Sorry folks…the intended Monday update never materialized since this bout of flu really has me knocked out for six. But that doesn’t mean we don’t still have new pieces on the site: James has reported on his screening of Arthur And The Invisibles and found it a so-so experience (more so than general moviegoers it seems, going by the dismal $4.3m weekend takings). Josh has also updated the DVD Deals section with a fun little related item: your own Shrek computer! Naturally, being “partners”, the hardware for this DreamWorks-inspired PC comes from Hewlett-Packard…my only comment here is: what took them so long?
Across the net, Mike Barrier has posted his thoughts on the Disney Paris exhibition at his always engrossing website. As you know, we reported on the show too, and as usual Barrier makes some interesting and not invalid observations. Nonetheless, we’re not all prone to agree (of course), and Dider Ghez, compiler of the excellent Walt’s People series (a fourth volume is forthcoming) and the Disney History blog, has replied to Mike with comments of his own. Without wanting to sound wishy-washy, I hate to find myself sitting on the fence, agreeing as I do with viewpoints from both arguments; my main leaning being that, yes, sometimes the “message” felt either a little forced or too weak, while what this particular exhibition set out to do was lay the groundwork for something perhaps even more substantial in the future.
Talking of Disney history, I find it alarming to find from the Ultimate Disney and Cartoon Brew websites that the Walt Disney Treasures are potentially no more! Treasures host Leonard Maltin has said that he would no longer be required to front Disney Home Video’s series (further speculation suggests that they do not have plans to continue the series at all) after 6 waves, and 22 volumes.
It’s unknown whether the decision is sales-related, but given the worryingly low print run of just 65,000 for the latest collection, one tends to think that’s the case, and can anyone really contest that? The series was always intended as a line for hard-core Disney buffs to start off with, but even though that was the case, sales were good and strong and more extensive print runs sold out. But slowly some “problems” began to creep in. Usually of an exceptional level, the quality of restoration was lacking in some releases (Disney Rarities), and the line became slightly diluted by the way of double dips on content (the Disneyland specials and character cartoon overlaps with the Front Lines set), padding (did The Complete Pluto really need two volumes?) and titles that honestly strained to appeal to even extreme aficionados. I must admit that, while I enjoyed certain amounts of the TV sets, I bought them more out of wanting to complete my collection than actually needing them. A regular compilation in those cases, even without extras, would have sufficed, but these were not essential titles to have rushed out into the marketplace when there was still much more marketable Disney gold to be mined.
What’s interesting is that this news comes as Roy Disney’s Legacy Collection series kicks into high gear. Roy was, as you know, a major proponent in the Treasures originally, though seemed to drop out of their involvement during the whole Michael Eisner business a couple of years ago. Certainly the True Life Adventures were once in line to be released under the Treasures banner, only to wind up as Legacy sets, while the Treasures‘ handling of the Alice Comedies also segues into the upcoming Legacy collection on Oswald The Lucky Rabbit. Perhaps Roy wanted to feel more than “just the signature” on the Treasures packaging, which has certainly become more identifiable with Maltin’s image than his own, and has “reclaimed” the company’s heritage.
So now it seems it’s down to Roy Disney and his Legacy Collection to keep the flame burning and the light lit on Disney history. Certainly the series was off to a very Treasures start with the True Life Adventures, and we have even better to follow in the form of the return of Oswald, Destino and the long-delayed Disneyland documentary, with an anticipated collection of Oscar nominated and winning shorts known to be in the pipeline. Perhaps the Legacy line will even outshine the Treasures being that they’re not tied to showcasing productions created specifically during Walt’s lifetime (a rule that got bent with the Treasures but that was mostly upheld).
However, the long-time followers and faithful of the Treasures have every reason to be upset. We all undertook to seek out and collect each and every volume on the understanding that The Walt Disney Company would not leave us hanging in the air with uncompleted series within the series. Thus, my Chronological Donald sets read Volume One and Volume Two, and I think we’re entitled to the volumes three and four that this character needs to finish off his filmography, or at least to know what the plans are to release the rest of these cartoons. Likewise with More Disney Rarities and A Disney Education, both the most rumored – and requested – titles that would at least complete the Studio’s cartoons within the Disney Treasures series without the betrayal that fans are feeling. Indeed, sales of such a final wave of these four sets would undoubtedly fly off shelves due to their “final round” approach and high animation content (the mainstays of the Treasures line).
The decision, to my knowledge, can still be turned around, and the Golden Age Of Cartoons Forum has posted the way to make your feelings known. What the general feeling there is that we should request the release of the remaining volumes that would complete the Studio’s animation shorts on DVD, namely:
• The Chronological Donald, Volume Three
• The Chronological Donald, Volume Four
• A Disney Education
• More Disney Rarities
It’s clear from Leonard’s comments that he’d love to continue the series, though pushing for one final wave is the best that we could probably hope for. But even this would be enough and at least end this wonderful collection on a high note.
So hope on over to the Golden Age Forum and let Disney know that the completion of what they started would be very much appreciated by the fans that have sustained this series for so long. Let’s do our part folks, but be sure to remain polite – accusing anyone of making the wrong choice or writing an angry or frustrated email isn’t going to help.
I’m truly excited by the new Legacy Collection (whatever Roy’s on-camera introductions lack in the way of Maltin’s sheer enthusiasm), but do feel that at the very least, we should get our Chronological Donald the way it was no doubt originally intended. Color me disappointed.
– Ben.
