few members of the animation staff he hadn't already canned.
Other news from Toontown: Disney Home Vid looks ready to move ahead with their DUMBO II plans. Don't expect to see pink elephants, jive-talking crows or mean clowns in this one. All those "bad" elements have been flushed out, along with anything resembling fun. Also in the works, a direct to video version of THREE MUSKETEERS with Mickey, Donald and Goofy, which looks like it actually might have some entertainment potential.
Lastly, I did some hunting around after I heard some recent distressing rumors, and it looks like it's sadly true - the next attraction to face the wrecking ball at Disneyland is the beloved Country Bear Jamboree. The show will be quietly shuttered at the end of summer and the arcade and snack bar next door knocked down to make room for an all-new (bleh!) Winnie the Pooh attraction. Rumor says the whole area will be renamed either Pooh Country or Pooh's Place. Ugh. Please, if you HAVE to give the stupid yellow bear his own ride, put in Fantasyland. Leave the corny but cute singin' bears alone. Word also has it the Country Bears (or what's left of them) may be encorporated into a new restuarant attraction a la Chuck E. Cheese, but their look will be seriously revamped and updated to reflect what's being done with them in the current live COUNTRY BEARS movie. God, don'tcha just love progress?
Welp, that's all for me. I'm off to Knotts Berry Farm which these days kicks lame ol' D-Land's ass eight ways from Sunday.
Junior Mintz
