There are many Disney fans out there who long for the days of traditional, artful, hand-drawn animation, harkening back to the golden days of the Disney Renaissance. Now, after practical years of wishing, wanting, hoping, and prarying, they seem to be getting their wish.
Disney Animation Studios head, Jared Bush, recently shared that 2D films would soon be making a comeback after over a decade. While that's indeed something to be excited about, Disney has made pie-crust promises before. Does this beacon of hope truly have legs to stand on?
Back to the drawing board?
This week, Jared Bush shared how important diversity was to the Walt Disney Company and the role it played in the creation of its films. While some might roll their eyes at the premise at first, he's not talking about a forced DEI initiative, but diversifying the type of media Disney puts out.
As fans (especially this one) eagerly await the arrival of Jared Bush's Zootopia 2, the director/animator shared with The Wrap a very exciting development. Writer Drew Taylor shared the following in his article.
“I love 2D,” Bush said. “Right now we have 2D artists who are doing some bonkers amazing things. I’ll leave it at that,” Bush said with a wink when we asked about the format returning to the studio.
If you're anything like this writer, that nugget of information had your radar going off. As much as Disney has helped shape the animation industry, it feels like the studio has completely forgotten its roots.
With the exception of maybe Once Upon a Studio, the most recent traditionally animated Disney feature was 2011's Winnie the Pooh. That means it's been over a decade since Disney has dipped it's pen in the ink of its landmark art style.
Given the criticisms heaped on films like Strange World and Wish (both addressed in the article), it feels like this direction could be a breath of fresh air. However, it might be a dollar short and a day late.
Disney has been absolutely smashed by the competition, just look at some of the most recent Oscar results. As Dreamworks and Sony squash the mouse at every turn, it's truly going to take a massive dose of Disney magic to get back on top. However, it might not be as impossible as one might think.
Bush hits it right on the head with the following statement,
“Our movies have to be giant movies. That’s the kind of movies I love. I want to go and eat a giant bucket of popcorn and be entertained. And I want to go through all the emotions. I want to feel a deep connection. I want to cry, I want to laugh, I want to be excited,” Bush said. “And not all premises can hold all of those elements. I feel like my biggest and most important job right now is to identify those things early, to find filmmakers that that’s their natural inclination, so they’re not fighting their own movie. And then looking at the health of the studio moving forward, and making sure that everyone at Disney Animation is on board for that ride.”
Pair these attributes with the traditional animation so many fans have pined for, and it just might make the miracle Disney has needed for years. Until that day comes, all we can do is wait and see what happens.
Do you think Disney is healing?