Animated films titan, Disney, has released two of their classic films, ‘The Lion King’ (1994) and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991) in 3D so far. ‘The Lion King’ leapt into theaters in September 2011 and took the box office by surprise by reigning as the number one highest grossing film for two weeks in a row.

By the end of its run, the ‘King’ gathered over $94 million in the states. Disney executives took the movie’s profit into consideration and announced that they would re-release four more classic Disney animated films in 3D, as follows: ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003), ‘Monsters, Inc’ (2001), and ‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989).

‘Beauty and the Beast’, released January 13, 2012, has grossed over $41 million domestically. However, the film did not take the number one spot as its predecessor did; instead coming in at the number two spot behind Mark Wahlberg’s heist thriller, ‘Contraband’. This change could be due to the release date, as January is annually one of the lowest movie attendance months in the calendar year, but it could also be because of the 3D, which adds an extra handful of dollars to the price of a movie ticket.

Movies in 3D gained a massive rise in the last few years and, with it, they have gained heavy criticism from filmmakers, critics, and audiences alike. They have long debated whether 3D is an enticing visual experience or a cheap scam to charge extra money for something that does not enhance the viewing of a film.

Films such as James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ (2009) and Dreamworks Studios’ ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010) have been praised for using the new technology to immerse the viewers, but Legendary Pictures’ hasty 3D conversion of ‘Clash of the Titans’ (2010) and Robert Rodriguez’s sloppy ‘Spy Kids: All the Time in the World’ (2011) have drawn criticism for turning 3D into a lame trick for profit.

The success of ‘The Lion King’ suggests that audiences are warming up to the idea of 3D, but the lukewarm numbers of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ also show that the same trick may not work year round. The main appeal of these Disney classics are the wonderful stories, the whimsical characters, and the stunning visuals that accompany them.

Adding another dimension may be something to entice young children, but teenagers and adults are harder to please, especially when they are paying for movies that most of them have seen dozens of times. Thus, many of the teenagers and adults that attend the re-released Disney films are nostalgic fans, and nostalgia may not be enough to keep the sales for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ alive for much longer.

On the one hand, re-releasing the Disney classics is an excellent way to expose the younger generation to the films that helped shape their parents and relatives, but it begs the question if these movies would have the same success without being digitally remastered to fit the recent 3D trend. With three more Disney 3D films on the way for 2012 and 2013, time will tell if that question has an answer.

Image Courtesy of    https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lion-King-3D/125451314218276

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D23 devotes its entire Spring issue of Disney twenty-three magazine to the remarkable legacy and influence of Disney animated films. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the animated classics of tomorrow, the official Disney fan club takes readers on a fantastic journey from the drawing board to the silver screen.

Available nationwide on February 14, this special issue of Disney twenty-three magazine is an extraordinary treasure trove of fascinating stories, insights and details of Disney animation’s heritage. From pre-production to music composition, every facet of making classic Disney animated features is explored—including the transcriptions from Walt’s story meetings with his animation team as they developed such classics as Fantasia, Pinocchio and Cinderella.

Plus, especially for Gold-level members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, this all-new issue also features an inventive, breathtaking cover that incorporates a removable replica animation cell from Snow White.

“It’s often been said that animation is the heart and soul of Disney, so we knew we needed to do something truly spectacular with our magazine in this milestone year,” said Steven Clark, head of D23. “Whether you’re interested in the first Golden Age of Disney animation or you’re looking forward to the next beloved classic, there’s something in this issue for every Disney fan.”

Fittingly, the magazine’s first story examines the legacy of Walt Disney himself and the vision he set forth even before Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs hit the screen. FiIm historian and Academy-Award winner John Canemaker looks at how Disney animated films have continuously raised the bar for three quarters of a century, since audiences were first enchanted by the “fairest of them all.”  Also included in the Spring issue are:

• The Six Older Men: A revealing look at the rarely seen talented artists and illustrators who helped train Disney’s legendary “Nine Old Men”;
• Ralph’s Wrecking Crew: An early glimpse at the process of producing Wreck-It Ralph, the next feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios;
• Ballyhoo and Buzz: A colorful look at some of Disney’s off-the-wall stunts for marketing new movies before the advent of broadcast and digital media;
• Striking the Right Chords: An exploration of the memorable music written for animated features, with insight from film historian Leonard Maltin;
• Still Soaring: A touching interview with talented artist Tyrus Wong, now 101 years old, who helped create the extraordinary look of Bambi;
• A Work of Art: An introduction to Disney’s Animation Research Library, home to 65 million individual pieces of original animation art.

There’s even more to discover—including spectacular photography and artwork—in the Spring issue of Disney twenty-three, which will be delivered directly to all Gold-level D23 Members beginning in early February with the limited-edition Snow White reproduction cel as their collectible gift.

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