SEQUEL — current posts — Fantasy/Animation

Mouse House sees the value of sequels in post-pandemic Hollywood

Recently returned Disney CEO Bob Iger – reappointed to the company following the abrupt dismissal of his successor, Bob Chapek in November 2022 – confirmed late last week that the celebrated animation studio would be producing a slate of sequels to three of its blockbuster films. News of Zootopia 2 within Disney’s upcoming roster of features was a welcome, if not entirely unexpected, surprise given both the box office success of the 2016 original (the film took $1.02 billion and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature) and the recent arrival of spin-off web television series Zootopia+ (Trent Correy & Josie Trinidad 2022), which premiered on Disney+ the same month as Chapek’s acrimonious exit.

EDITORIALChristopher HollidayFebruary 17, 2023DISNEY, SEQUEL, COMPUTER-ANIMATED FILM, PIXAR, FRANCHISE, HOLLYWOODComment

Review: Frozen II (Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee, 2019)

Before Frozen II (Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee, 2019), if you had have asked me what my fantasy ideal Frozen sequel looks like I would have probably answered that there be no sequel at all. Frozen is, to me, practically perfect. Any attempt at continuation could only be disappointing. However, Frozen Fever (Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee, 2015), the short film that accompanied the release of Disney’s live-action remake of Cinderella (Kenneth Branagh, 2015) is an ideal compromise.

FILM REVIEWCatherine LesterDecember 6, 2019HOLLYWOOD, DISNEY, MUSICAL, COMPUTER-ANIMATED FILM, SEQUEL, FRANCHISEComment

Review: Toy Story 4 (Josh Cooley, 2019)

Since Toy Story (John Lasseter, 1995) hit cinema screens worldwide in November 1995, audiences have witnessed a series of dramatic changes within the animated medium, particularly in Hollywood. Having signed a contract with Pixar Animation Studios in 1991, Disney were initially hesitant to give the very first computer-animated film about a collection of toys the same commercial backing as their traditional cel-animated features. Until, that is, they saw the toys come to life.