I like some of Don Bluth's work (especially his color and designs). I like that he uses a "darker" approch to storytelling with less conventional three-act structures and unique characterizations.
Which is kind of thought provoking but VERY (and in my opinion unnecessarily) rough on Bluth:
Semaj86
Across the aisle
Posts: 92
(2/12/06 7:02 pm)
Reply Re: Terrible film--and nothing new
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Okay, here's one thing I never got: even when Disney DID eventually come back to life, why did Don Bluth never return?
As much as he tries to delude himself into thinking he's restoring the artistic brilliance of Walt Disney's camelot films (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi), his films are very generic and mediocre at best. The Land Before Time was basically a prehistoric rip-off of Bambi.
Based on this story, Bluth did have a right to be impatient. But I think he should've swallowed his pride years ago. The only thing he really accomplished since 1982 was spearheading the Disney knock-off genre that has occurred since the 1990's. Nobody even TRIES to remember stuff like Rover Dangerfield or Quest for Camelot. And those endless Land Before Time sequels may have only ENCOURAGED Disney to do the same crap with their own films (which is disgraceful, because we really did NOT need or even want to see a prequel to Bambi).
beans
Unregistered User
(2/12/06 10:25 pm)
Reply What about the game?
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How can the article overlook the game, designed by the creator of Leisure Suit Larry?
DerekJ
A Pair O' Dice
Posts: 229
(2/13/06 1:33 am)
Reply Re: Terrible film--and nothing new
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Quote:
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Okay, here's one thing I never got: even when Disney DID eventually come back to life, why did Don Bluth never return?
As much as he tries to delude himself into thinking he's restoring the artistic brilliance of Walt Disney's camelot films (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi), his films are very generic and mediocre at best.
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They're also creepy, jawdropping, and--well, I wouldn't say "borderline pedo", as that's too misleading, but more in the general sense that Don has a few sick-puppy bugs about the portrayal of kids in his film--but shh, don't tell him that--He still thinks he's a genius... |
(Anyone else, after all, would've told Fox, "Look, I'm glad you thought 'Anastasia' made money, but what makes you think I could direct a sci-fi film??")
Thylacine
One of the crowd
Posts: 1
(2/13/06 2:03 pm)
Reply Go easy on Bluth folks...
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I’m new to the thread, but I’m still going to say that I am not pleased with the words spoken about Bluth here. Whatever he’s done since he left Disney, he’s remained dedicated to rich animation, and interesting narratives. Sure the stories aren’t clear sometimes, but I chock that up not having a stable creative environment to work in half the time.
Don was the first to say, “Enough is Enough,” to Disney animation, and prove that you can make films outside the “Disney Box” like “Nimh,” and “An American Tale.” There are two films that succeeded in being adventurous, dark, and complex- something “Cauldron,” or honestly, anything from Disney (since the 80’s) could never do.
As far as setting himself aside from the likes of Swan Princess fluff, Don has one BIG defining talent.
No one, and I repeat, no one, knows color like Don Bluth. Take a look at any of his films, even the most berated, and you will see palettes that put anything the mouse house has to offer to shame. “All Dogs go to Heaven” is a mess of a film, but what a pretty mess it is.
Bluth should not be undermined, he is a talent worth serious reckoning, and someday, when he isn’t being buried by Disney (Like the time they re-released "The Little Mermaid" to coincide with "Anastasia"), people will see him for the dedicated talent he is. He just needs a stable studio, and time to write a script. Who doesn't?
And “Hey Jim, why for no mention of Burton in your ‘Black Cauldron’ write up?”
A serious oversight indeed. I think his stories about the studio show a different take on “Disney Animation” at that time. Who thought locking Andreas Deja and Tim Burton in the same room was a “good” idea?
Edited by: Thylacine at: 2/13/06 2:05 pm
DerekJ
A Pair O' Dice
Posts: 231
(2/13/06 5:25 pm)
Reply Re: Go easy on Bluth folks...
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Quote:
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No one, and I repeat, no one, knows color like Don Bluth. Take a look at any of his films, even the most berated, and you will see palettes that put anything the mouse house has to offer to shame. “All Dogs go to Heaven” is a mess of a film, but what a pretty mess it is.
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A creepy and desperately out-of-touch mess, however.
(Put it this way: You can haphazardly spill paint on the floor, and it might be pretty and undeniably colorful, but you still wouldn't want to walk on it.)
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Don was the first to say, “Enough is Enough,” to Disney animation, and prove that you can make films outside the “Disney Box” like “Nimh,” and “An American Tale.” There are two films that succeeded in being adventurous, dark, and complex- something “Cauldron,” or honestly, anything from Disney (since the 80’s) could never do.
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Yeah...If only he didn't have that "Dear gods, Don, what IS it with you, anyway??" leanings towards garish design, ugly rotoscoping, and a "'helpless' fetish" toward his characters that strays well past the boundaries of "...And we DO mean 'fetish'. "
I defy you to sit any real child under the age of nine and make them watch "Thumbelina". Or "A Troll in Central Park". I double-dog dare you. (I was almost about to say "Bartok the Magnificent", but......no. Just no.)
Anyone who still makes lame, outdated gags about Disney's films being sappy, saccharine romps with princesses and bunnies has never seen Out of Touch With The Audience until he's sat through one of Bluth's personal acid trips.
Thylacine
One of the crowd
Posts: 2
(2/13/06 5:54 pm)
Reply Re: Go easy on Bluth folks...
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"(Put it this way: You can haphazardly spill paint on the floor, and it might be pretty and undeniably colorful, but you still wouldn't want to walk on it.)"
I hardly think his films are accidents. Also, I'd love to look at something troubling, rather than something dull.
"Anyone who still makes lame, outdated gags about Disney's films being sappy, saccharine romps with princesses and bunnies has never seen Out of Touch With The Audience until he's sat through one of Bluth's personal acid trips."
I "double dog dare yah" to tell me this,
"Who IS the audience for animated films?"
And besides, I prefer garish acid trips to underdesigned broadway knock offs like "Beauty and the Beast" any day.
Unless they get an outside production design team, like Scarfe, Mignola, or the Brizzi Brothers- Disney films are boring to look at.
Semaj86
Across the aisle
Posts: 93
(2/14/06 12:58 am)
Reply Re: Go easy on Bluth folks...
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I defy you to sit any real child under the age of nine and make them watch "Thumbelina". Or "A Troll in Central Park". I double-dog dare you. (I was almost about to say "Bartok the Magnificent", but......no. Just no.)
I recall being given the opportunity to watch An American Tail and All Dogs Go to Heaven when I was little, but never being able to sit thru either film. To this day, the only Bluth film I've had the strength to see in its entirety was The Land Before Time.
Anyone who still makes lame, outdated gags about Disney's films being sappy, saccharine romps with princesses and bunnies has never seen Out of Touch With The Audience until he's sat through one of Bluth's personal acid trips
Amen. If anyone ever compared my drawings to those of Mr. Bluth, I'd take that as an insult.
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