Story is important, but if Disney is going to stay with the musical-type format of their animation, they have got to get better songwriting. I'm sorry, I like Elton John as much as the next gal, but all of his songs sound the same. More interesting music can be had when they try to adhere to a cultural form (Mulan) but the annoying habit of recording an over-melisma'ed, radio-friendly version of the main theme needs to be terminated with extreme prejudice.
I think that the last feature that I thought had decent music was "Aladdin" - not coincidentally, the last film that had (partially) the great Broadway team of writer Howard Ashman (now deceased) and songwriter Alan Menken (of "Little Shop of Horrors" fame). Tim Rice can do some clever wordplay, but really, it was that creative team that did the best work for Disney animation, IMO.
Disney needs to get their scouts out and troll off-Broadway to find the next great musical story that will appeal to kids as well as those of us who refuse to "grow up." Give us some great stories, themes and music and see what happens!
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Story is important, but if Disney is going to stay with the musical-type format of their animation, they have got to get better songwriting. I'm sorry, I like Elton John as much as the next gal, but all of his songs sound the same. More interesting music can be had when they try to adhere to a cultural form (Mulan) but the annoying habit of recording an over-melisma'ed, radio-friendly version of the main theme needs to be terminated with extreme prejudice. I think that the last feature that I thought had decent music was "Aladdin" - not coincidentally, the last film that had (partially) the great Broadway team of writer Howard Ashman (now deceased) and songwriter Alan Menken (of "Little Shop of Horrors" fame). Tim Rice can do some clever wordplay, but really, it was that creative team that did the best work for Disney animation, IMO. Disney needs to get their scouts out and troll off-Broadway to find the next great musical story that will appeal to kids as well as those of us who refuse to "grow up." Give us some great stories, themes and music and see what happens!