I know, I know. This isn’t traditionally how I start out my book reviews here at JHM. But – in honor of the very special volume that I’ll be writing about today – I thought that I might try and start out this article in a somewhat unusual way.
Which is why I’m publishing this letter that Anthony M. from Danvers, MA. sent me yesterday:
Dear Jim,
I really love JimHillMedia.com. Particularly now that you’ve begun seriously beefing up the content you offer daily on the site. Some of the new writers that you’ve brought on board in the past few weeks are really great finds. Keep ’em comin’, Jim!
But – that said – I find that I still miss the long form stories that you used to do. Those multi-part stories (like the ones you used to do for MousePlanet & LaughingPlace.com) about how why “Dinosaur” went off the rails or why “The Emperor’s New Groove” ended up being the way it is.
Don’t get me wrong, Jim. I still like the stuff that you do now at JHM (Like today’s “George of the Jungle 2” article. That was a fun read). I just hope that — someday soon – that I’ll get to read another long form story that you’ve churned out about what’s really been going on behind-the-scenes at Disney Feature Animation.
That and – if you don’t actually get around to finally finish your “Light Magic” series, your “Tower of Terror” series, your “When You Wish Upon a Frog” series, your “Country Bear” articles as well as actually post that “Post Eisner Era” story you promised a few weeks back – I may have to hunt you down and hurt you. But – beyond that – I remain a fan.
So – in closing – let me recap here: Go back to writing longer form stories. Finish up all of those incomplete stories that you’ve left scattered all over the Web. Or else I will have to come up to New Hampshire and go all Annie Wilkes (Remember? The crazy lady from Stephen King’s “Misery”?) on your ass. (Kidding. I’m just kidding, Jim).
Hoping that you will take this letter in the tone that it is intended (And not sic the cops on me), I am
Somewhat seriously yours,
Anthony M.
Yikes. When you get a letter like that, two words immediately come to mind: restraining order.
(I’m kidding. Just kidding, Anthony.)
But I understand your frustration, Anthony. I too would love to get back to churning out longer form stories for JimHillMedia.com. But – due to the day-to-day pressures of being the editor / publisher / chief cook and bottle washer here at JHM – there just aren’t enough hours in the day these days to start up a new epic series and/or finishing up some of the unfinished stories that I’ve left out there on the Net.
But I understand, Anthony. You’d like to read a brand new in-depth story about what’s really going on inside Walt Disney Feature Animation. Then let me suggest something: While you’re waiting for me to get around to writing another epic series, why don’t you go pick up a copy of H. Clark Wakabayashi’s “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale” (Disney Editions, October 2003)?
Seriously, Anthony, if you loved my “Dinosaur” series and/or my “Emperor’s New Groove” articles, then this is the book for you. For Wakabayashi does this truly masterful job of walking his readers through the while history of this problematic production. The disagreements among WDFA staffers, the brutal brawls that the film’s story team regularly got into, the times when this picture was literally within inches of being shut down. It’s all here, Anthony.
But the real beauty of “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale” is how Wakabayashi doesn’t sensationalize any of this potentially explosive and embarrassing material. He just lays out the story of this film’s convoluted production in a matter-of-fact dispassionate manner. As if all the behind-the-scenes adgita that occurred while “Brother Bear” was in production was just another day at the office for the folks at Disney Feature Animation Florida.
Which – in a way – I guess it was, Anthony. For – when you take into account all the now-legendary story problems that Disney’s artists had during the early days of work on “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” – it seems that all the really truly great animated films that the Mouse House has churned out over the past decade have had pretty problematic productions. Which – if that’s the true yardstick of how well a Disney animated film is going to do at the box office (I.E. how truly bad was the story meltdown midway through production?) – then “Brother Bear” is destined to outgross “Finding Nemo.”
Seriously, though, Anthony: Wakabayashi has done something truly extraordinary here. He walks the reader through the entire production process, rationally explaining how “The Shaper Bender” became “Shadow Bear,” which – in turn – became “Bears.” Which ultimately transformed into “Brother Bear,” the film that’s opening a theater near you on November 1st.
As you read through this volume, you’ll also learn about how Grizz — a beefy, old seen-it-all bear (voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan of “The Green Mile” fame) — became Koda, a “raging ball of fur” (voiced by Jeremy Suarez from Fox Television’s “The Bernie Mac Show”). And how Kenai (“Brother Bear”‘s central character, a troubled youth who gets magically transformed into a bear) went from having a father, a father and a brother to having just two older brothers.
If you want some real insight into how movies are actually getting made these days at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Anthony, then don’t sit around and wait for me to write another epic series. Go out NOW and pick up a copy of “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale.” This book will tell you everything you really need to know about all the creative chaos that actually goes on behind the scenes at the Mouse House.
But more importantly, this wonderful new book by H. Clark Wabayashi will demonstrate how – out of all that chaos – Disney is still able to craft these absolutely amazing motion pictures. Films with big themes, strong emotions and plenty of heart … like “Brother Bear.”
Seriously, folks, I can not recommend this book highly enough. By that I’m saying: I wish that I had written this volume. For this may very well be the very best book written about how an animated film is actually produced since John Canemaker’s “The Animated Raggedy Ann & Andy: An Intimate Look at the Art of Animation, Its History, Techniques, and Artists” “(Which was published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. ‘way back in 1977. So this wonderful volume has – sad as it is to say — been out of print for ages. But – if you can ever find a copy of this Canemaker book up for sale – be sure and buy it immediately. You can thank me later.)
So go buy yourself a copy of H. Clark Wakabayashi’s “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale,” Anthony. Hopefully, that will hold you ’til I finally get around to writing another long form story and/or finish filling out my application for admittance into the Witness Protection Program.
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If you’re planning on picking up a copy of “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale” you can help support JimHillMedia.com by ordering your copy from Amazon.com by clicking the link to the right. Your cost will (unfortunately) remain the same (though it is currently 30% off!) But – if you go there through us – we get a tiny cut of what you spend. So help keep Jim Hill behind the computer where he belongs and and pick up your copy of “Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale” through the link to the right. |
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