Default Disney Ramping Up Nature Films

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Apr Wed 23, 2008 4:52 am

Per the St. Pete Times:

"Walt Disney Co. is launching a film production unit called Disneynature to make feature length documentaries about animals and the environment. The endeavor is inspired byt he success of Warner Independent Pictures 2005 documentry March of the Penguins[/U. Penguins cost about $8 million to produce and grossed almost 10x that at the U.S. box office."

Reminds me of when Disney use to make the True Life adventures films. Was March of the Penguins really that good? Everyone keeps telling me how awesome it was.

"Animals have personalities like People and must be studied."
---Walter Elias Disney

WVParkfan · Post by **WVParkfan** » Apr Wed 23, 2008 6:51 am

I like the idea of Disney making nature films (like the old days). With today being the Anniversary of the Animal Kingdom, I wonder if they'll be able to tie the new films into the AK somehow.

Sleeping Beauty 5 · Post by **Sleeping Beauty 5** » Apr Wed 23, 2008 1:18 pm

I like the idea too. March of the Penguins was a really cute movie and it helped to illustrate how nature and instincts take over sometimes. I would recommend seeing it to anyone.

I wonder how they could possibly add more to AK..maybe have a March of the elephants musical or something. I mean since they already have a large assortment of animals already and they are going to be focusing on documenting animals..wouldn't that kind of already be a part of AK??

danimal3114u · Post by **danimal3114u** » Apr Wed 23, 2008 2:23 pm

I hope that the Disneynature films still have keep the nature side of the True Life Adventures films and don't try to "pigeon"hole everything into a humanistic narrative. March of the Penguins had a little of that hegemony going on, and I loved the TLA movies even when I was watching them in my elementary school cafeteria. They didn't really have a narrative story and they're still very entertaining. Also see Planet Earth for how non-narrative based nature films can be extremelly educational and profitable.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Apr Wed 23, 2008 5:27 pm

With today being the Anniversary of the Animal Kingdom, I wonder if they'll be able to tie the new films into the AK somehow

You would think they'd use the tree of life as their logo instead of mountain version of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Apr Thu 24, 2008 2:08 am

danimal3114u wrote:I hope that the Disneynature films still have keep the nature side of the True Life Adventures films and don't try to "pigeon"hole everything into a humanistic narrative.

A lot of the old Disney movies did this too (and they sometimes cheated quite a lot to create a narrative...at one point, even the species of shark changed!), but you have to cut Disney some slack, since they were busy inventing the whole genre.

I agree that it would be a great opportunity to do that whole "synergy" thing, and do it in a way that isn't insulting. I know they prefer to spit on the audience, but it could be a nice gateway to the Animal Kingdom park without all the stupid stuff like shoving Monsters into Tomorrowland or Johnny Depp into Pirates.

The guy who runs this excellent Epcot blog talks about this kind of thing all the time. "Epcot" could become a brand associated with science, technology, travel, etc.

It would be similar to the way the old Disneyland shows tied episodes to lands of the park, which boosted the cred of both, without all the Eisner-style branding which usually involved destroying something and replacing it with a shop selling the same stuff made in China you can get at your local Wal-Mart.

bamato · Post by **bamato** » May Tue 20, 2008 9:38 am

I think it is cool that they are finally doing this. I think if Walt were still around he would be very happy. I've found some of the old nature documentaries before on Disney DVD's. I think there is one on water birds if I'm not mistaken on the Rescuers DVD.