Picking up where we left off yesterday …
How big was Roger Rabbit back in the early 1990s? So big that Walt Disney World‘s marketing department decided that this Gary Wolf character would be the perfect frontman for that resort’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Which is why — in the Fall of 1991 — Roger hit the road …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… touring the USA with a talented troupe of WDW cast members (Who would often dress just like Roger) to promote that resort’s “Surprise Celebration.”
Photo by Jeff Lange
As you can see by the two over-sized balloons that bookend the stage that was used for this 20th anniversary traveling show … Back in 1991, Disney executives considered Roger Rabbit to be just as big a star as Mickey Mouse.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And if you actually visited Disney World during that resort’s year-long 20th anniversary celebration … Well, Roger Rabbit seemed to be everywhere in 1991 & 1992. He was prominently featured in that year’s edition of “The Kids of the Kingdom” show in front of Cinderella Castle.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Roger also made a “surprise” appearance in what-was-then-known-as the Mickey’s Starland stage show. Where one lucky member of the audience was pulled up on stage and then awarded a special 20th anniversary t-shirt.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Roger was even given a prominent role in the Magic Kingdom‘s then-new nighttime extravaganza, “SpectroMagic.” Serving as the comical conductor of the music section of this parade, swaying back and forth as he tried to keep Goofy, Chip & Dale in line.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And the Roger Rabbit-related excitement continued on into 1993, with the opening of Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland …
Photo courtesy of Google Images
… and on into 1994 when the “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin” ride opened.
Photo by Jeff Lange
A second version of Mickey’s Toontown (complete with another “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin” ride) would open at Tokyo Disneyland in April 1996. But — by then — Disney executives had pretty much lost most of their enthusiasm for this hyper-active rabbit.
Which is why — after “Trail Mix-Up” was released to theaters back in March of 1993 — no more new “Roger Rabbit” shorts were ever produced …
Copyright Walt Disney Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
… And by the end of 1998, the studio had abandoned any plans that it may have had for moving forward with production of a sequel to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”
Now Jim Hill has already written extensively about how all the battling that went on between Steven Spielberg & the Walt Disney Company over who actually controlled the Roger Rabbit character was what effectively derailed this once-promising franchise. But me? I can’t help but wonder if the success of all the animated films that came after “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” — 1989’s “The Little Mermaid,” 1990’s “Beauty & the Beast” and 1991’s “Aladdin” — were more of a contributing factor to Disney’s decision to basically abandon this animated character.
Copyright Walt Disney Pictures
I mean, why waste all that time & energy fighting with Steven Spielberg about how & where Roger Rabbit can be used in the Disney theme parks when you’ve now got dozens of other characters that the public adores? Characters that can easily be dropped into rides, shows & attractions without any of Amblin’s attorneys getting involved.
Which is why — as the 1990s gave way to the next millennium — Roger Rabbit began fading fast from view. In some cases, being out-right replaced. Take — for example — that music unit in the Magic Kingdom’s “SpectroMagic” parade …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Where once Roger Rabbit used to wield his baton, now it’s the Genie from “Aladdin” who’s trying to keep Goofy, Chip & Dale playing on the beat.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Perhaps the best way to demonstrate the way that senior Disney Company officials now feel about the Roger Rabbit character is to point out the over-sized statue of the rabbit that’s been erected over at WDW’s Pop Century Resort. Here, Roger is grouped with other once-popular cultural icons of the 1980s like the Rubik’s Cube and the Sony Walkman.
You know? As a relic of the past?
Photo by Jeff Lange
Which is kind of a sad end for a cartoon character that once showed so much p-p-p-p-promise, don’t you think?
Photo by Jeff Lange
So — as Roger Rabbit now waves good-bye — let JHM wave you on into Jeff Lange’s online DVD shop. Where you’ll find a wide variety of discs dedicated to documenting the Disney theme parks. Including Jeff’s most recent recording, which ” … Remembers Walt Disney World’s 20th Anniversary.”