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Domain: savedisney.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to savedisney.com.
Comments · 20
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ManagementDisney has to ditch the current management in Feature Animation before it can go anywhere-- the bean counters who are more likely to follow others' trends than to create their own (remember when Disney was the animation trendsetter?). There are still a couple of good creative types at the studio (such as Chris Sanders, who directed the quirky Lilo and Stitch), but such creatives also need management who cares about and understands animation. It's no surprise that Pixar, and not Disney, is Ghibli's biggest cheerleader in the states
PS: Here's an excellent series of articles about what went wrong with Disney feature animation.
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Disney's Track Record....
Then, after Toy Story 3, they will launch Toy Story: The Series, daily on the Disney Channel. Of course, it will be hastily put together and have completely flat graphics created as cheaply as possibly. They'll also be releasing direct-to-video sequals until people are so tired of it that the brand is useless. Then they'll wait 5 years and "rerelease" the original toy story to theaters, and come up with a "new" DVD set containing the original and all sequals. Of course, they'll do this just in time for the holidays and get all new Toy Story toys, books, ice cream, cereal, shoes, clothing, etc. Only then, after this dies down, will they consider the franchise "milked." If you don't like the way Disney operates, you're not alone
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Re:What are you on?
You believe that Disney is declining without any indicative evidence of the fact?
Yes.
No sharp falling profits or revenue
Eh. Stock price is flat at best. Disney's in the middle of the pack for investment returns, and trailing the S&P 500. A playoff team they ain't. Losing Pixar just makes it worse.
Disney stores are being sold. The animation division is out of business. Pixar is leaving. Miramax is unhappy. The theme parks are stale, with California Adventure particularly mediocre. Mickey Mouse is selling paper towels and ABC is giving up Monday Night Football. Yeah, I'd say Disney has done better -
Re:Disney is going down
And they run the finest swamp in the entertainment industry!
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Mod Parent UPIAA2DA (I Am A 2D Animator)-- and you're absolutely right, on all counts. One of the big reasons anime is popular right now is because it's INEXPENSIVE-- both to produce and to aquire the rights to. Even the two top-paying houses in Japan (Ghibli and Production I.G.) don't have budgets as high as Disney did in its mid-90s heyday. I could go on about Disney and their current (notoriously bad) management, but that's another discussion...
I recently read an interesting quote by animation historian Michael Barrier, in his recent interview with John K. (Ren and Stimpy): "It's one of animation's curses that so many people insist that there is only one way to make a cartoon-- the Disney-feature way, the Clampett way, the UPA way, or whatever-- when in fact the medium's resources are so large." Of course, he wasn't talking about anime when he said this, but he might as well have been.
I like good anime and manga a helluva lot, sure, but I also like good American and European animation. Just as I like both 2D and 3D work, as long as it's done well. All have their merits-- unfortunatly, a lot of anime's boosters can't get that simple fact through their thick skulls -_-;
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Re:More wealth - for whom?
>But all of them? Even the ones of failing companies?
They get hired based on their percieved value to the company and get axed if they don't perform, same as anyone else. They get a golden parachute to ensure no public squabbling which would hurt public opinon/confidence in the company.
What would you suggest as an alternative? Tying pay to revenue/profit would be an incentive for short term thinking, as well as an impediment for finding someone to turn around an ailing business. Tying pay to the pay that the lowest paid worker gets is just an incentive to leave for greener pa$ture$ at the first opportunity.
>Years back, I heard Eisner's "total annual compensation" placed in the $100,000,000 range. If we guess that the guy serving the mouse-eared ice cream bars made $50,000 per year, that's not 40X, that 2000X. Further, I suspect the $50k estimate is generous.
Here is a rather informative discussion on Eisner's compensation history. Note that it points out that a lot of what he got is based on his gamble of taking stock options as a large part of his compensation, i.e. he got money based on his performance. As it should be.
As things started to go downhill, he got only direct pay plus a bonus based on meeting specific goals. (Here is a chart showing annual compensation after 1996 when things started to go downhill. (Note that the shown hypothetical stock option values are based on an accounting computation designed to estimate future value. As the Forbes article here points out, their actual value at the moment is zero.)
Now that things are really hitting the fan at Disney, people are trying to axe him. Also as it should be.
What's the problem?
>I still maintain that for most CEOs, outside of a few shining stars, they're in an overpay-ourselves club.
There's no doubt that there are outrageous compensation packages, but perhaps the people who hire CEOs are not as stupid as we think. -
Prevent Disney from going "Boom"
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Well at least...
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Re:It has become the best studio because...
It's all about a well-developed and solid *story* - something that Disney was a big proponent of, but seems to have forgotten...
(Technically Roy wasn't kicked out, but resigned on his own; he was going to be forced out due to his 'age,' but left first) See his site. -
Perhaps Disney would have been wise
to not be so quick to bust up the partnership between them and Pixar.
Just one of a long string of poor moves by Eisner. No wonder the shareholders are so pissed at him. -
Re:Been done before!Basically, Taylor was ousted from the company for decrying the then-current practice of New York wineries mixing water and California juices in with their wines. He believed it was corrrupting the quality of his family's wine recipes. (Sound like any other company we know?)
The court injunction can be found here.
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The borad is comprised of Eisner's Lackeys
Disney's board of directors today turned down Comcast's hostile takeover bid, reports MSNBC. The board expressed confidence in Eisner's leadership.
I've been hearing, for years, from people in the disney organisation about Eisner's childish tactics and thirst for power. The board is comprised of his yes men, they will do what he says. Roy Disney as much as said this in his letter of resignation http://savedisney.com/letters/ The other items in the letters section of Roy Disney's website http://savedisney.com will reenforce this.
Many of the problems now being publically brought up by Roy Disney and Stanley Gold are ones that I and people familiar with the internal workings of the Disney creative machine have been voicing for years. Eisner's got to go, for the good of the company.
I don't want to see Disney swallowed up by a large corporation. There's still time to turn it around and save it, but I do not beleive this will happen. I, personally, beleive that Disney will eventually be bought. I didn't expect it to happen, or even be contemplated, this soon, but I believe it is inevitable unless Eisner is outted and the company drastically changes course. -
The borad is comprised of Eisner's Lackeys
Disney's board of directors today turned down Comcast's hostile takeover bid, reports MSNBC. The board expressed confidence in Eisner's leadership.
I've been hearing, for years, from people in the disney organisation about Eisner's childish tactics and thirst for power. The board is comprised of his yes men, they will do what he says. Roy Disney as much as said this in his letter of resignation http://savedisney.com/letters/ The other items in the letters section of Roy Disney's website http://savedisney.com will reenforce this.
Many of the problems now being publically brought up by Roy Disney and Stanley Gold are ones that I and people familiar with the internal workings of the Disney creative machine have been voicing for years. Eisner's got to go, for the good of the company.
I don't want to see Disney swallowed up by a large corporation. There's still time to turn it around and save it, but I do not beleive this will happen. I, personally, beleive that Disney will eventually be bought. I didn't expect it to happen, or even be contemplated, this soon, but I believe it is inevitable unless Eisner is outted and the company drastically changes course. -
Re:this shareholder MIGHT vote for good CCast bidQuick hint: For more info on the situation at Disney from two former longtime board members, see http://www.savedisney.com
I've been a shareholder in DIS since the 1970's and have weathered other potential takeover storms.
The reason this one is different from the one 20 years ago is that I think the potential buyer has in mind the protection of the longterm value of the Disney brand and its associated assets. This brings benefit to shareholders beyond any premium in share price that might be offered. (If you don't know, many shareholders are somewhat concerned that the current Disney management team is focusing more on short-term profits than long-term value
In the case of the animation business which has arguably languished lately (closure of animation facility in Florida for example; also a focus on computer rather than hand animation), Comcast seems interested in bringing it to the forefront again. Whether that be through further investment on their part, or selling it off to a creative company like Pixar which could make the most of it, I can only see positive results compared to what's been going on recently here.
In the case of the theme parks, which have experienced reduced maintenance budgets and a serious slowdown in the number of new "big ticket" attractions developed in the past 5 years or so, again I can only see that a change would bring better stewardship of key company assets. Even if it meant selling off or leasing for operation the parks to a company like Six Flags, asking myself if "will the standard for the parks as it currently exists be lowered or raised?", my gut reaction is that it will at worst stay the same.
Anyway, usual caveats here -- not speaking on behalf of ANYONE except myself, and yes, I'm a stockholder in DIS who's in it for the long haul
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Re:What does Roy Disney think?
It looks like Roy has noticed, but hasn't responded. As of 12:32 EDT, Feb. 11, 2004, there is a link from Roy's site to news articles on the subject, but no commentary.
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Re:What does Roy Disney think?
Dang, you beat me to the punch with that question. Roy and Stanley haven't said anything yet (~9:30 EST), but they are linking to Financial Times and CNN coverage. More context about Roy vs. Eisner here among other places. -
Save Disney
Help Save Disney from Eisner, who has turned the company from setting trends to following the current trend of the time. He fires the animators who have made the company great simply because it will increase their short term profit. They have completely abandoned the principles Walt Disney used in running the company. If you own Disney shares, support Roy Disney, the surviving member of the Disney family.
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Curse of the sequelsThe shareholders don't want them taking risks with their money. They want Cinderella 3: Rise of the Sisters, they want tie-ins with McDonalds, they want safe, easy, money.
This is one of the main reasons why Roy E. Disney (Chairman of Disney Animation Department and member of the Disney board of directors, and Walt's last remaining relative in the Disney empire) resigned in a big melt down last November.
In his resignation letter (available here) Roy E. Disney blasted Michael Eisner with, "This company under your leadership has failed in many ways:" then of the many things he slams, specifically bombasts Eisner for "The perception by all of our stateholders -- consumers, investors, employees, distributors, and suppliers -- that the company is rapacious, soulless, and always looking for the 'quick buck' rather than long-term value which is leading to a loss of the public trust." and "Your failure to establish and build constructive relationships with creative partners, especially Pixar, Miramax, and the cable companies distributing our products."
All in all, it's a great letter, rather well written, and my brief highlights don't do it justice. He tells the world that Michael Eisner is a no-good egomaniac who's systematically destroying the legacy that Walt built by not taking risks, going for the quick buck, and releasing sequels rather than using the briliant writing talent already available inside the animation complex.
Now here's how the animators feel. There was a letter of support written recently by Disney's top animators Tim Hauser (writer of the OSCAR nominated short Runaway Brain), Steve Moore (director, OSCAR nominated short Redux Riding Hood, Emmy nominated special Olive, the Other Reindeer), and Dave Pruiksma (supervising animator, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lion King, etc.) and it was signed by over 4200 members of the animation community:
"The unique traditions of visual storytelling, humor and personality animation on which the Walt Disney Studio had thrived, gave way to politically correct sloganeering, stale one-liners and film seminar formulas to which audiences have refused to respond.
Mr. Eisner's rejection of Walt Disney's heritage has been a colossal failure. Yet this is a man who has been paid over $700 million in compensation since 1996, while the Feature Animation department has been decimated by pink slips.
Now, skilled craftsmen go unemployed while the executive ranks swell. A unique American art form, the Disney cartoon feature, hangs precariously in the balance - - reduced to the production of cheap direct-to-video franchise extensions made by committee.
Without Roy, who will protect the 70-year Disney legacy from becoming no more than a hollow brand?"
The whole scandal is great reading. I recommend checking out savedisney.com (Roy E. Disney's website.) Then while you're feeling indignant that the little spark that Disney still had was purposefully extinguished, go sign the petition then if you're still feeling indignant, purchase some "Roy was right." messenger bags and wear them to Disneyland or Disneyworld the next time you go as a show of support, cause the appropriate behavior to news like this -- a boycott -- just isn't going to happen. So buy the bags, and be obnoxious at the parks.
Anyway, Roy's email address is on the web. You can email him here. -
Curse of the sequelsThe shareholders don't want them taking risks with their money. They want Cinderella 3: Rise of the Sisters, they want tie-ins with McDonalds, they want safe, easy, money.
This is one of the main reasons why Roy E. Disney (Chairman of Disney Animation Department and member of the Disney board of directors, and Walt's last remaining relative in the Disney empire) resigned in a big melt down last November.
In his resignation letter (available here) Roy E. Disney blasted Michael Eisner with, "This company under your leadership has failed in many ways:" then of the many things he slams, specifically bombasts Eisner for "The perception by all of our stateholders -- consumers, investors, employees, distributors, and suppliers -- that the company is rapacious, soulless, and always looking for the 'quick buck' rather than long-term value which is leading to a loss of the public trust." and "Your failure to establish and build constructive relationships with creative partners, especially Pixar, Miramax, and the cable companies distributing our products."
All in all, it's a great letter, rather well written, and my brief highlights don't do it justice. He tells the world that Michael Eisner is a no-good egomaniac who's systematically destroying the legacy that Walt built by not taking risks, going for the quick buck, and releasing sequels rather than using the briliant writing talent already available inside the animation complex.
Now here's how the animators feel. There was a letter of support written recently by Disney's top animators Tim Hauser (writer of the OSCAR nominated short Runaway Brain), Steve Moore (director, OSCAR nominated short Redux Riding Hood, Emmy nominated special Olive, the Other Reindeer), and Dave Pruiksma (supervising animator, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lion King, etc.) and it was signed by over 4200 members of the animation community:
"The unique traditions of visual storytelling, humor and personality animation on which the Walt Disney Studio had thrived, gave way to politically correct sloganeering, stale one-liners and film seminar formulas to which audiences have refused to respond.
Mr. Eisner's rejection of Walt Disney's heritage has been a colossal failure. Yet this is a man who has been paid over $700 million in compensation since 1996, while the Feature Animation department has been decimated by pink slips.
Now, skilled craftsmen go unemployed while the executive ranks swell. A unique American art form, the Disney cartoon feature, hangs precariously in the balance - - reduced to the production of cheap direct-to-video franchise extensions made by committee.
Without Roy, who will protect the 70-year Disney legacy from becoming no more than a hollow brand?"
The whole scandal is great reading. I recommend checking out savedisney.com (Roy E. Disney's website.) Then while you're feeling indignant that the little spark that Disney still had was purposefully extinguished, go sign the petition then if you're still feeling indignant, purchase some "Roy was right." messenger bags and wear them to Disneyland or Disneyworld the next time you go as a show of support, cause the appropriate behavior to news like this -- a boycott -- just isn't going to happen. So buy the bags, and be obnoxious at the parks.
Anyway, Roy's email address is on the web. You can email him here. -
Save Disney site.
Save Disney Save Disney site for those who cares.