Disney Linkspam!
Y YES I LIVE! Sorry for the lack of updates - Banana 1 had finals this week (I wrote an 15 page paper on the Holocaust in an hour and a half, so BEAT THAT, BITCHES) - so to compensate, here’s a massive amount of linkspam.
Disney and More is holding a contest, and the prize is a rare Disneyland Paris “from sketch to reality” book! All you have to do is answer 12 questions related to Disneyland Paris. Deadline’s April 12th, 2008.
The Disney Blog is also holding a contest, and they’re giving away copies of the Platinum Edition of 101 Dalmatians! Just fill out their contest entry form, and the deadline is tonight, 12th March.
Disney Interactive Studios has released Disney Friends for the Nintendo DS to North America. It’s a simulation game that allows children to interact with characters in “The Lion King”, “Finding Nemo”, “Winnie the Pooh” and “Lilo and Stitch”. Apparently you’re supposed to make “long lasting friendships” with these characters by doing nice things such as questing and buying these characters things to keep them happy. DISNEY’S TURNING INTO SANTA. IT’S NOT REAL, CHILDREN!
My Friends Tigger and Pooh as well as the 2 Disc Platinum Edition of 101 Dalmatians (if you didn’t know already). For the latter, one special feature of note is the mangling rendition of “Cruella De Vil” by Disney Channel star Selena Gomez, and the usual “making of” blah blah.
Walt Disney looks for a collaboration to produce “cartoons to Asian tastes”. Dude, I’m Asian, and I can tell you the people who obsessively fangirl anime are decidedly NOT Asian.
Ratatouille (the game) becomes a “Platinum Family Hits” edition. I still don’t get why they want to make these things so special. It’s been barely a year; you don’t have to relegate it to “A CLASSIC GAME EVERYONE NEEDS TO PLAY” status yet!
The newest addition to the Baby Einstein DVD collection is Baby’s First Sounds: Discovery for Little Ears. Apparently you’re supposed to replay the DVD over and over again to your child and “expose [them] to the first sounds of language they will encounter in their daily lives.” Oh gee, I guess instead of just talking as you normally would, you should buy a DVD to teach your baby how!
Okay, that was shorter than I expected.
Disney at the Academy Awards
The 80th Annual Academy Awards commenced last night with its usual amount of glitz and glamour. Disney was represented in eight different categories with ten nominations: Ratatouille for Best Animated Feature Film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End for Best Makeup, Ratatouille for Best Music (Score), Enchanted (times three) for Best Music (Song), Ratatouille for Best Sound Editing, Ratatouille for Best Sound Mixing, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End for Best Visual Effects, and Ratatouille for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
Ratatouille won for Best Animated Feature Film, something that very likely surprised no one. Otherwise, Disney went unappreciated for its other nominations. Unsurprisingly, Enchanted did not win, despite its three nominations within the same category. What some consider a travesty for Pirates of the Caribbean is that the very beautiful visual effects that were awarded were not for Pirates but instead for The Golden Compass, which had very little else going for it due to some bad studio decisions. This is, apparently, a source of consternation for many Disney-fan bloggers who feel that despite its many nominations (recognitions all on their own), it was under-awarded due to bias or straight-out Disney “hate.” What I have to ask, however, is: What makes the Disney films so much more deserving of these awards than another film which did, in fact, get the award? The cries that the Academy is full of “idiots” and needs to be replaced are not convincing. They aren’t even mature and well-stated enough to be taken seriously.
Disney was recognized ten times for three films in eight categories; not a poor representation. That they did not win except in one category does imply that these films were not the best of the best. Does this make these films less enjoyable? It shouldn’t. Disney frankly does not need the recognition of an award to sell their movies. The brand can do that all on its own. This Disney fan does not think that the academy were out of line in their decisions. So Disney didn’t get the big recognition that everyone was hoping for. So what? Ratatouille got a well-deserved award and Pirates and Enchanted got nods in multiple categories. I am satisfied with this outcome, and those who aren’t ought to learn to swallow their sour grapes.
