Animation To Go: New Home Video Releases
by Wendy Jackson
Babes in Toyland. © 1997 MGM Home Entertainment.
`Tis the season
for animated home videos....and plenty of them. From theatrical re-releases
and re-packaged television content, to original direct-to-video fare, the
relatively young home video market is booming. Distributors increasingly
find themselves competing not only with each other, but with other venues
of entertainment. With the veritable cornucopia of animated fare currently
on cable television and in theaters, it's tough to get kids' attention
at this time of year.
This fall, home video distributors will spend hundreds of millions of dollars
on television and newspaper advertising, most of it aimed towards gift-buying
parents. Tie-ins, rebates and cross-promotions catch consumers in daily
life, with a wave of restaurant, grocery store, shopping mall, airline
and even elementary school partnerships. Going for those point-of-purchase
sales, many distributors are even offering toys attached to packaging,
and elaborate in-store displays with coloring books, buttons and posters.
This month, we sat down with a crate full of video tapes and a bowl of
popcorn to explore this market. Here's a sampling of the latest new animated
home video offerings, and a sneak peek at what's coming soon to a video
store near you.
What's New
Babes in Toyland
The first feature-length animated
musical adaptation of the classic book, Babes in Toyland is a fun
and charming twist on classic nursery rhyme tales. Based on the operetta
by Victor Herbert and the book by Toby
Bluth, Babes in Toyland tells the story
of cherubic orphans Jack and Jill (of went-up-the-hill fame), and their
adventure to save "Toyland" from their own Gargamel-esque, crotchety
uncle Barnaby. With its surreal, vividly colorful animation of various
anthropomorphic toys, machines, tableware and even a cow jumping over a
talking moon, the film is worth watching for the visuals alone. If that's
not enough of an incentive, get it to hear the character voices by James
Belushi, Jonathan Dern and even Charles Nelson Reilly.
The film is a remarkable accomplishment, in that
it is the first made for home video title from MGM's three year-old animation
production division, MGM Animation. Their first two titles, All
Dogs Go To Heaven I
and II, had theatrical runs before their respective home video releases.
Premiering on video last month, Babes in Toyland was co-directed
by Charles Grosvernor, Toby Bluth and Paul Sabella (Sabella served as one
of four co-producers as well). In addition, Toby Bluth served as production
designer, and his book, Babes in Toyland, provided a style guide
for the film; and, yes, he is the brother of director Don Bluth whose Anastasia
is released theatrically this month.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| MGM Home Entertainment | 10/24/93 | $19.98 | 80 min. | G | MGM Interactive | |
| Mail-in offer for plush toy | ||||||
| Nathan's Restaurants | ||||||
Pippi Longstocking.
© 1997 AB Svensk/Idunafilm/Nelvana/Trickompany.
Pippi Longstocking
Many generations will recognize Pippi Longstocking, the spunky, red-headed
nine year-old girl in striped socks and pigtails. Since her mother is an
angel, and her father is a rarely-seen seafaring pirate, she lives in her
father's house, with her pet horse and monkey, using her super strength,
singing and taking what she needs from the overflowing chest of gold in
the attic. Pippi's irreverent, creative character shines when her carefree
lifestyle is cramped by two bumbling bad guys attempting to steal her gold.
Meanwhile a nosy town busybody, Mrs. Prysselius, tries to send her to a
"children's home." The first full-length animated musical feature
based on the classic children's book by Astrid Lindgren, the film features
five original songs which are not very inspired. However, one in particular
does really stick in your head, "Hello, I'm Pippi!"
Pippi Longstocking was released in U.S. movie theaters starting
in August, and will be released in video stores on November 25. The film
is a co-production between Nelvana (Canada), AB Svensk Filmindustri (Sweden),
Iduna Produktiongesellschaft GmbH & Co and TFC Trickompany Filmproduktion
GmbH (Germany). It was directed by Clive Smith, co-founder of Nelvana,
a company known for masterminding complicated co-productions, and for adapting
children's books into animated properties. With three studios, nine producers
and the book's original author, who turns 90 years-old this month, involved
in the production, keeping Pippi on track was no small task. "It
was very complicated, not just from a production point of view, but also
from a creative point of view," said director Clive Smith. "In
fact, we had production going on in about 12 different cities. I was literally
running around the world for three years!"
Nelvana has recently expanded to include a feature films division, headed by supervising
producer Merle Anne Risley. The studio's next project is Babar: King
of the Elephants, a direct-to-video title slated for completion in
1998. Several other films are currently in development.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Warner Bros. Home Video | 11/24/93 | 19.96 | 75 min. | G | Figurine included with video | |
| Co-production partners (International) | Coupons included for other Warner titles | |||||
| Continental Airlines | ||||||
The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island.
© Universal Studios Home Video.
The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island
Lost your calendar? The sequential releases of The Land Before Time
videos can almost serve as a measurement of the passing time. It's
hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since the last one was released.
In December, the fourth direct-to-video sequel to Steven Spielberg's 1988
animated theatrical feature, The Land Before Time, will be released
directly to home video. So far, the six-title franchise (which includes
a Sing-Along-Songs title) has amassed consumer sales of over $480
million. The character design in these films is an accomplishment in itself,
in that dinosaurs, which are more or less giant prehistoric lizards, can
be depicted as so, well, cute and cuddly.
The Land Before Time: The Mysterious Island takes us on a toddler adventure
with the little tyke dinosaurs Chomper, Littlefoot, and friends. After
"swarming leaf gobblers" devour the food supply, the entire dinosaur
clan embarks on a journey in search of food. The animation in this film
is quite good, with full movement and expressive characters. Universal's
producer/director Charles Grosvernor and Overseas Animation Supervisor
Richard Forgues worked with their US staff and Akom Productions in Korea.
Additional work was contracted to Galaxy World (Korea), Inventaria (Spain),
Funbag Animation Studios (Canada) and Heart of Texas (USA). The film includes
three new songs music scored by Michael Tavera, to lyrics by Michele Brourman
and Amanda McBroom, who also scored the previous Land Before Time
titles.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Universal Studios Home Video | 12/8/93 | $24.98 | 74 min. | G | Denny's Restaurants | |
| Dairy Queen Restaurants | ||||||
| Sound Source Interactive | ||||||
| Kitchen Sink Press | ||||||
| Equity Toys | ||||||
| Float in Hollywood Christmas Parade | ||||||
Forte, the evil organ in Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.
© Walt Disney Home Video.
Beauty and Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
It's no wonder that Disney chose the
Beauty and the Beast franchise as the next direct-to-video project. Just
in theatrical grosses alone, the original animated feature topped $350
million worldwide, and, to date, the film is the only animated feature
ever nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. The all new, direct-to-video
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas was directed by Andy
Knight and produced at Disney's facilities in Vancouver and Toronto. Disney Australia handled some
animation and inbetweening as well as clean-up, checking, and digital ink
and paint on Toon Boom software. Wang Film Productions created additional
backgrounds, and additional animation was contracted to Chuck Gammage Animation
and Character Builders.
Freshness is added to the story with three new characters: Angelique, a
treetop ornament (voiced by Bernadette Peters), Forte, an evil pipe organ
(Tim Curry) and Fife, an insecure piccolo (Paul Reubens, formerly known
as Pee Wee Herman). All the other characters are voiced by the same actors
as appeared in the first theatrical film.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Walt Disney Home Video | 11/10/93 | $26.99 | 70 min. | G | Mattel Toys | |
| Disney Online | ||||||
| Walt Disney Records | ||||||
| Disneyworld, Disneyland | ||||||
| Ocean Spray | ||||||
Annabelle's Wish. © 1997 Ralph Edwards Films.
Annabelle's Wish
This direct-to-video Christmas story takes the cake for the number of cross-promotional tie-ins, but loses points with low quality animation and a cloyingly sweet story that is more tedious than heartwarming. But, as any good marketer will tell you, Annabelle's Wish is likely to sell plenty of units.
An association with the charitable Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a bevy of promotional tie-ins make Annabelle's Wish the consumer-friendliest title of the season. Based on a short story by Dan Henderson, the film tells the story of a mute, orphaned little farm boy, whose wish is to speak, and a baby cow named Annabelle, whose wish is to be one of Santa's Reindeer. The boy's wicked aunt (vaguely reminiscent of Cruella DeVil) and a handful of local bullies challenge the magic of the Christmas season, but in the end, their wishes do come true.
This is the first animated film from independent producer Ralph Edwards Films, the newly formed division of Ralph Edwards Productions, producer of television shows such as This is Your Life and The People's Court. The film was animated by Studio City, California-based Baer Animation, a contract studio which does both feature (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Lion King) and commercial work.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Hallmark Home Entertainment | 10/20/93 | $12.95 | 54 min | not rated | Mrs. Fields Cookies | |
| Golden Books | ||||||
| Novus Credit Cards | ||||||
| Previews at 144 shopping mall Santa Claus booths | ||||||
| Elementary school activity sheets | ||||||
| Make-A-Wish Foundation | ||||||
| Float in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | ||||||
| Rising Tide/Blue Eye Records | ||||||
| Point of purchase promotional plush toy | ||||||
Scooby Doo Goes to Hollywood.
© 1997 Warner Bros. Home Video.
Scooby Doo Goes to Hollywood
Scooby Doo Goes to Hollywood is an older Hanna-Barbera television production from
the studio's doldrum days. Since acquiring the rights from the Turner library,
the film is being released on video for the first time through Warner Bros.
Home Video division. In the film, Shaggy serves as Scooby's agent, shopping
the clumsy dog around Hollywood, with some great parodies such as The
Sound of Scooby and Scooby's Angels. Zoinks! If only poor Scooby
really did have an agent, maybe Warner Bros. would have kept this film
in the vault, where it belongs.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Warner Bros. Home Video | 10/20/93 | $14.95 | 51 min. | G | Comic Book included with video | |
Mice of the Jungle, one of two Pinky and the Brain
titles making its way from television to video
this month. © Warner Bros. Home Video.
Pinky and the Brain: Mice of the Jungle and Cosmic Attractions
Everyone's favorite caged-in lab mice, Pinky and the Brain can now take
over your VCR. These two titles are the first re-released episodes of Steven
Spielberg's popular Warner Bros. television series, Pinky and the Brain,
to be released on video. With such a large base of existing fans, these
should sell well in the holiday season.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Warner Bros. Home Video | 11/3/93 | $12.95 | 23 min. ea | n/a | Wendy's Restaurants | |
| Kids WB! Network | ||||||
| Warner Bros. Online | ||||||
Brand Spanking New Doug's Secret Christmas.
© Walt Disney Home Video.
Brand Spanking New Doug's Secret Christmas
Twelve year-old Doug Funnie is so wholesome, that he will be pictured on
millions of milk containers distributed in schools this year. A clever
licensing partnership between Disney Television and International Papers
Liquid Packaging division will promote the animated character in elementary
lunchrooms across the U.S.
In this re-release of a 1996 Christmas special, Doug and his dog Porkchop
celebrate Christmas their own way when the family decides not to make a
big deal of the holiday. Doug's Secret Christmas will also air on
December 13, as part of a special Brand Spanking New Doug matinee
program block on ABC. Produced by Disney-owned Jumbo Pictures, Doug
started out as a series on Nickelodeon, before he was "Brand Spanking
New."
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Buena Vista Home Video | 10/6/93 | $12.99 | 44 min. | G | Nestle Foods | |
| International Paper (milk containers ) | ||||||
| Mattel Toys | ||||||
What's Coming Soon...
Fern Gully II: The Magic Continues.
© FAI Films/Rosen Harper
Entertainment.
FernGully II: The Magic Continues
Five years after Bill and Sue Kroyer's
animated feature, Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest, a sequel is finally
on the way. The direct-to-video release is being produced by FAI Films
and Rosen Harper Entertainment, with funding by CBS/Fox and Banque Paribas.
Currently in production at the two year-old animation studio, Wild Brain
in San Francisco, the film is slated for release in March, 1998.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment | 2/28/94 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Mail-in offer for plush toy | |
Hercules and Xena: The Battle for Mount Olympus
Universal Television's live-action
(and they mean action) series Hercules: Legendary Journeys
and Xena: Warrior Princess are tremendously popular with each being
syndicated in more than 15 countries worldwide. Universal Studios Consumer
Products Group has a huge line of Hercules and Xena licensed
merchandise on the market and even Universal Studios Florida is home to
an interactive attraction based on the characters. Now, Universal Home
Video is bringing the two super-heroes together in their first animated
project, a direct-to-video feature called Hercules and Xena: The Battle
for Mount Olympus.
Hercules and Xena: The
Animated Movie. © Universal
Studios Home Video.
Currently in production in the U.S. and Korea
by Universal Cartoon Studios, the film is being produced and directed by
Lynne Naylor, who has worked at Filmation, Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, Spumco
and Warner Bros. The script was written by John P. Loy, who has penned
numerous scripts for animated television series such as Porchlight Entertainment's
The Book of Virtues and Warner Bros.' Pinky and the Brain
before entering a multi-year deal with Universal Cartoon Studios to write,
develop and produce animated projects. Originally slated for a mid-October
release, the film has been pushed back to January, where it will face fewer
competitors, but will miss out on holiday sales. "We want the finished
product to be of the finest quality," said Louis Feola, President
of Universal Home Video. "As often happens with an animated feature,
more time was needed to complete the film."
While the finishing touches are being made on the film, a Hercules and
Xena road tour is now trekking around the U.S., featuring a traveling
exhibit of paraphernalia from the live-action show, previews of the interactive
games and an inside look at the production of the animated feature.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Universal Studios Home Video | 1/5/94 | $19.98 | 90 min. | not rated | Sound Source Interactive | |
| Universal live-action television series | ||||||
| Road tour | ||||||
| Universal Consumer Products | ||||||
| Tropicana Juices | ||||||
| Topps Comics | ||||||
| Carl's Jr. Restaurants | ||||||
| Hercules & Xena fan conventions | ||||||
The King and I
The first feature-length animated adaptation of the Broadway musical, The King and I, is now in production through Morgan Creek Entertainment. The film is being directed by Rick Rich, of Rich Entertainment, producers of films like The Swan Princess.
| Distribution | Available | Price | Run Time | Rating | Tie-Ins | |
| Warner Bros. Home Video (U.S.) | Summer 1999 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Playmates Toys | |
| Morgan Creek Entertainment (International) | ||||||
In addition to the above mentioned titles, video stores are packed with plenty of perennial holiday releases of old favorites, like Rankin-Bass' stop-motion classic Rudolph's Shiny New Year, distributed by Warner Bros., Disney's Mickey's Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Be sure to read The Animation Flash, Animation World Network's Weekly Email Newsletter, to learn about future video releases throughout the year.
Wendy Jackson is Associate Editor of Animation World Magazine.
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