One thing that doesn't often get discussed with regards to Lilo and Stitch is the importance of it being made at the Florida studio. They were a ragtag group of misfits out there that were semi left alone. While the LA studio were making bloated duds like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, Florida took real creative risks and came out with Mulan and Lilo & Stitch (Two of the best of that era). Instead of constantly remaking nostalgia hits, I'd love for Disney to do more to re-create the conditions where interesting original work like Stitch can be born.
Agreed. I'd almost love to see Disney start or support a small incubator effort where they build up or search out small animation teams to develop more IP to refresh the coffers.
There was a MASSIVE brain drain there right after FROZEN hit big – so many great potential directors didn't feel appreciated or elevated to the point that they could be tapped for a feature – and then they started inviting screenwriters from outside the studio to pitch and direct.
It's a really under-reported story but the fact that they had the teams behind PAPERMAN and FEAST and other amazing shorts and didn't find a way to move them up the ladder into feature directing was a world class fumble.
One thing that doesn't often get discussed with regards to Lilo and Stitch is the importance of it being made at the Florida studio. They were a ragtag group of misfits out there that were semi left alone. While the LA studio were making bloated duds like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, Florida took real creative risks and came out with Mulan and Lilo & Stitch (Two of the best of that era). Instead of constantly remaking nostalgia hits, I'd love for Disney to do more to re-create the conditions where interesting original work like Stitch can be born.
Agreed. I'd almost love to see Disney start or support a small incubator effort where they build up or search out small animation teams to develop more IP to refresh the coffers.
There was a MASSIVE brain drain there right after FROZEN hit big – so many great potential directors didn't feel appreciated or elevated to the point that they could be tapped for a feature – and then they started inviting screenwriters from outside the studio to pitch and direct.
It's a really under-reported story but the fact that they had the teams behind PAPERMAN and FEAST and other amazing shorts and didn't find a way to move them up the ladder into feature directing was a world class fumble.