What a difference a week makes. Just seven days ago, as you
walked up to NYC’s Jacob K. Javits Center …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… you couldn’t help but notice the enormous “Up” that was
draped over the convention center’s main entrance.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Of course, that was because Comic-Con was in town. And
Walt Disney Studios’ marketing department wanted to make sure that everyone who visited the
Javits over NYCC’s three-day run knew that Pixar’s latest would be opening in
theaters on May 29th. In Disney Digital 3D, no less.
But this week, it’s the American International Toy Fair that has
set up shop inside of this cavernous convention center. And it’s not fanboys
who are now wandering these exhibition halls. But – rather – anxious retailers. Who – in the face
of last year’s 3% drop in toy sales – are all desperate to find the next sure thing.
Which — as far as the folks at Disney Consumer Products are
concerned — isn’t Carl Fredricksen (i.e. the cranky 78 year-old balloon salesman who stars in “Up”). Which is why the folks at DCP have been soft pedaling Pixar’s latest and
instead talking up Walt Disney Pictures’ big release for Christmas 2009. Which is
“The Princess and the Frog.”
Indeed, the big news coming out of Toy Fair yesterday was
that Mattel had just unveiled its upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” product line. Tony Award-winning actress/singer Anika Noni Rose (i.e. the voice of
Princess Tiana) was on hand Monday as all of these dolls, play sets and
role-play dresses which were inspired by her character from this new animated film were then rolled out. Here’s a shot of a few of those products.
Copyright 2009 Disney / Mattel.
All Rights Reserved
Mickey is really counting on
“The Princess and the Frog” (Which will introduce the Company’s first new Princess in more than 10 years) to re-energize its 10 year-old Disney Princess franchise. For while the Mouse did enjoy $4 billion in global
sales of DP merch last year, the toy industry also experienced a 10% drop-off in
doll sales over that same period. Which — given the millions of Disney Princess dollies that Mickey tries to move on an annual basis — isn’t exactly a healthy trend
Mind you, some of that drop-off could be attributed to a sameness in the
marketplace. The same old tired / safe product on store shelves. Which is why Mattel is really hoping that Tiana – what with being
Disney’s first African-American princess and all – will really stand out from the
crowd. Break through the clutter & abundance that you find at those Big Box stores.
Look for the first wave of “The Princess and the Frog”
merchandise (which will include apparel, home décor, consumer electronics, school supplies and personal care products) to start rolling in in late October / early November. Just in time
for the holiday shopping season.
Of course, if you just can’t wait to learn more about this
upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios release (Which will be Mickey’s first
hand-drawn full-length animated feature since “Home on the Range” had its theatrical debut back in
April of 2004), you might want to consider making your way to the Moscone Center in San
Francisco on Friday, February 27th. Where – on the first day of
WonderCon – Craig Sost and Marlon West will be hosting a panel on “The Art of
2D Visual Effects.” Which will make use of a key scene from “The Princess and The Frog” to help illustrate WDAS’ distinctive production process.
Copyright 2009
Disney. All Rights Reserved
And if you’re still kicking yourself because you missed out
on that “Up” panel that was presented at NYCC, don’t worry. Pete Docter will
be hosting another panel about this upcoming Pixar Animation Studios release
at WonderCon on Saturday, February 28th.
For further information on these upcoming “The Princess and the Frog”
& “Up” panels, as well as all of the other entertaining events that will be
presented at this year’s WonderCon, please click on this link.