The state and future of animation

[Randall]

They hadn't run out of ideas yet.

[Ben]

Because you can’t top pigs with pigs.

This.

[EricJ]

Why did animation studios have a "no sequel policy" through the 1990's. The existence of theatrical sequels like The Rescuers Down Under, Fievel Goes West, and All Dogs Go To Heaven 2 seem to show otherwise.

"Studios" didn't (and Universal clearly didn't), Disney did:
After Disney's direct-video OVA market had been abused just like Disney's current live-action mania (ie. using them just to jumpstart the market for forgotten titles), John Lasseter put his foot down and banned any title-IP project that specifically pretended to follow the events of the classic movie.
Which threw ToonStudio's Tinker Bell movie into a last-minute tailspin, but things worked out.

And to answer your next question, this was in the 00s.

[Ben]

And, so, not related to the original question…

[GeffreyDrogon]

If everyone is complaining about sequels, then why don't we ask the government to step in for us?

[Ben]

Yes, that would work.

[gaastra]

Have been confused with the "rescuers down under is the first disney animated sequel" when Saludos Amigos, three Caballeros, and melody time are pretty much a donald duck trilogy with donald, josie and the Aracuan Bird all with roles in the movies and comments they knew each other from the other movies.

As for sequels, america is tame. Japan has what 40 to 50 doraemon movies, 30 detective conan movies and 30 pokemon movies? China has how many of those cheap looking bear movies now?

We have a long way to go to catch japan and animated sequels at the box office.

As for new animated movies this year we have and had wild robot, blue lock the movie, overlord, that volleyball movie from months ago, slam dunk, look back, robot dream got a more wide release, spy x family, that music class one among others.

[Ben]

I always kind of lump Melody Time in with Make Mine Music, because structurally they're more in keeping with the "poor man's Fantasia" aesthetic that they got criticised for back on release, but you're right in that they make up a kind of Package Feature trio of South American Donald movies. Blame It On The Samba even feels like it could have been a deleted segment from Caballeros with its live/animation mix.

[GeffreyDrogon]

We have a long way to go to catch japan and animated sequels at the box office.

I think part of it has to do with Japan's economy more than anything.

[Ben]

Well, all sequels are an economic consideration. And cultural to a degree, again perhaps particularly in Japan's case.

[GeffreyDrogon]

If so many good movies like Ruby Gillman fail despite being well received ("-A" CinemaScore), then why can't movie companies adopt pay-it-forward schemes like Angel Studios did with The Sound of Freedom. Ruby Gillman would've succeeded from that.