Because of a quirky accident, an elephant from a local zoo is transformed into a singing, dancing diva. The appearance of this pop icon kicks off an incredible story of love, revenge and intrigue. Better yet, it’s a new animated, digital motion picture from Walt Disney Feature Animation.
Wait a minute! Did you say Disney?
About a year ago, I was surprised and delighted when I heard that Disney had decided to give the okay to an exciting new book that would examine the animated movies the company never made. The projects that, for one reason or another, ended up on the Disney shelf.
Animation historian Charles Solomon’s latest. A worthy addition to your Disney bookshelf
Noted animation historian Charles Solomon would author this new tome providing images and insight into a number of Disney projects that never made their way to the silver screen. Or that were radically revised along the way.
My involvement with one of these projects began on my return from Pixar Animation Studios where I had worked on, “Monsters, Inc.” Early in the year 2000, I was requested to join the story team of a film then in development entitled”Wild Life.” The assignment to storyboard a song sequence would only require my services for a few weeks.
I was well aware of the “Wild Life” project, having seen it move into development at Disney Studios before I had left in the late nineties. The original idea seemed pretty cool since the film had a narrative that appeared to be a send up of American pop culture. I recalled the characters being wacky representations of pop heroes Andy Warhol and fashion mavens Anna Wintour & Diana Vreeland. The pop magazine, “Magazizzi” represented the many glitzy and glamorous publications one continually saw on the local newsstands. Think “The Devil Wears Prada” on steroids.
A story sketch by “Wild Life” co-director, Howard Baker
Innovative and groundbreaking, “Wild Life” was the animated digital motion picture that, in the words of Disney’s own executives, “was going to knock the socks off the competition.” Wild Life would be the last thing they ever expected to come from Disney Studios.
You’ve got to admit that on the surface this seemed like a good idea. After all, what could be funnier than a satirical motion picture that poked fun at the shallow, superficial conventions of popular culture? To laugh at the current contrived trends involving music, fashion and style. However, the filmmakers made one very deadly mistake.
They took it all seriously.
Kitty Glitter and Ella the Elephant. Sketch by this production’s Head of Story Darryl Kidder
Don’t get me wrong. The filmmakers were well intended, and the movie could certainly boast some of the finest art direction & production design to ever come out of the Walt Disney Studio. The talent was top tier, and Disney spared no expense in bringing this very unique motion picture to the big screen.
My one month on the project had become two, and I continued to create the storyboard assignments sent my way. Having completed the song sequence, I would continue on the show until its eventual shutdown.
By the summer of 2000, the motion picture, “Wild Life” had two sequences green-lit for production. I confess I enjoyed seeing the digital characters come to life on the computer screens, and we were all dazzled by a fully rendered scene showing the color imagery in all its digital glory. Wow! The effect was jaw dropping. Maybe Disney had something here after all.
Disney’s top production designers came up with some bold, innovative ideas for “Wild Life” ‘s art direction
Or did they?
By late summer, my directors had me tweaking certain scenes as the crew prepared for an upcoming screening of the new motion picture. The entire film would be “up on reels.” That means all three acts in storyboard form could be viewed in their entirety. Eventually, word got around that we were going to have an important visitor take a look at our film. The very same gentleman who only a few years earlier saved Feature Animation from an untimely death. Roy Disney would be viewing “Wild Life.” And you probably already know what happens next.
Next time, you’ll learn the fate of this particular animated movie and the wacky events that followed Roy Disney’s verdict.
Did you enjoy today’s article about “Wild Life” ? Well, this is just one of the hundreds of amazing tales that this Disney Legend has to share. Many of which you’ll find collected in the three books Floyd currently has on the market. Each of these take an affectionate look back at the time that Mr. Norman spent working in the animation industry.
These include Floyd’s original collection of cartoons and stories — “Faster! Cheaper! The Flip Side of the Art of Animation” (which is available for sale over at John Cawley’s cataroo.com) as well as two follow-ups to that book, “Son of Faster, Cheaper” & “How the Grinch Stole Disney.” Which you can purchase by heading over to Afrokids.com.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out Mr. Fun’s Blog. Which is where Mr. Norman postings his musings when he’s not writing for JHM.